Because of their gentle nature, duprasi are great beginner pets and have been a greatly underrated and overlooked small mammal. The market should not soon be flooded, as duprasi do not overproduce like some small rodents. Imports are at a minimum as duprasi are becoming less frequent in the wild.

The duprasi does fine as a single pet. If you want a pair but do not want to breed them, two of the same sex and age usually do fine together. They are becoming available in some pet stores now and may replace the Mongolian gerbil in popularity due to their extremely gentle, almost cuddly nature. They are available from private breeders. Prices range from a low of $15 to a high of $50, depending on where you live. The price of setup--including cage, food, and bedding--would range from $20 to $45.

The healthy little animals possess no common ailments. They live up to 5 years in captivity, making them a good investment over some of the shorter-lived rodents. Their sweet nature and entertaining habits, combined with easy care and low cost, will prove that good things do come in small packages.

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