The skittering antics of the lively Prevost Squirrel are bound to provide hours of wonderful entertainment.

The Prevost Squirrel is a diurnal rodent and is exceptional when it comes to climbing, jumping, and foraging. Because of the balancing mechanisms of their tail, the strength of their forefeet, and their sharp claws, these squirrels are able to run down a tree headfirst. In addition to balancing, their tails are also used to navigate their direction when jumping, and as a base of communication to other squirrels. When on the ground, their distinctive bounding and leaping, as a form of natural movement, can be quite amusing. People wanting to own something exotic, commonly keep captive Prevost Squirrels for display. When hand-raised early on in life, they can become entertaining pets, though because of their long teeth, claws, and tendency to bite during play, they are not recommended for children or new pet owners. Though the Prevost Squirrel tends to be quite skittish, they are in fact quite gentle and can be easily trained to do many things, such as come to their owner's voice, and even do tricks. Most squirrels of this particular breed should be fine living with other family pets if introduced at a very early age, granted that the other pets have no interest in hunting small creatures. If the other animals do have a tendency to hunt, continuous supervision should be provided while the squirrel is running free.

The Prevost Squirrel has been characterized has having a tri-colored coat of fur, with a shimmering jet black or brownish coloring the topside of the tail, the back, and ending in between the ears. The sides of this animal, often referred to as the middle layer, is brilliantly banded in a bright white that runs from nose-base to tail-base. The underside and legs are usually a rusty or chestnut red. Aside from the beautiful coloring, some distinctive characteristics of this animal are the lack of canine teeth, which leaves a noticeable opening between the premolars and the incisors and the agility of the lower jaw, used to carry large quantities of food. Throughout this squirrel's lifespan, the incisors will never stop growing, but are instead constantly worn down by continuous use. The Prevost Squirrel has a set of visibly shorter forelegs whose feet contain four toes and a pose able thumb. Each of the four feet is padded for protection and is equipped with extremely sharp claws. The average lifespan this squirrel when held in captivity is 16 years.

The Prevost Squirrel originated in South East Asia and the Borneo Islands, but can also be found on many islands in the East Indies. People of Indonesia have sold this squirrel for many years and kept them inside birdcages in homes and gardens, claiming them to be good luck charms. In the wild, the Prevost Squirrel can be found making their homes in the holes of hollowed trees, or constructing leaf and twig nests high among the branches. As of late, this squirrel is not a part of the many endangered species, but there has been an uprising in concern for the rodents growing vulnerability due to the destruction of their natural habitat and overexploitation.

Your Prevost Squirrel should be kept in a cage with a measurement of three cubic feet and should be equipped with a nest box and nesting material, climbing implements, and an exercise wheel. A ferret's exercise wheel should be just fine.

The squirrel should never be exposed to temperatures below 60 degrees. Place the animal's cage in an area of your home that never dips below this.

It is recommended that the Prevost Squirrel be given at least two cups of fruit each day. They also love to eat sweet vegetables, such as tomatoes or carrots, etc., but shy away from greens.

Their usual diet should consist of nuts and seeds. A mixture of prepackaged hamster or gerbil mix should work. Rodent biscuits are also commonly used.

If your Squirrel needs extra protein, a tablespoon of dry kitten chow daily can offer this. The squirrel will eat as needed.

It is highly recommended that when playing with your Prevost Squirrel you be well padded. This rodent tends to become quite excited during play and often bites and scratches.

The Prevost Squirrel is capable of living quite nicely in both solitary or small group conditions.

If fed a proper and balanced diet, and handled with care, this animal should rarely encounter health issues. In case of emergency, though, it is recommended that a vet knowledgeable in exotic animals be sought out.

A Prevost Squirrel becomes sexually mature at approximately one year of age and can breed throughout the year, usually peaking between March and August. After impregnation, the gestation period averages 49 days. Litters usually produce one to two pups that are born with closed eyes and without hair or teeth. Sufficient independence, teeth, and fur should be achieved around six weeks of age. The Prevost Squirrel usually produces up to three litters each year.