The fur is chestnut or fawn above, pale below, with a grey wash about the muzzle and between the eye and ear, and longer, coarse black guard hairs on the back.

Typically, there is a large nest chamber lined with small sticks and other plant material about a metre below the surface, from which several vertical shafts lead upwards.

[citation needed] Previously, spinifex hopping mice could be kept as pets in Victoria and ACT (Australia), but a Basic Wildlife Licence was required.

In 2013, Victorian regulations for the possession, use and trade of wildlife underwent a number of changes and as part of these reforms spinifex hopping mice were moved to Schedule 4B, which allows private ownership without a licence.

[citation needed] Pet owners should be aware of the potential parasite and disease risks, including mites[4] and helminths,[5] and in very rare cases even melanoma.