Habits Dwarf mongooses feed mainly on invertebrates and a few small vertebrates, including beetles, termites, snails, locusts, scorpions, earthworms, reptiles and bird and snake eggs. They will also feed on fruits and vegetables despite being classified as a carnivore. Mongooses use their sharp claws to scratch through leaf litter and in the ground for their invertebrate prey. They particularly like beetles, and even birds can be caught and eaten. They break eggs in a typical mongoose fashion - by flinging it quickly through the back legs so that it hits the ground sharply and breaks.
Dwarf mongooses are diurnal, and are up and out of their burrows with the sun.
They are intensely social animals, and are ruled by a dominant breeding pair, which mates for life. Subordinate males and females help out with looking after the young and sentry duty. At sunrise, the group emerges from the termite mound and sunbathes for about 15 minutes, before beginning to forage further away. Each individual maintains contact with the rest of the group using vocal calls. In addition, sentinels or guards are posted, ready to give a sharp alarm call if a predator, such as a goshawk or a snake, is spotted.