[Emily94]

2 days ago we were at a petstore and saw mice, my friend and I fell in love and decided to get the last 2... I know what they eat and the BASIC care, but.. does anyone who own mice have any suggestions?

Also, there about 7 weeks old, and can fit through the bars of there cage, there in a ten gallon right now, but when should they be able to go in the cage? (The bars are pretty small and I didn't think they'd be able to get out.. ) Or would it be better to leave them in the ten gallon? Do they need floor time (In a ball), or just played with?

The lady at the petstore told us they weren't sexed because they were supposed to be feeder mice, and she didn't know how to do it... How can I tell? I've read the articles but it just keeps talking about the anogenital distance , but I have nothing to compare the distance to!


Thanks :)

[Wondergirl]

As they age, you will easily be able to tell the gender -- and even by now might get a good hint of male sexual equipment under a tail. We used a dry aquarium until the mice were big ("fat") enough to be in cages.

We started with four mice that were supposed to be all female. Before long we had 52 mice. Apparently, one was not a female after all. They do reproduce quickly -- the females can be nursing and get pregnant with the next litter. They multiply faster than rabbits.

Separate the males from the babies and the moms, for birth control and because the males will attack and eat the babies.

The biggest problem is odor. Mice pee and poop as they walk, anywhere and everywhere, so plan to clean up a lot. Even as they crawl across your shirt and on your shoulder, they pee and poop. Don't be surprised by feeling wetness on the back of your neck or on your arm as they crawl around on you. The cages have to be cleaned regularly and frequently, or you die from the stench.

Be sure to always have a water bottle suspended somehow and make sure there is water flowing correctly when the mice drink. Research about their food and what fresh foods they can eat safely and without getting diarrhea. Mice LOVE mealworms, so give that to them occasionally as a treat. They hold and eat them like little bananas.

[Emily94]

Haha, when we bought them they came in a box and when we opened it up.. we did almost die, it was gross, but so far they don't smell. 52?? Wow.

Hmm, well I checked for nipples, supposivly only females have them.. one of them I can see the other I can't.. I hope there both female :P

[Emily94]

Thought I'd add some pictures :)

[Wondergirl]

I hope they're both female :P

You'll find out sooner than you think.

[Wondergirl]

Your photos bring back mostly fond memories! Little cuties, aren't they.

They won't drink from a bowl, so hope you have a water bottle.

If one is a male, his external sex organs should be getting to be evident by now. Did you lift both tails and compare?

Mice, even adult ones, can squeeze through impossibly tiny spaces, so don't get careless with them.

[Emily94]

I have checked and they both appear the be the same gender, but I've thought that with other critters and ended up with babies.. I have a water bottle but they haven't seemed to have dranken out of it :s

[Alty]

They're adorable.

Mice are very smart little animals. Actually, when it comes to intelligence, ability to learn, they're much smarter and easier to handle than hamsters.

They do sell mouse cages, where the bars are closer together. A tank is okay, but make sure there's proper circulation, otherwise they mice can get too warm in the summer.

Mice love to climb, hide, chew, and play. They need things to keep them entertained. You don't need to buy a lot, you can use many materials from home. An empty margarine container can become a favorite toy or hidey hole. An empty toilet paper roll can offer days of fun. Be creative, just make sure that any home made toys are safe (no sharp edges, non toxic).

The more you handle the mice, the tamer they'll be. My cousin had a pet mouse that actually slept with her every night, on her pillow. Don't recommend that, but that's an example of how tame they can become.

What are their names?

[Emily94]

Melvin and Theresa.. My friend and I got them and named them after our other two friends.. they thought it was kind of cute!

Right now it has been kind of chilly (Not freezing but cold enough) and I have central air so I'm not conscerned about temperature, mostly just the oxygen part.. Is there anyway to disipline a mouse when it bites..

[Wondergirl]

Every cardboardish thing we gave our mice was chewed to shreds and piled up in the corner for bedding, for their nest. I gave them small pudding boxes (the to-cook kind of pudding), toilet paper rolls, I cut up paper towel rolls into small sections, etc.

The aquarium is only until they are big enough for cages. Yes, Alty's right -- there are special cages for mice. When a female has babies, make sure the little family is in a safe place that they can't escape from. If I remember, the babies open their eyes around hmmm a week or so -- can't remember, and are muddling around the cage when they are a few days old.

[Alty]

This site has some good advice. I didn't read through the whole thing, so use your common sense when deciding what info is good and what you don't wish to use. :)

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source...wPcbdQ&cad=rja

[Wondergirl]

Is there anyway to disipline a mouse when it bites..?

No. Just give him something to chew on or play with.

My 52 mice never bit us. Do yours bite?

[Emily94]

I found that site earlier :) It does have lots of good information :)

[Emily94]

The brown one has bitten once and we automatically put him back, it didn't hurt, but we didn't know what to do.. It was also when we first got it so maybe it was just scared..

[Wondergirl]

Biting is their only defense. He might have been surprised by someone's movement or fast fingers or something. Handle them a lot to socialize them.

[Alty]

They also sell mouse balls (like a hamster ball for roaming, but smaller).

A little hidey hole is a good idea too, so they have some place to sleep, to get away from it all. There are many different types you can buy, or you can make your own.

Nesting material is a good idea, even if they don't breed. You can buy a bag of it at most pet stores. They'll use it to line their nest or hidey hole.

Give them a few days to settle in before handling them too much. When you do start handling them, have treats on hand. Food is always a good way to train and to tame. :)

They're adorable. I'd love to get mice but my hubby would probably divorce me. We have enough of the wild variety that actually bringing some in would really upset him. He thinks they're cute, but he's had a hard time with the wild ones invading our space. Sadly we've had to put up kill traps (something I swore I'd never do) and it bothers both of us that this has become our last option.

[Wondergirl]

A little hidey hole is a good idea too, so they have some place to sleep

Since they chew up everything they can, they then burrow into the big pile of that and curl up to sleep.

We did buy wood shavings for them as bedding but they didn't seem to like it, plus when in the cages, it got kicked out through the bars and onto the table or floor. We then just gave them lots of cardboard tubes and little boxes to run in and out of and then to chew.

[Emily94]

My mom gave them an almost empty paper towel roll and there making a nest with the left over papertowel... Is it safe?

They have a tube running into a box with a hole cut and that's where they've spent most there time, but the white one now runs up to the front of the cage every time a light turns on :)

[Aurora_Bell]

They are adorable Emily! Youa re going to have your own petting zoo there!

I had a little mouse names Axel once. I bought one of those mouse ball thingys Alty was talking about, and the little guy would hop right in to it when I would open the cage.

I love the name idea! :D Too cute!

[Emily94]

Haha, I think I should open a petting zoo! I'll look into getting a ball, can they escape at all? Or is it pretty secure? My mom isn't fond of mice so if one was to escape I think she'd sell the house and move :p