How to Keep a Pet Mouse

Mice have lived with humans ever since man first began to store food. Since then the mouse has been hunted as a pest, used in laboratory experiments and kept as a pet.

Mice are by nature are timid and although they can be tamed some will bite when frightened. Pet mice become dormant if food is scarce and temperatures drop. They are naturally nocturnal and require frequent cage cleaning to minimize odor.

Mice are tamed by short frequent periods of handling. Food is a useful tool to lure a pet mouse in the beginning introduction. The correct way to pick up a mouse is to grasp it near the base of the tail then transfer it at once to another support. Never squeeze a mouse, if fear is a factor when handling a mouse don't, mice are more afraid of people and there is a risk of accidental biting.

Food should always be available because mice have a high metabolic rate and use up food energy quickly. Oats or wheat and seeds should form the bulk of the diet, together with nuts, brown breads, some greens and milk. Water should be provided in a gravity flow bottle.

As per Animal World pet mouse will spend virtually their entire life inside their cages, making a healthy environment essential to their well being.

Cages may be bought or made, but make sure that they are large enough to allow sufficient exercise and provide separate areas for sleeping, eating and eliminating. Cages must be cleaned regularly about every 3 days and kept out of drafts, dampness and direct sunlight.

A pet mouse likes to climb and play if the housing does not provide enough activities to stimulate the pet it may become ill.

To assure the pet mouse will have a happy and healthy life the following items are suggested:

Removable food bowl

Gravity-flow water bottle (fresh water daily)

Unpainted hardwood or stick for gnawing

Nest box with bedding of wood shavings, hay or un-dyed paper

Ladder and shelf

Wheel for exercise

Pet shops provide innovative accessories for a pet mouse; decide what choices suit your mouse's needs. Too many toys in the cage is not recommended, however if multiple toys are obtained switch them around with every cage cleaning. Interchanging cage toys will keep your pet mouse continuously stimulated making for a very happy mouse.

A pet mouse will generally remain healthy provided they are properly housed and fed. Failure to provide proper care will take its toll on the mouse resulting in their death. The life expectancy of the average mouse is 3 to 4 years but a healthy pet mouse can live 5 to 6 years.

A mouse's teeth are adapted for gnawing and continue to grow continually throughout their lives. Objects such as scraps of wood or pet store purchased chew toys must be provided to assure proper tooth wear. If a pet mouse is not provided proper items to gnaw on their teeth will become overgrown and prevent the animal from ingesting food and water.

Pet mice can be obtained in almost every pet store; it is not advised to keep a wild mouse as a pet. Wild mice are know to carry diseases and are rarely tame enough to handle. Avoid animals that have been kept in dirty, overcrowded conditions. Always see animals handled before buying, avoid nervous or bad-tempered individuals.

When purchasing a pet mouse be sure to choose only healthy looking mice.

The following are clear signs of a healthy mouse:

Clean ears, without blemishes

Bright eyes

Nose free from mucus or blemishes

Free movement

Soft silky coat no hair loss

Strong solid body

No signs of diarrhea (check under tail)

Tail not blemished or swollen

When purchasing a pet mouse be sure to look out for any signs of illness or disease.

The following are clear signs of mouse diseases:

Lethargy Reluctance to move

Staggering, poor coordination

Sneezing, nasal discharge, coughing, difficult breathing

Eyes dull, discharging, or swollen Constant, rapid side -to-side movements of eyes

Head tilted

Ears encrusted

Fur dull and ragged

Sores or tumors

Slobbering or malformed teeth

Hair loss on face or body

Sores on feet

Dragging hind lets

Stiff joints

Diarrhea

Abnormal swelling or protrusion of rectum

Swollen tail, encrusted or with sores

Select a pet mouse carefully and quarantine them for about 3 weeks before mixing them in with existing pet mice. Observe the mouse closely and isolate if any behavioral problem persists more than 24 hours. Separate the problem mouse to prevent future attacks.

Pet mice are renowned for their prolific breeding ability. A breading pare of mice can be responsible for 30,000 offspring in a single year.

When breeding a pair of pet mice remove the male from the cage during pregnancy and provide nesting materials. If you have more than one female, two female mice will create a joint nest.

The mouse litter is born hairless with eyes closed. Remove the mother from the litter after weaning. If the mother is left with its offspring after weaning the babies may be subject to cannibalism. Males and females should be separated by 6 weeks to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

The gestation time of a mouse is 20 days resulting in a typical litter of 6 to 8; the litter will feed from the mother for about 3 to 5 weeks before feeding on their own. A male mouse can mate at only 10 weeks of age and a female mouse will mate after only 12 weeks of age.

A pet mouse can be a wonderful addition to any family but realizing the care that goes into providing a healthy environment is the first step in choosing to have a mouse for a pet.

Article References:

Animal World