What Are the Differences Between Feeder and Fancy Mice?

Most children have seen Mickey Mouse and if you ask a child what a mouse looks like they are likely to describe Mickey Mouse from the cartoons. People have been keeping mice as pets for a long time. Mice have also been kept for research purposes and most people think of the white mice when someone mentions lab mice.

There are differences between feeder and fancy mice, although most people don't notice them right away.

Fancy Mice

Fancy mice are bred to certain standards and colors that people who keep mice as pets want. Fancy mice will also cost a little bit more in most pet stores. Fancy mice have a life span of anywhere between 1 and 3 years. I had a feeder mouse that lived for 4 years so you can never really tell how long each type of mouse will live based solely on whether it's a feeder or fancy mouse.

Feeder Mice

Feeder mice are bred with no regards to inbreeding, health or desired characteristics. Two mice are put together to breed and they let them do so. Feeder mice have a higher chance of being aggressive and having shorter life spans.

Breeders and Pet Shops may keep feeder mice separate from fancy mice and if you see this most times that means there is a difference in their mice. The feeder mice may be sick, have parasites or have genetic defects like waltzing. A mouse that is constantly walking in circles in most cases has a genetic defect that most mouse breeders call, waltzing. If it's caused by a genetic defect there is no cure for it and these mice usually have shorter life spans. If the waltzing is caused by an abscess or an ear infection, then the condition might be treatable. A Veterinarian will be able to tell you which your mouse has.

There are dozens of types and colors to choose from these days. Finding a mouse that you want whether it's a long haired white, a brown short haired or even a hairless mouse is easily available if you know where to look for them.

Feeder mice and fancy mice are the same species of mice, but most fancy mice are bred to be pets and thus not inbred. No matter what type of mouse you adopt as your pet, make sure to give them lots of love, attention and always have fresh water and food available for them. Mice that have all of these things tend to live longer because they are happier and healthier.

Whether choosing to get feeder or fancy mice, it's always better to get females in pairs as they like to live with a companion and females don't have as strong an odor as males do. Males on the other hand like to be caged by themselves and will likely fight with another male in his cage. There are instances that males who have been caged together as babies, such as brothers will live together peacefully.