Experience Level: Perfect for beginners, especially kids aged eight and above. However, a watchful adult eye is always recommended.
Size: Typically, mice reach sizes between 5-8 cm.
Lifespan: These little critters usually live on average for 1 to 2 years.
Behaviour: Not just cute, they're clever too! Mice can learn tricks, respond to cues like their names, and even sit up when they know food's coming. They're night owls and enjoy a good run on their wheels after dark.
Diet: Mice are omnivores, enjoying a varied diet.
Social Habits Mice can live with same-gender pals, but be cautious. They sometimes get territorial and might show aggressive behaviour. Read to the end of the care sheet for more information and fun facts about your new mouse.
Shopping Checklist: What will I Need for My Mouse?
- Habitat: Aim for at least 40 x 40 cm. Multi-level homes are a hit with mice. And always check the bar width to ensure your mouse stays safely inside. Increase the size of the habitat if you add another mouse. If you're considering a glass tank, ensure it has a mesh top for proper ventilation.
- Food: Choose a fortified mouse diet. Mice can also munch on rat food if indicated on the packaging. See the mouse menu below.
- Food Dish: Choosing dishes that can be securely attached to the cage is best to avoid any mealtime mishaps.
- Water Source: Bottles are the way to go. Open dishes can get messy with bedding or food, so they need daily cleaning.
- Bedding: Consider paper bedding, wood shavings, or wood pellets.
- Hammock: Don't forget a hammock for those lazy moments.
- Fun Toys: Include interactive toys like bridges, climbing structures, tunnels and hideouts.
- Exercise Wheel: Safety first; go for a solid-surfaced wheel to avoid any tail or leg mishaps. A diameter of about 15 cm is ideal.
- House and Nesting Materials: Perfect for your mouse to make a nest and cuddle up in. Shredded paper is the best material to use.
- Treat Time: One a week, spoil your mouse with a treat. They love it!
- Dental Care: Keep in mind that mice’s teeth never stop growing; gnaw stones and chew sticks, wooden blocks, or natural loofahs help keep them at the right length. Include a healthy mineral block.
- Litter Box: There's no guarantee, but it's worth giving your mouse a chance to learn how to use it.
- Nail Care: Add a rough surface to their habitat, like a clean rock or piece of wood. It helps keep their nails in check. Nails should only be trimmed by a professional.
How Do I Set up a Mouse Habitat?
- Location Tips: Choose a spot with low humidity that maintains a cool temperature between 18-24 degrees and gets natural light. But remember, no direct sunlight or bright lights.
- Bedding Basics: Lay the bedding about 5 cm deep, giving your mouse ample space to dig and burrow. Create a pile of shredded paper bedding in one corner and watch your mouse burrow away to their heart's content. Keep an eye out for messes, spot clean when necessary, and change the bedding as per the product's guidelines.
- Litter Box: Place the litter box where your mouse usually pees and poops and reward them if they use it.
- Fun Additions: Think transport tubes, cardboard, paper, hay, ropes, branches, bird perches, ledges and an exercise wheel. They're perfect for keeping your mouse entertained and active.
- A Quiet Retreat: Give your mouse a little house and place the nesting materials inside. It's their perfect spot for some downtime, play, and maybe even a snack. Hang up a fun, cosy hammock.
- Dishes: Ensure your mouse's habitat includes accessible food and water dishes for your mouse and yourself. Place on an easily accessible shelf or platform.
- Dental Essentials: Incorporate a gnaw stone and chew stick, wooden block or natural loofah in their environment to ensure those teeth stay short and healthy. Make a place for the mineral block.
- Cleaning Routine: Clean the cage from top to bottom once a week. Use mild, unscented dishwashing liquid and cage cleaner or a small animal-safe disinfectant.
The Mouse Menu: What, When, and How Much to Feed
Everyday Meal (75% Pelleted Food): This forms the staple of your mouse's diet. A mouse should never live on pelleted food alone. As mice tend to sample various foods and leave behind partially eaten pieces, they end up wasting more food than they actually eat. Serving two tablespoons a day is necessary to make up for this trait. Make it a habit to refresh it daily, ensuring food is always in their bowl.
Veggie Delight (15% of their diet): Serve up fresh veggies like squash, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and peas every other day. Just a heads up: steer clear of iceberg lettuce, and remember to remove any leftovers after a few hours.
Fruity Treats: Fruits should make up about 5% of their diet. Once a week, pamper your mouse with fruits such as apples (remove the core), red grapes, melons, and pears. Clear the fruit out after a few hours if they don't finish. Once a week, for a twist, throw in a raw or cooked, tri-coloured pasta spiral that has a spinach or tomato flavour; they find it extra tasty.
A general guideline is to provide a piece or portion about the size of their head. This ensures they get a variety of nutrients without overeating. For instance, a small slice of apple, a couple of peas, or a tiny piece of carrot would be appropriate.
Protein Boost: Mice eat protein as well. Good sources of proteins are dried mealworms, crickets, eggs, ham, chicken, lentils and raw nuts. Give your mouse this treat every 1 to 2 weeks. A couple of mealworms can be given at one time, but the rest should be in mouse-sized bites.
Hydration Station (Water): Whether you opt for a bottle or a bowl, ensure your mouse can access fresh, clean water daily. Wash the bowl daily. A good scrub with an animal-safe disinfectant for the bottle once a week is required.
Switching Brands: When changing to a different food, it is vital to ‘wean’ the mouse onto it by mixing old with new and gradually decreasing the old brand in order to avoid upsetting the tummy with food he has not had before.
Food Storage: Store food in a tightly sealed container in your fridge or freezer to maintain freshness for a lot longer.
Feeding Tips and Tricks: Mice are constantly foraging for food in their natural habitat. To mimic this behaviour and keep your pet mice engaged, consider scattering their daily pellet ration throughout their enclosure rather than using a bowl. This encourages them to search for their food, preventing dominance over the food bowl by any single mouse. Additionally, placing treats like hay and vegetables inside paper bags or cardboard containers can be a fun way for them to ‘hunt’ and play, as they'll enjoy tearing apart the cardboard to reach their treats.
| Everyday Meal (75% Pelleted Food) | Refresh daily | 2 Tablespoons per day |
| Fresh Veggies (15% Vegetables) | 2-3 Times a week | About the size of a mouse's head. |
| Fresh Fruit (5%) | 2-3 Times a week | About the size of a mouse's head. |
| Protein Boost | Every 1-2 weeks | Mouse bite size |
| Water | Refresh daily | Check regularly, keep clean |
Safety First for You and Your Mouse
Always wash your hands with warm, soapy water and dry them thoroughly before and after cuddling or tending to your mouse. It's a simple step to ensure both of you stay germ-free and happy.
Remember, mice aren't naturally used to human interaction, so approach with understanding and patience. They might bite or scratch, especially if they feel anxious or threatened.
For those with wire-level cages, consider laying down some cardboard. This not only provides a protective layer for their tiny paws but also doubles as a delightful chew toy, ensuring they stay entertained.
From First Touch to Daily Play: Mouse Handling Do's and Don'ts
- Settling Time: Give your mouse a few days to settle in before handling.
- Gentle Introduction: Let your mouse get familiar with your smell and voice; move slowly and speak softly.
- Safe Lifting: Scoop them up gently from underneath rather than grabbing from above to reduce stress.
- Low-Height Caution: Handle close to a low surface to minimise the risk of injuries from falls.
- Warning: Never pick up your mouse by its tail.
- Early Training: It's best to start handling and training when your mouse is young.
Mouse Care Essentials: Trust, Play and Health
Companionship Matters: Mice are social little critters who love some company. But remember, when introducing a new buddy, it's best to do it in a neutral spot and keep a close eye on their first interactions.
Active Play: Our furry friends adore climbing and exploring. Hanging toys? They're a big hit! Just make sure they're still in tip-top shape. If a toy starts looking a bit worn, it's time for a new one. And while rope toys might seem tempting, there might be better choices for our adventurous pals.
Grooming Habits: While mice take pride in keeping themselves neat and tidy, a quick check now and then for any matted fur or dirt won't hurt. Wipe with a damp cloth - just a little extra TLC!
Litter Box: Put droppings and bedding dampened with urine into the litter tray. This signals to the mice that it's the chosen spot for their business. If you notice your mice using the tray, reward them with a treat.
Treats and Trust: Who doesn't love a treat? Offering one occasionally is a delightful way to bond with your mouse. Letting them take it straight from your hand? That's trust-building gold right there.
Nail Care: Introducing rough surfaces like clean rocks or wood pieces in their space is a nifty trick to help with nail care. But if those nails need a trim, it's best to leave it to the pros. Safety first.
Mouse Health Checklist: When to Call Your Vet
It's important to keep track of your mouse's well-being and note any changes as listed that will require a vet visit. It's best to find a mouse-savvy vet before running into any problems.
- Cloudy, sunken or swollen eyes
- Wheezing or sneezing: discharge from eyes, nose or mouth
- Overgrown front teeth can be indicative of poor eating habits
- Bare patches in the fur and sores on the feet
- Lethargy
- Weight loss: not eating or drinking normally
- Diarrhoea or discoloured droppings
- Ear infection: Causes loss of balance, head tilting, discharge and odour, redness or swelling and scratching of the ear. Lethargy and loss of appetite occur as well.
- Bacterial, parasitic and viral Infections
- Mammary tumours
Tail Tales: Discovering the Special Nature of Mice
Vocal Maestros:
Mice are known to have a wide range of vocalisations, many of which are ultrasonic, beyond the range of human hearing. They use these sounds to communicate with each other, especially when courting. Your mice will have a secret way to speak to each other that we humans can’t even hear.
Burrow Architects:
Mice are expert burrowers and create intricate underground homes with separate areas for storing food, sleeping, and eliminating waste; that’s why it’s important to provide them with a pile of nesting materials to burrow in.
Night Vision:
Mice have a high rod-to-cone ratio in their eyes, allowing them to see well in low-light conditions, which is crucial for their nocturnal lifestyle. Night vision, isn’t that cool!
Taste Buds Galore:
Mice have more taste buds than humans, allowing them to have a highly developed sense of taste. They can detect sweet, sour, bitter, and umami flavours, helping them identify safe and nutritious food sources.
Facial Expressions:
Mice are known to have facial expressions that can convey their emotional state. Researchers use this ability to study their emotions. Maybe you can learn to recognise your mouse’s emotional states!
Tiny Paws, Big Impact: Wrapping Up the Mouse Care Journey
Caring for mice goes beyond just providing them with food and shelter; it's about creating an environment that caters to their physical and emotional needs. Choosing the right cage is crucial, ensuring it offers ample space for exploration, exercise, and nesting. It's also essential to pair them with compatible companions, as mice are social animals that thrive in the company of their friends.
Their diet should be well-balanced, incorporating protein and treats like fruits and vegetables. Regular health checks are vital, especially monitoring for issues like overgrown teeth, which can hinder their eating, and watching for signs of respiratory problems or diarrhoea.
Mice are also known for their keen sense of hearing, so keeping their environment relatively quiet and free from sudden loud noises is beneficial. Building a bond with your mouse requires consistent attention, gentle handling, and patience. Over time, with care and understanding, you can develop a deep trust with your mouse, ensuring they lead a contented and enriched life.