Good mouse keeping

Owning mice

In this post I will be focusing on what you need for your mice.

Unfortunately, many people buy mice because “they are so cute” and “they really want one.” Which means that it is a pure impulse and people haven’t been doing research before buying them. Mostly because they think “mice are so small, so they don’t require that much.” Well, that kind of thinking is very wrong. I mean, you don’t just buy a horse on pure impulse either. I know this sounds harsh, but unfortunately many make this mistake, and I really think it should be avoided.

If you want a pet to cuddle with then mice definitely aren’t a pet for you. They are very active and fun to watch, and yes some will let you pet them, but they would much rather explore the world around them. So mice almost never sit still for a longer period of time. They can be very affectionate and they do bond with their owner, but don’t expect them to lie in your hand forever and be petted.

Mice also need much more space and attention than people might think, and depending on the gender they also have different needs. Mice are also very sensitive and can get sick very easily. And as their owner you have an obligation to take them to a vet – and vets are very expensive. If you don’t have the money, or your parents won’t pay for the vet, then don’t buy an animal. These are things that many forget or don’t even think about, because they haven’t done any research. So I will write about what you need, for either males or females. Remember this is a guideline, I don’t claim to be an expert. But one thing I do recommend you to follow, is to not house males together.

Male or females?

It’s lovely if you have decided to own a mouse or more. But with that decision comes responsibility. First of all, you have to decide if you want a male or females. It’s very important that this is the first decision you make. Like I have written above, mice are very active and if they won’t sit still and let you pet them, don’t force them. Accept that your mouse just isn’t the type to be petted – this applies for both genders, as some males love to be petted and others don’t. Just like some females will bond with you whil others won’t.

- Males:
Males have to be alone, and this can’t be said enough times! Males are extremely territorial and will fight each other if they are placed in the same cage. And it doesn’t matter if they are brothers, they will still fight. I strongly advice to not even take the risk, just because to males seem to be getting along, the smallest change in their cage can cause them to fight. Males can only live with a group of females if they are castrated. Don't castrate two males and put them together, they are very likely to fight anyway.
Now, because males have to live alone, they require much more time with you. You need to be their friend and they have to come out for at least 1 ½ hour each day. Otherwise they will become lonely. Males do make great companions and can get very attached to you. The only little downside to males is, that they do have a strong smell. Some won’t notice it, while others can’t stand the smell. If you don’t like the smell then don’t get a male, because you can’t make it go away. And if you don’t have the time to play with him very often, then a male isn’t the right animal for you. 

Females:

If you choose females then you must keep in mind, that females are extremely social and need to live in groups. And no, two is not enough as two isn’t a group, it’s a pair. They have a social hierarchy, with an alpha, beta and omega. So if you just have two you risk having problems with the hierarchy. Therefore, you need at least 3 females, I recommend 4 as it is a very good number. Another thing you have to consider, if you want females, is that they are a never ending process. If two dies so you only have two left, you need to buy new females to add to the group. And introducing them to each other can be quite difficult sometimes. I will talk about the introduction another time. If a female lives alone she will be lonely, and some have actually died of loneliness, so it is very important to give them a loving group to be in.

Females are also lovely animals, and they are fun to watch as they tend to be very active. It can take more time to tame them, as they don’t really need your company like a male does. But all of my females have been very curious and wanting to socialize, plus they do also enjoy to come out and play.

The cage:

Now that you have decided which gender you want, you have to think about the cage, and where to place it. Mice are active animals, even during the night so if you are a light sleeper you might not want to have them in your bedroom. On top of that, mice have very sensitive airways, so they can’t be standing right next to a window or in a place where they will be in a “air current” if you open your window to let some air in.

You can either buy a wired cage, a tank or make one yourself. Even though you just have one male, he still needs space. A cage for a male has to be at least 60cm long, and about 35cm tall. Of course you can always give them a bigger cage, they will love that. Females need (in my opinion) a bigger cage, even though some also have them in a cage that’s 60x35. My three females live in a cage that’s 70cm long and 45cm tall. They thrive in it, as they can be together but they can also have some alone time if they want it.

If you buy a wired cage, make sure that the space between the bars is under 1cm as they can get out if the space is bigger. Personally I prefer the wired cages, because it is easier for me to give them access to the table, plus I can use all the sides of the cage, to hang toys from. The downside of wired cages is, that mice like to throw their bedding around, and some will end up on the floor. And if the cage is right next to a window, your mice have a bigger risk of getting sick.

If you buy a tank or make a DIY cage, you need to make a mesh lid to make sure they don’t escape, and they still get fresh air plus you can use the mesh to hang things from it. The good part about these type of cages is, that the bedding won’t be all over your floor, but it can be a bit more difficult to get a hold of your mice, since there is no opening on the sides. But I do know many people who love these cages, so I guess it’s a matter of taste. All 3 types are great for mice, with their own advantages/disadvantages.

A DIY cage - the picture is borrowed from a breeder.

My friends tank, where her females live.

Do not buy these cages!

Please do not, under any circumstances buy a crittertrail cage or anything that is as small as a crittertrail! Not unless you connect it to a much bigger cage! The crittertrails are way too small for any kind of animals, as there is no space to make a fun and interesting environment for your animals!   

Bedding

Now that you have found your cage, it’s time to choose the type of bedding you want. There a lot of different types on the market, and it can be difficult to know, which you should use and which you have to stay away from. I will start with the bedding that is an absolute no go! The most common bedding you can find, is the wood shavings made of pine or cedar. These shavings are extremely toxic, because when they get wet they release toxic phenols, which are really dangerous for your mouse’s airways. On top of that they are very dusty, which isn’t good either. So you are probably thinking; “Well then, what should I use?” Good question! There are many very good beddings on the market. The best are:

 

Aspen bedding

 Hemp bedding

 

Paper based bedding. 

When you buy carefresh, make sure it is without the new baking soda formula, as it's not healthy for animals!

All of these beddings are very good, so you can just use the one that you prefer. Personally I use hemp bedding, because it covers their smell really well. You need to clean the cage once a week, depending on the size of the cage. But mice can’t really be litter trained like hamsters, so they might not “go to the toilet” the same place every time, which causes the cage to smell faster as you can’t clean out one small area every day.

Nesting material

Very dangerous!

Just like hamsters, mice need nesting material. They love to make nests, and they make them so well, that I’m often left amazed of how they are able to make such nests. But what should they make nests with? The most common material people use, is the fluffy cotton nesting material, that you can buy in pet shops. This is extremely dangerous and I can’t point it out enough times. Do not use this! Mice and hamsters can get tangled into and get stuck with the material around their legs. This stops the blood flow to the leg, and causes severe injuries. Some have even lost a leg because of it! It’s also extremely dangerous if they accidently ingest it. As it can be digested, it gets stuck in their stomachs and can’t get out again, causing severe pain for the animal and in the end, death. 

Instead I recommend that you use plan toilet paper. It’s soft, can get through their digestive system and it’s cheap. If you live in a country where ink used in newspapers is safe, you can also use newspaper. I live in Denmark and here there’s no danger in using it. So with both toilet paper and newspaper you just shred it in pieces and spread it around in the cage, so the mice have to spend time finding the material and building their nest.

Mouse food

There are a lot of different brands of food you can use for your mice. But you have to be selective when you choose your food. It can’t contain too much corn, and it has to have protein in it as well. The recommended amount of protein in their food is around 15 to 16%. If there’s too much protein in their food, they can develop an allergic reaction to it, called hot spots.
Many use mixes placed in a food bowl, which is fine. But personally I don’t use it, because the mice can just pick what they want to eat, and the rest they just throw out and never eat. This means that they do not get everything they need, and of course that is not optimal. And since mice need constant access to food, you can’t just wait until they’ve eaten it all. So I recommend pellets. They are good because they contain everything a mouse needs, and it helps to wear their teeth down. Personally I don’t use a food bowl, as the mice will take the food with them anyway. So I spread it around in their cage, and during the week I just make sure that they have enough food. 

If you live in Europe, you can buy Versele-Laga Rat & Mouse complete og Mr. Johnson's Rat and mouse.

Both have 15% crude protein in them, and the mice love them. I use Versele-Laga for my mice.

As a treat I use the food mixes that you can buy, give them a few meal worms a few times a week, give them fresh veggies, give them some budgie mix as they love the small seeds. Don’t give them any dairy products, as they are lactose intolerant.
Here are some mixes that are great to use as treats:

Toys

Mice are very active animals and need lots of toys to keep them entertained. They are also very intelligent, so you need to change the cage setup quite regularly otherwise they will get bored. On top of that, mice are so much fun to watch, when they use their toys and explore their cage. With males it’s important that you don’t change all the toys at the same time, as this can stress them. So just remove one toy and add a new one, while you use the rest of his old/used toys. In this way he still has something new to do and explore, but his smell remains on the rest of the toys.

I use a lot of toys made out of wood, which I would recommend to use. Yes, it does smell after some time. But you can just wash it or throw it out and buy a new one. The wooden toys aren’t the most expensive. The wood is also good because they like to chew it, and it isn’t dangerous.

When it comes to toys you can be very creative yourself. One of the best things to give them, is egg carton (not one that’s colored). They love to chew through egg cartons! You can also put treats in a toilet paper roll and then close the ends so that they have to work to get to the food. There are no limits for your imagination with these kind of toys. Just be sure they are safe!
I won’t recommend too many toys made of plastic, because mice are chewers and can end up chewing the plastic. But it does depend on the individual mouse. So just keep an eye on your mice and if they don’t chew plastic, you can use it with no problems.

The wheel

Because mice are very active you need a wheel for them. Again, there are lots of wheels out there, and unfortunately many are not suited for mice. Mice may be small, but their tails are very long. And because they have those tails, they need a big wheel. The tail is a part of their back and spine, so if their tails are continuously forced to bend upwards, it will cause severe pain for them, as the tail will end up bending upwards all the time. This is a big problem for mice, as they use their tails for balance when they climb. And of course it hurts all the way to their spine, and we all know that a painful spine is not something anyone wants.

So I recommend to buy a running disc or flying saucer in medium size. They are very good for mice, as they do not force the tail to bend upwards.

But if you do want a wheel, use a mesh wheel (and a big one). Mesh wheels are not dangerous for mice, as they will not get bumble foot like hamsters.

Make sure to buy one that is big so their tails aren't forced to bend upwards.

But do never use wired wheels! They are really dangerous! When a mouse runs on it, it risks getting stuck with its tail or paw between the two wires, causing severe injuries! Don’t ever use them.

Do never use these wheels! This is also a good example to see how much a tail bends in a normal wheel.

That was it. This was just a quick information on the basic things you need to think about, and buy, before getting a mouse or several females. There a lots of other things you need to know, and you are more than welcome to ask me questions if you have some.

- The Mouselife