Maddie--How To Take Care of Pet Mice

If you're considering a companion who requires less time and attention than a dog or cat, but will still want to play with you and get excited to see you, you should consider adopting a mouse. Mice are intelligent and fun pets if they are properly cared for. Knowing how to handle your pet mouse and having the right habitat and food will make for a happy mouse family.

Picking a mouse: It is important to know the different requirements male and female mice will need. Female mice absolutely need to be paired with other female mice because they will become distressed if they are kept alone. Male mice, on the other hand, should never be paired with other male mice because they will fight. Unless you get your mice spayed or neutered males and females should never be kept together because they can have a litter of babies once a month!

Habitat: The safest houses for mice are glass aquariums and wire cages. I personally use and prefer a glass aquarium because mice are escape artists and can sometimes fit between the wires of a wire cage. A 10 gallon aquarium is the minimum amount of space you will need for your mice, but the more room they have the happier they will be. The bottom of the aquarium should have bedding or wood chips. The brand of bedding that I recommend is Carefresh, but if you do not want to buy bedding you can use a paper shredder to shred old newspaper. Wood chips can be risky because they can be too dusty or the mice could be allergic to the type of wood you use. Mice will need plenty of wooden toys and sticks to chew on. My mice love to chew on apple orchard sticks that you can buy at your local pet store. It is important that mice have a wheel to run on because it is their only form of exercise. They will also need some type of house or covering to take shelter in. I prefer wood houses because they will eat the plastic houses.

Food: You have the option to buy a bag of mouse food from the pet store or make a mix of your own food using different types of seeds and oats. Mice also need a daily supply of fruits and vegetables. Carrots, broccoli, and celery are all healthy vegetables that your mice can eat. You should not give your mice too many fruits that are high in sugar. You can also give your mice live meal worms or crickets as a snack to satisfy their need to hunt.

Handling: The first day that you bring your mice into your home, you should not try to handle them or pick them up. It is important that they get used to their surroundings so they do not become overwhelmed. After your mice are comfortable in their new home, you can allow them to get used to you by placing your hand in their cage and keeping your hand still. This way they can come to your hand and realize that it is not a threat. Once your mice are comfortable, you can feed them treats by hand so they will associate you with food. This will make them excited to see you when you walk into the room. Mice love to learn new tricks especially if they are rewarded with food.

If you follow these guidelines, you are sure to have a happy healthy pet mouse. Remember that mice are pets and should be treated as a part of your family. If you are not ready to commit to your mouse and give it your unconditional love, consider a pet rock instead.