An
Introduction to the Pet Mice
Keeping mice as pets is not something that has picked
up recently, the evidences for the same are age old. Beginning form 1100
B.C. till date, mice are kept as pets all over the world for various
reasons, but mainly due to its calm and friendly nature towards human.
Before making this lovely creature a part of your life, it is very
important for you to be aware of some basic information about him. This
piece of writing will assist you to know how to go about making mice as
pets.
Selection of pet mice:
Like all other pets, selecting pet mice also requires a careful
approach. Though there are numerous stores that proclaim of selling the
healthiest mice, but it is advisable to look for a local mouse breeder.
He will be the best person to help you in getting healthy mice that can
stay happily with you for a long time.
Healthy mice possess clean coat and the skin of their tail and ears
should be clean and pink. There should not be any discharge from the
nose and eyes. Make sure that the mouth and anal areas are also dry and
clean. Always check out their breathing rate which is relatively fast,
but not noisy.
Size and types of pet mice cages:
The size and type of pet mice cage is determined on the basis of the
number of pet mice to be kept inside that cage. For a couple of females,
a cage of 2 square feet provides enough space. For a larger group of
mice, the cage has to be large enough so that there is ample space for
them to play. Irrespective of the gender, all mice love to play and
climb. For that reason, wire cages are the most preferred ones, as they
provide a lot of climbing space to the mice.
For pet mice bedding, wooden shavings or paper towels can be used to
form deep layer, but it should be free from any kind of oil or scent.
Additionally, you should place some nesting material also in the cage.
Above all, it is very important to clean the cage at frequent intervals,
even if you don’t smell the problem. However, the mice do not like too
cleaned cage, it is good to keep some bits of paper or a little bit of
old litter in the cage.
Feeding of pet mice:
Food and water are as important for mice as they are for any other
living being on this earth. Mice do require fresh water (at least once a
day) and food to have a healthy life. Do not place plastic pellets in
the cage as the mice can easily gnaw it. It is advisable to offer mixed
diet in well balanced pellets.
Overfeeding with one kind of seeds or diet, especially the butter and
sunflower seeds, is not advisable. Potato chips, candy and other junk
foods should be avoided. Chocolates are big no for mice as they are
toxic to mice. It is good idea to observe your mice for some time to
know about his feeding and other habits. This would help you in the
training of the mice.
Habits of mice:
Mice are very social by nature. They love to stay in groups. It is a
good idea to keep the females in a group, as they are easier to handle
in comparison to male mice. Keeping a group of male mice in one cage can
be problematical, excepting the litter mates who have stayed together,
as they mark their territories and fight over it. If there is no choice,
then make sure that the cage is large enough to provide ample space to
each mouse. Since the mice are tend to breed at an alarming rate, the
male and female mice are kept separately. Else there would be a huge
population of mice in your cage in a short span of time.
At initial stage, it is advisable to let your pet mice get acquainted
with the surroundings. Later you can train him by offering his favorite
tidbits, playing with him, spending time with him and of course, talking
to him.
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