Mice

Click Here to download this Mice care sheet.

Housing

A wire cage with a removable tray is a great home for your mouse as it is easy to clean and provides plenty of ventilation. Mice love to explore and climb so the more room they have, the happier they will be! Generally the number of levels in a cage indicates how many mice you can keep it in. The bottom of the cage can be lined with newspaper, but for better odour control a wood or paper based kitty litter works best. If there is wire flooring in your cage it is best to remove it as small feet can easily be trapped and the wire flooring can be hard to clean. Sawdust and shavings should be avoided as it might cause respiratory problems in your pet mouse.

Always have a hide-away, an area for you mouse to retreat to and feel safe ... a small house is ideal! Mice also like to make 'nests' and shredded paper and tissues make good bedding.

Your mouse's enclosure should be cleaned regularly. Twice a week is best as it prevents odours and is more hygienic for your mouse. Make sure to only leave your mouse out of the cage while it is supervised.

Food

There are numerous brands of mouse food available and the choice can be daunting. At Pet Magic we sell own "Mouse Mix" or "Mouse Pellets". Both options are nutritionally balanced, however the mix contains

more variety. Mice love to eat, but an empty dish doesn't mean all the food is gone. Before refilling the dish, check hiding places as your mouse will often store food in these areas.

Fresh water is a must, and should be in a bottle to help keep it clean.

Mice love their treats and it is important that you give them treats from the list below and avoid all unsafe food.

SAFE: apple, pear, strawberry, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, capsicum, carrot, orange, Chinese greens, bird seed, sprouts.

AVOID: cheese, beetroot, rhubarb, oxalis, potato, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, eggplant, beans, onions, cabbage

Enrichment

Mice are social animals so it is a great idea to get two or more. They are fun to watch in groups as they tend to be more active when playing. It is best to purchase your mice at the same time as often when introduced later they may fight. If this does happen, coating the new and old mice with baby powder may help. Mice are also happy to be kept on their own, particularly males. Only keep males and females together if you want them to breed.

Wheels are great for exercise for your mouse and entertaining, metal or plastic wheels are both easy to clean.

Mineral stones and wood chews make fun toys for your mouse and also help to keep their teeth filed down while aiding in nutrition.

It is important to supervise young children while they are handling their mouse as an uncomfortable mouse will bite if necessary.

Grooming

Mice need little grooming and a healthy mouse will groom themselves regularly. Long-haired mice may need grooming now and then. You can bathe your mouse using a good quality Small Animal Shampoo ensuring that you only wash them once a month.

The teeth of your mouse will grow all the time. Because of this your mouse will need to chew on mineral stones and wood chews.

Breeding

A female mouse can fall pregnant at 6 weeks of age. For the health and enhanced longevity of your mouse, it's best to not to breed them until they are 12 weeks of age (3 months). Gestation is usually 3 weeks with 8 babies often born. A female Mouse can fall pregnant again within 12 hours of giving birth. The father can become stressed around his babies and may kill them as a result so it is best to remove him.

During and after pregnancy make sure you give the mother plenty of fruit, vegetables and extra vitamin supplements. Weaning occurs at around 4 weeks of age with the babies able to go to new homes once they turn 6 weeks old. The life span of your pet mouse is 3 years.

Note: A female Mouse may have up to 12 litters a year if not controlled!

Health - "Prevention is the Best Cure"

Mice need to be wormed every 3 months. Pet magic uses Aristopet® Small Animal Wormer. Administering wormer to your mouse is easy, as mice love the taste. Put a small amount of worming syrup in a crumb of bread and leave the crumb in the cage over night.

Mice need to be treated against mite and lice every 6 weeks. Pet magic uses Aristopet® Small Animal Mite and Lice Spray. A small spray on each Mouse in the cage is necessary and at the same time be sure to spray the cage and hide-aways you may have as well. Remove any food or water bowls and DO NOT spray them. If a Mouse is not treated regularly they can become infected with mange, which is painful and needs veterinary attention.