Fancy Mice Care
Fancy Mouse Facts
– Most mice are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during twilight hours (dawn and dusk)
– They live about 1-3 years.
– Mice are very social creatures. Females can live in same-sex groups and males can either be neutered and live with females or they can live with African Soft Furs.
Enclosures and Set Up
A group of 2-5 mice needs about 600 sq inches of space in their enclosure. This can be achieved with a 40 gallon breeder tank, a bin tank, or the Prevue 528. Most pet store cages are not suitable, and often much more expensive.
Along with a properly sized enclosure, mice need other basics like food, water, hidey houses, chew toys, a properly sized wheel and plenty of bedding for them to burrow in (6-9 inches in at least one area of the cage is recommended).
Bucatstate 3.0
Niteangel Bigger World
40 gallon breeder tank
Bucatstate 2.0 (larger version only)
All enclosures need a lid with proper ventilation. Your mice also need to be able to experience the day/night cycle, so light must get in.
Bedding
Mice like deep layers of paper and aspen bedding. Adding more aspen than paper to the mix is recommended, as mice can get pretty stinky, and aspen has more smell absorption. They can have other substrates like orchard grass hay, shredded paper, eco earth (soil), ect. Sand is not recommended due to their sensitive respiratory systems. Mice love to burrow, climb and explore so the more layers and textures, and clutter in the cage the better.
Wheels
Wheels are essential for mice. When running on a wheel, the mouse’s back should be straight, a curved back can cause pain and injury. Also be sure to get a wheel that is upright with a solid bottom, (no metal bars, thin plastic, mesh). Thick plastic, acrylic, and wooden wheels that are 8-12 inches are recommended so their toes and tails don’t get injured. It is also recommended to steer away from wood products that are not easy to clean, they tend to get urine on them.
Diet
Mice are omnivores meaning they eat a variety of different foods including fruits, vegetables, meats, insects, grains, ect. so it is very important that they are fed a proper diet that meets all their nutritional needs. The most popular food combination in the US is Higgins Sunburst seed mix for mice mixed with Mazuri rat and mouse lab blocks.
Toys and Hides
Mice LOVE to chew and have teeth that are constantly growing and need to be worn down so it’s essential that there are toys and chews to help with this. Safe wooden blocks, applewood sticks, cardboard, and toilet paper rolls work great. It is also recommended to have a few wooden, ceramic or cardboard houses for them to hide and sleep in. Mice, unlike hamsters, are very good at climbing and love to climb and swing for enrichment. You can add things like hammocks, rope toys, and hanging toys to entertain them. Clutter is key when it comes to keeping mice, they feel covered and safe this way.
Another great way to provide enrichment is to provide differing substrates. For instance, get a sand bath and fill it with Eco-Earth. This gives your mice something to dig around in. This will need to be on a platform to prevent your mice from getting crushed when burrowing under it.
Unsafe Mouse Products
Many people are unaware but there are many dangerous toys, treats and other products marketed towards mice that pet stores still put on the shelves. People continue to buy their products so they don’t see a need to take it off the shelves. It is very important that we monitor everything we are giving our little friends so they don’t become sick or injured.
Bonding With Your Mice
Every mouse is different! Some love and crave attention, while some are perfectly content with keeping to themselves. The first few days after taking them home, direct contact should kept to a minimum so they can get adjusted to the new environment. You can start talking to them, get them used to your voice, and start with the tissue trick.
This trick involves sticking some tissue paper in your clothes for a while to get your scent on it, and then putting it in the enclosure for your mouse to get used to your scent. After your mouse is comfortable with your presence, you can start placing your hand, palm up with some special treats to entice them to get on your hand. This might take awhile but eventually, your hands won’t seem so scary. You can then get to the point of holding them. Before your mouse is comfortable being picked up, you can use a mug to move them around.
