Mice can even catch colds. This is important because studies have found the exposure to bright lights at night can alter the behaviors and mental ability of mice! 1) Standard. Whether they’re in a pair, or a larger group, they need other mice to keep them company. So, before you decide to capture that mouse that has been making a home in your attic and claim his as your pet, take a few minutes to learn more about the most popular pet mice breeds. From head to tail, adult mice will often be between 5 and 7 inches in length. Do you have any tips for fixing smelly mice? So, let’s continue to see if this is a good pet for you. So, if you can get some fun toys or a multi-levelled cage, your mice will be super happy. These pet mice varieties require a bit more attention and care than the normal mice and should only be chosen if you are willing to put in that extra bit. If you’ve decided that mice aren’t quite right for you, we have some guides to similar pets that may be better suited to your lifestyle. Owning a mouse is a great hobby irrespective of your ultimate goal of owning them. So, be careful when handling them and never let them fall from a big height. They do bite but usually only because they are scared or handled incorrectly. If you have your heart set on a particular breed of cat, but you also want one that can help out with your rodent troubles, these are the 10 cat breeds you’ll want to consider. This can make them seem a short-term pet compared to other animals, like dogs, but they’re still a big commitment! Then to your hand in the cage, maybe feeding them a tidbit. It’s difficult to determine what makes a good pet! But, can be disappointing for kids who want to play with their pet in earlier hours. But we will look at this a little closer in a moment. It’s the age old question – are pet mice nocturnal? You have entered an incorrect email address! This article has been extensively revised and updated for 2020. And finally, choosing a breeder can be a good way to ensure that your mice are as healthy as possible, and have certain characteristics you desire. Mice as pets need to be kept with one or more other mice, as they are very social animals. Most pet stores have established suppliers already. Mice as pets are very entertaining and cheap. Dental problems are also quite common in mice because their teeth grow all the time. Other Varieties Of Mice (all the types that aren’t included in the above categories) - Agouti Agouti is the colour of wild mice and is basically a browny colour flecked all over with black. Illustration of jerboa, rats, design - 136223161 You should also watch for Wet Tail, so called because of a watery diarrhea causing the “wet tail. While lack of fur is a result of a natural mutation in some cat breeds, others have been developed by creatively crossing interesting breeds. The ZooEasy software is suitable for keeping track of all varieties of mice. And this even includes how well they’ll socialize with you. Make sure they feel safe with you before you actually pick them up. The “Dumbo” is a popular variety that gets its name from the cartoon character with the same name. So, mice as pets are still quite small! To this you can add small amounts of fresh fruits and veggies. As they get older mice also tend toward blindness. This means they can eat very varied diets. Females can have up to 15 litters a year and can become pregnant within 24 hours after giving birth. You can get a pet mouse in white, brown, or even silver and black! You can also pick the “Manx” variety where, like Manx cats, these mice have small or no tails at all. Furthermore, you need to provide you mice with toys in their cage. Ideally, they will spend lots of time running in a wheel. Irrespective of whether you want to become a breeder or are just looking for a fun pet, these pet mice varieties can be a joy to own. 2. F1 and F2 hybrids and mice with mixed genetic backgrounds display hybrid vigor, producing more, larger, and healthier litters than strains on a pure inbred background. Serious conditions in pet mice include cysts, abscesses and tumors. Nov 6, 2019 - Do you want to know what type of mice your pets are? Baby mice are called pups and are born deaf and blind. Let’s take a closer look at the various things our pet mice need to stay happy. Also, ZooEasy is very suitable for breeders, associations and studboks of all sorts of mice, such as the field mouse, vole or dwarf mouse. Mice-catchers in the 18th century were known to sell their haul to “mice-owners” who would, in turn, use the mice as a betting sport where they would be thrown into pits with dogs. Pet mice are a great choice for kids and adults alike. Mice are cute, lovable animals! Read on for a complete guide to pet mouse care! They are not particularly timid, can be trained and will form a bond with people over time. As nocturnal animals, mice will be most active at night and sleep through the day, so are great for people who work in the day. When do you find unusual lumps, you’ll need a diagnosis from your vet. Different owners would have different types of mice. In case you should feel an urge to keep or breed white mice (and with mice the two terms are practically synonymous), a few suggestions may be of interest. Your pet mouse is more likely to develop any of the more serious conditions as they get older. Then if you do manage to pick them up, they can be easily frightened. But like any living creature they can develop health issues. It can’t be knocked over and is easy to clean and refill. For example, the colors, drawings, hair structure and more. They can buy them fun new toys and watch them play. Pet mice varieties are differentiated on the basis of their coat, their colour as well as their markings. Unfortunately, the sleeping patterns of mice can mean that your kids don’t actually get to see much of these little pets! For the healthiest pet mouse diet, you should feed your mice a commercial mouse food which supplies a good variety of different ingredients. You also want to give them enough room to run around and get lots of exercise. Pet mice are active creatures that love to explore their cages and exercise lots. Also feed them treats from their hand, inside their cages. Soon, these mice owners began creating their trademarks by choosing one particular breed of mice and then using them in the pits. When you do pick up your pet mouse, always remember that mice are great escape artists. Rat Names – Over 200 Great Ideas For Naming Your Pet... Hamster Breeds – Differences, Similarities, and Choosing the Best One. I do not advocate breeding mice for the average owner, but the information here may be helpful if you find yourself with a pregnant female by accident, or perhaps from the pet … Illustration of guinea, side, breeds - 136223169 You should also carefully consider the temperament and health of the mice you are breeding. If you’re new to pet mice, you might be asking: can pet mice be kept alone? Also keep an eye out for sneezing, wheezing, and runny noses – these can be signs of breathing problems or infections. Hairless cat breeds make unique pets. Mice are generally very healthy pets if provided with the right environment and food. The cage should be in an area that’s well ventilated – we’ve already discussed the reason for this – but not exposed to cold draughts or direct sunlight. You’ll want to put it somewhere where your mice won’t keep you awake when you’re trying to sleep! If your cage doesn’t have built in play features you can buy toys like tunnels and ladders separately in most pet stores. Metal cages provide better ventilation for pet mice but aren’t typically safe for them unless the bar spacing is a quarter of an inch or less, or they can squeeze through and escape. This is especially true when they’re younger, as growing up in with other mice affects their social behavior and aggression levels later in life! There are different nesting boxes available on the market, but you can also just use a ceramic flower pot. Mice become more active during twilight and scoot around at night into the early hours of the morning. You should also avoid cleaning too often – about once a week should prevent smells from becoming too strong. This can make it really hard to pick them up and very vulnerable to rough handling. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Pet Mice – A Complete Guide To Mice and Mouse Care. Learning how to take care of a mouse can be a fun experience for families. You can also give occasional treats, like mealworms, peas, or even scrambled egg. My first, Dickens, I rescued as an infant. They make good house pets as well as mousers. So take care when introducing new foods. This will encourage their natural tendency to forage for food, and gives them a little more exercise at the same time. You just need to provide them with the right food and environment to keep them happy and healthy. Mice can reproduce very quickly. Keeping them away from TVs and stereos is best. Based on their markings, you can pick one of the many pet mice varieties such as the Berkshire, which has a white underbody, or the Hooded mouse, which as the name suggests, has a coloured patch on its head running all the way down its neck. Now we’ve answered some FAQs about pet mice, let’s take a closer look at some mouse care specifics. Just like us, mice are omnivores. Unfortunately, pet mice have been known to be relatively smelly. Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water, changed daily. It can be fatal within hours and requires a trip to the vet for antibiotics immediately. When buying a mouse, you have three options: pet store, rescue center, or breeder. Because you’ll be keeping multiple mice, you want to give them as much room as possible to avoid overcrowding. This is a serious intestinal infection in, especially young, rodents. Mice have much more sensitive hearing than we do. Irrespective of whether you want to become a breeder or are just looking for a fun pet, these pet mice varieties can be a joy to own. However, some breeds of cat are not that aggressive in hunting down the mice. A well-balanced mouse diet consists of: 1. They have great ventilation which helps to keep your mice healthy and fresh-smelling. Most pet stores carry them. Regularly feel for unusual lumps on your mouse, as these can signal tumors. Mice also like to chew a lot. Buying A Mouse | Caring for mice as pets Before buying a mouse, it is probably best to do a bit of homework on them. With a wide number of pet mice varieties out there today, for someone looking to start a hobby, there is no dearth of options on where you can start. The answer is yes! Rodents Breeds, Rodents Breeders; Mice . Mice won’t go out of their way to bite you, but you should be aware of the risk when you do try to handle them. They are very smart cats who are not difficult to clicker train. When it comes to twigs avoid cedar and pine, as many mice are allergic to these woods. When feeding your mice, you might want to spread food around their cage. After cleaning you should always try to replace some of the original scent in your mice’s cage. What Makes Them Unique. Reasons why you want to know the process for breeding mice and what you will need to start your own breeding farm. A mouse can easily get injured if they accidentally jump out of your hand. One of the most important parts of how to take care of a mouse is a healthy, balanced diet. If your mice manage to squeeze through the bars of their cage, it can be incredibly hard to catch them, as they’re so fast. The Chausie cat breed is extremely large. In fact, they will run after anything that tries to scurry away. Bets were made on the time the dogs would take to kill all the mice. Pet mice varieties have, for years, fascinated breeders, collectors and hobbyists alike. Housing, feeding and caring for pet mice is relatively easy compared to other pets. Besides avoiding the smells, unclean cages filled with dust and a heavy scent of ammonia in the air can also cause your mice to get sick. The mouse… Suitable for all mouse breeds. If you notice anything unusual, you should always check with your vet. They don’t necessarily like being handled, and could bite when picked up if they feel at all frightened. Some is two years old. There is no one 'perfect' way to care for all mice, because every mouse and every situation is different. Here are some of the most common mice varieties with photos for easier recognition! If you are planning to breed your mice, you should provide nesting material (tissue paper works well) in one corner of the cage. You can replace some of the bedding that’s not soiled, an old piece of cardboard or toy. So let’s start off our guide by taking a look at some fun facts about them. Surely, they will be the best cats for catching mice. Once the sport declined in popularity, the practice of breeding mice hung on as a hobby. All fresh food should be given in very small quantities to make sure it doesn’t end up rotting the cage. This article lists seven cat breeds that are hairless plus one additional breed. This is often the cheapest way of buying a mouse. more images Mice. These cages have different levels and activities, like tunnels and wheels already built in to provide your mice with lots of fun and entertainment. Do your kids love pet mice, even though they sleep all day? What do they eat, anyway? Choosing the cage itself will be your most important mouse care decision. Perfect Pets on Instagram Perfect Pets on Facebook Perfect Pets on Pinterest. Reasons why you would want to start breeding mice: Breed them as pets; You could want a … This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get mice if you have children. It is my opinion that this is the reason pet rats and mice are being bred with poor temperaments, and sold as pets or feeders; the seller doesn't care. Now we know a few interesting things about mice, let’s move on to see what mice as pets are like. As omnivores, they eat a huge range of different foods, from plants and grains to insects! But if you do, there are a few ways to reduce the smells. Pet Mice Summary. These are your, well, standard, rats. They have black eyes. While this doesn’t necessarily affect whether or not mice make “good” pets, it can mean they require a little more work to care for, as you won’t be caring for just one! It can be hard to control how gentle they are – especially as mice will move around quickly and likely try to escape being held. Abscesses can be treated with antibiotics. Some safe fruits and vegetables include: carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, dried banana and seedless apples. Pet stores may be the easiest for you. Pet mice varieties are also differentiated on the basis of their body types. So the next thing you might want to know about mouse care is what to feed a pet mouse. You can find breeders local to you by looking on the websites of mouse clubs. Most people want pets that are going to be relatively gentle. These mice come in semi-hairless forms, where they have patches of hair all over their otherwise nude bodies, or are completely hairless. Fancy mice, the ones you see in pet stores, were originally domestic house mice. So you need to be extra gentle and very patient in the beginning. Mice can reproduce by about 6 to 8 weeks of age, although this is very stressful on the female and not recommended. Different Types of Pet Rat Breeds. The recommended option is a water bottle with a non-drip drinking tube that attaches to the side of the cage. Because mice are nocturnal creatures you’ll want to put their cage somewhere that would mimic their natural habitat. They are almost invariably the beloved pet of a small boy – feminine distrust of mice starts at an early age. This breed is famous for hunting rodents, like mice and rats. To test this view, researchers placed some wheels near the homes of wild mice and they took to jogging on them regularly. - Silver Agouti As above only silver instead of brown. Avoid sugar and high fat treats. 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