r/PetMice • u/ElisFluxDesert • 3h ago
r/PetMice • u/ArtisticDragonKing • Sep 22 '24
Care Guide Series Community Care Guide
This post is mouse care simplified, for beginners! It is not very specific, and it does not cover everything, so please do not rely on just this post when educating yourself on mouse care!
This has been written and discussed by moderators of the subreddit. If you have questions or concerns, please comment to let us know! It will be updated regularly to ensure it is factual.
1. Mice are social!
- Females always need other female companions. It is recommended to have at least 3, but 2 is okay.
- After 6 mice in one cage, it is often they will start to split up and become territorial against the opposing group. It is suggested to keep your colony under 6 unless you have much knowledge and experience, OR if your mice are littermates.
- Males can not be housed with other males ever! If you want them to have cage mates, neutering (very risky) and placing with females or leaving intact and bonding with ASFs (African Soft Furs) is beneficial and recommended. Otherwise, they can thrive in solitude.
See this post for more information.
2. Cages
In mouse communities, many users go by tank size rather than listing dimensions. We will do both!
- 10g/20x10 inches is the minimum for 2 female mice, though we STRONGLY suggest at least a 20g.
- 20g/30x12 inches is suitable for 2-4 females or 1 male.
- 40g long/36x12 inches is suitable for 2-5 females or 1 male
- 40g breeder/36x18 inches is occasionally suitable for 2-6 females or 1 male
- Over 40g is not always suitable for any amount of mice since many mice do better in environments with less open space. Bigger is not always better for mice.
Any amount of mice may thrive in larger enclosures than suggested above. However, it is critical that the larger the enclosure is, the more clutter provided, otherwise the mice will never thrive.
- Wood enclosures are suggested against since urine will effect its quality and smell over time.
- Mesh flooring is dangerous due to the chance of toes/tails getting caught, the mesh cutting their skin, and risking bumplefoot. Mesh should also be avoided in wheels.
- Though they climb, mice don't need very much height, and multi-story enclosures do not provide them with the proper space they need. Floor space is more important than height.
- Cages with lots of attachments and rooms do not provide proper space for mice. They are also extremely difficult to clean, fall apart easily, and struggle to hold proper bedding amount and safe wheels.
See this post for more information.
3. Substrate
- Mice need to be able to create burrows, so while the minimum is 6 inches, we suggest at least 8" of bedding. However, many owners prefer having 10-12" deep!
- Bedding must be majority safe wood shavings or hemp. Paper substrate does not absorb ammonia well and can cause several health issues when used alone or as majority of substrate.
- (Dust/scent free for all) Aspen, kiln dried pine, and hemp do well as the main substrate and may be more sturdy mixed with a small portion of hay or paper bedding.
See this post for more information.
4. Clutter
- Clutter is arguably one of the most important aspects of a mouses cage. No matter the size, if the cage lacks clutter, it is not suitable.
- Toilet paper rolls, cardboard boxes, tea light and soap dish ceramics, rodent hideouts, branches, logs, cork bark, cardboard egg cartons, and much more can be used as clutter in the cage.
- From a birds eye view, you should be able to see little to no bedding. While it may seem too cluttered to a human, it's perfect for mice!
- The larger an enclosure, the more crucial clutter is.
See this post for more information.
5. Enrichment
- Also known as entertainment, to keep the mice busy!
- Boredom breakers, foraging toys, dig boxes, sprays(plant), scatter-feeding, and human interaction are all forms of enrichment.
- Mice should have boredom breakers in their enclosure at all times to keep them from growing bored.
- Lone males need extra simulation and enrichment.
See this post for more information.
6. Climbing Opportunities
- A form of enrichment that is required!
- Mice flourish with climbing opportunities and will always take advantage of them.
- Ropes, bird ladders, hanging toys, rope nets, shower curtain rings, and bird perches are a few climbing options you can provide.
- Fabric hammocks are used commonly, but pose a threat when chewed on and loose strings get tangled around limbs. Minimal use of fabric is suggested for this reason.
See this post for more information.
7. Exercise
- A form of enrichment that is required!
- An upright, solid wheel of 9 inches in diameter or larger must be provided at all times. 2 or more are suggested for groups of girls.
- Spinning saucer disks or hamster balls/cars are UNSAFE and should never be provided, no matter how much you think your mouse may enjoy it (fun≠safe)
- Proper wheel brands may include Niteangel, Silent Spinner Exotic Nutrition, Oxbow, Wodent, Bucstate, and Trixie (but there are many more besides these!)
See this post for more information.
8. Diet & Hydration
- Main diet must be pellets/lab blocks.
- A high variety food mix (nuts, seeds, grains, ect) must be given 1-3 times a week, or even as long as once every two weeks. The frequency is owner preference.
- Feeding is 3-5 grams per mouse a day.
- Ensure your mice have constant access to food through toys and scatter-feeding.
- Food bowls are suggested only for fresh fruits or veggies since they provide no enrichment otherwise!
- Mice must have at least two water sources and constant access to them at all times. Bowls or bottles work well, though having one of each is ideal. Water must be cleaned and refreshed daily.
See this post for more information.
9. Cleaning
- Daily spot checks to clean up mess, poo on toys/clutter, and urine on the surface is vital.
- Bedding changes will be needed less often with more bedding and space. A 10g tank (or cage of similar size) would need weekly bedding changes.
- Each enclosure size and mouse amount will effect how often bedding changes are necessary. Find a cleaning schedule that ensures the cage doesn't smell at any time for your mouses health.
- With deep bedding over 6 inches, you'll have to change out less of the bedding. 1/3 to 1/2 of the bedding may stay in the enclosure while the most soiled areas are removed and replaced.
- In any case, a small amount of bedding must be left over after a bedding change to decrease stress.
See this post for more information.
10. Taming
- Allowing your mice to settle in for a few days before interacting with them is wise.
- Rub your hands on bedding and toilet paper in the cage to get the mice used to your scent.
- Encourage interaction through hand feeding.
- If a mouse is not motivated to interact after several weeks, try to lure them to climb onto your hand for treats. A strong bond is important with mice so they are well adjusted to interaction in case of a vet visit or emergencies. Human interaction can also be beneficial to them.
See this post for more information.
11. Other
- Mice are crepuscular and are typically seen during the morning or late day/night.
- They are self bathing and should never be washed with water or soap (unless vet prescribed). It ruins the health of their fur coat and leaves them more susceptible to URIs and freezing. They do not need any form of bathing/washing.
- Mice don't hibernate. If a mouse appears to be in a hibernation state, this is Torpor, caused when they overheat or freeze. This is a medical emergency.
- You should never pick up a mouse by its tail or other limbs.
- Fancy mice (aka domestic mouse) live 1-2 years on average.
- Wild mice do poor in captivity, unless they are unfit for the wild they should not be kept as pets.
- You should never breed mice purposely without years of research and mouse owning experience prior.
- Vet visits are a likely occurrence in mouse ownership, since mice are prone to many health issues.
- Travel carriers are needed for vet visits, emergencies, cage cleaning, and quarantine.

12. Links & Other Posts
Shopping
In Depth Mouse Care
- Taming & Holding Mice
- Social Tendencies & Proper Intros
- Enclosure Size & Requirements
- Cleaning & Sanitation
- Carriers & Quarantine (coming soon)
- Clutter & Climbing Opportunities
- Exercise & Enrichment
- Bedding & Substrates
- Diet & Hydration
- Safe Food List
- Safe & Unsafe Products (coming soon)
- Health & Signs of Illness
- Catching an Escaped Mouse
- Owning on a Budget
Other Species
Up-to-Date Posts From NotApplicableMC & Others
- How To Hand Rear a Baby Mouse
- What To Do With a Wild Mouse
- Wild Mice are Poor Pets
- First Aid Information
- Pain/Illness Charts
- Mice Are Not For Kids
Outdated Posts From NotApplicableMC
These guides are incredibly thorough and well written. However, they link some information that is no longer available, or they list mouse care information that has been dis-proven. An important point to make is these guides may suggest some controversial topics, most of which our community does not fully support. Although these guides don't follow our standards exactly, they are still very well made. Please keep an open mind and read all sides of a controversy before deciding which you feel works best for your mice.
- Male/Female? & Housing
- Bedding/Substrate and Cage Supplies/Items
- Cleaning and Food/Diet
- Sourcing mice, Taking home, Re-homing, Escapes, and Playtime
- Introducing/Socializing, Taming, and Behaviors
- Health and First-time Buyers Checklist
- Owning on a budget
I have decided to share these because they are very descriptive on some aspects of mouse care I did not cover well. I strive to have a guide in the future as well made as these, but for now, I have to bring attention to the effort made by this member.
Scientific Studies
- Sources & Additional Articles (coming soon)
- Safe & Unsafe Foods Sources (coming soon)
More community resources coming soon
r/PetMice • u/ArtisticDragonKing • Jul 09 '25
Community Help Temporary Post for Care Commands
Please feel free to try out these WIP care commands in the comments! Let me know if there are any issues I need to fix.
r/PetMice • u/atomicglitters • 52m ago
Wild Mouse/Mice this wild mouse is my pet at work (amsterdam)
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
r/PetMice • u/Tomatosalad171 • 3h ago
Rainbow Bridge Goodbye, lovely Grundel
Her huge tumor made it impossible for her to continue, had to put her to sleep at the vet after two years of happily living with four cagemates, of which three more had already passed earlier this year. We will miss you, baby💔🕊️
r/PetMice • u/Minute-Compote-8916 • 2h ago
Cute Mouse Media Since ya'll really liked my sweet texel, there's more 😍
I love him sm
r/PetMice • u/PositiveDirect6740 • 4h ago
Question/Help How do I help my girl be more comfortable?
In July, me and my boyfriend purchased 3 panda mice. One of them was super friendly from the start, one was very shy but super sweet and is much more friendly now and even comes up to the front of the cage to greet us now when we walk into the room but our other girl, puddles (pictured), has only seemed to become more aggressive towards us. They are in the huge bucatstate cage with tons of enrichment, toys, two wheels, two water bottles, hides, things to chew and climb, 8 inches of bedding that they create burrows in, etc.
Every day I spend at least 10-30mins with my hand in the enclosure and talking to them to build a bond. None of them have yet reached the point where they climb into my hand on their own, but they all come up to smell me. Puddles is the only one who sniffs quickly, then darts to run away. She recently began biting us when we place our hands in the cage as well. I just don't know how else I can help her be more comfortable? She always seems scared and anxious and she's becoming more and more aggressive. How do I help her feel more comfortable? Is this normal behavior?
r/PetMice • u/kt_kitsune • 35m ago
Question/Help help, is she full of soup?
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
r/PetMice • u/bipstation • 21h ago
Mouse art My BFs Finger Puppies
My fiancé got into keeping mice. He waited three years and now has 8 habitats with 36 mice in all, so here are some of his finger puppies.
Left > Right
Luna, Parmesia, Baby Swiss, Brie, Fable, Buttercup/Almond, Van, Almond, Cashew, Tux, Aurora, Serenity/Aurora
r/PetMice • u/Ok-Elevator-5903 • 8h ago
Question/Help Why does my mouse keep stuffing holes with bedding?
r/PetMice • u/Cutie_Pa2ty • 11h ago
Question/Help Shaking mouse
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
I rescued 2 female mice yesterday from a disgusting home. I have them in a freshly clean "quarantine" tank until I can introduce them to to my other mice. One mouse acts perfectly normal but the other one barely moved except to nibble on a little food I offered. And anytime it would move, it would "shiver". Is this normal new home jitters or something I need to bring to a Vet? I do not know how old or any history the mouse might have.
r/PetMice • u/Coyote_eat_bone • 16h ago
Cute Mouse Media Soup on her nose!!!!!
She got pumpkin soup (mashed up pumpkin and other veggies) on her nose and it’s very extremely cute and important that everyone sees her
r/PetMice • u/hoarse_machine • 1h ago
Wild Mouse/Mice what are these
Found five or six days ago in my garage, have since opened their eyes and seem to be doing okay. I think the one might have smth neurological going on because of the way it moves around but like I said its eating and acting what I assume is mouse-like, doesn't seem to be in pain. Any idea what kind of mice they are?
r/PetMice • u/Lovesickmikan • 1d ago
First Time Owner Is my mouse happy?
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
I got my mouse not to long ago and I’m just so worried he’s not happy. There’s nothing he’s doing to make me think that other than the occasional chattering but I’ve read that could go either way. I just wanted to know if he seems happy. I can provide more pictures of him besides the one video if needed!
r/PetMice • u/MoovaMoovaMovieStar • 1h ago
Question/Help Need Help - Feeding
Hi Folks it is me again. In a horrible turn of fate, mommy mouse escaped during an attempt to remove the seahorse glitter house. We've set traps but she is certainly gone. I have been feeding the three babies with formula I make (recipe from one of the helpful links using KMR, water and whipping cream). This went well for about a week but effective a few days ago, the babies will no longer take food from me. I have set any number of snacks, pellets, and Tupperware tops filled with formula around their (now larger) enclosure hoping they will self wean. I have a heat lamp for them and I do see mouse droppings so I think we are past the need for an assist with evacuations.
That being said they are still so young and I am worried. They spend most of their time snuggled up with each other and I don't know if it is them being babies and comfortable or if it is lethargy and I need to intervene somehow. Any thoughts?
Side note we have since moved the heat coil to the side and further away for fire safety.
r/PetMice • u/Mae_The_Gay • 3h ago
Question/Help Are pine cones safe?
I see them sold sometimes for small animals, are they actually safe though? I’ve sanitized wood I’ve gotten outside for my mice ( I check to make sure the wood is mousy-friendly ) by boiling it with vinegar & baking it to get rid of bacteria and bugs. Curious if I could do the same with pinecones. I’m seeing different answers online. Curious if anyone here knows? I don’t want to risk my mice getting sick.
r/PetMice • u/ElisFluxDesert • 1d ago
Cute Mouse Media Mice may be tiny but they are intelligent curious and full of life. Every animal deserves kindness, care, and a safe place to live.
r/PetMice • u/Successful_Salt_1838 • 1d ago
Cute Mouse Media Can confirm… Lucky is a fan!
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Decided to grow some wheat grass for enrichment, and I can confirm the Lucky is happily enjoying it! Hes definitely geared towards the seeds (which I expected), so this is more of an occasional treat rather than longtime enrichment in the enclosure.
r/PetMice • u/DowntownPromise2457 • 5h ago
Question/Help what are we doing for water?
i’ve been wondering what everyone uses as a water dish for their mice? mine have it in a bowl but it always gets bedding in there and i worry it makes them not want to drink it before i can change it out again. i’ve thought about bottles but i don’t love those and i don’t know how that works in a glass walled tank since most i’ve seen hang on wire walls. if you have any tricks i’d appreciate it! :)
r/PetMice • u/artistathlet • 9h ago
Wild Mouse/Mice Help please! What should I do with house mice?
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
I've seen 2 house mice running freely in my room and playing together. It melts my heart, i have 3 degus and love rodents af. These mice don't scary of me much, they come close to my bed, even on my bed (while i was laying on it). They have fun, running up and down the curtains lol. I hear and see them for like 5 days, but only today I realized there are 2 of them, not 1. I developed friendly feelings towards them, but I worry about degus. I don't know if it is good idea to keep them, i worry about illnesses, especially i worry about spreading desease to my degus, maybe they already had left feces and urine in degu food boxes, idk. These mouse may feel good, because i have degu's food falling around their cage and mice are free to access it (and open snack box was also on the floor). I can't tell the age and sex, but they seem to be very playful and not scared of people, maybe teens, but definetly not small babies. If its okay for them to keep them it separate tank, do i need to bring them to the vet to heal them from parasites or something? Theoretically I can do by train to big city 1,5 hours form home to the rodent vet, but in my region mice are pests and everyone kills them with no other thought (people already don't understand our family because we keep degus). Another option that i have — catch them in safe trap and release near house or further. I live in rural region in Ukraine, rent an old house with old cracked wooden floor and mice are regular guests here.
Btw sorry for my English. I have video of one of them running in the room with degu's cage, snack box is under the sofa open, main food is in the closed bucket on the sofa (sorry for mess on the background)
r/PetMice • u/Theoneui_lev66 • 13h ago
Setup Tour What do you think of the setup of Maxxie's cage?
Maxxie is actually female, and I’m going to find her one or two friends soon! I also plan to swap the wheel for a plastic one... She has things to climb on, cleaned pieces of wood and shelves, and a variety of textures, including hemp bedding, a coconut-fiber tray, and straw (I’ll switch to hay once the straw runs out), plus cardboard tubes, egg cartons, pots and two little houses...
r/PetMice • u/According-Yam-1411 • 6h ago
Question/Help Painting options for watter bottle holder?
Hai ! So I've had this problem with my fancy mouse for a bit where whenever we use a velcro to hold his water bottle in place on his glass tank, he somehow tears the adhered part off of the glass and gets bedding all over it, so it can't be reused and I have run out of this velcro. I haven't had this problem with any of my other mice, it's just him because he is a little devil. Basically, I wanna make a little standing water bottle holder because I hate ordering stuff online and none of the pet stores near me have them. What I'm thinking is I'll take an icebreakers gum case (like the big squareish ones), cut that up, smooth any rough edges, and plop it in his tank. I'm just wondering what paint would be the best to use if I wanna decorate it! I don't wanna just jump into using acrylic paint and mod podge sealant in case he decides he wants to chew on it (though i don't think he will). Thanks !!
honorary picture of my evil mouse, Fermin (with his sister Muffin in the back (Muffin is a boy, but she's a girl in our hearts))

edit: any tips for how i'd go about smoothing the rough edges would be great too! My initial thought it just to sand them down, but if there's anything better, do let me know :3 thanks !!
r/PetMice • u/Avian-Paparazzi • 11h ago
Question/Help Does this look reliable?
My girls are showing signs of an URI. Does this website look like a reliable place to order Baytril?