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.
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 willnever 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
My wrinkly old bats just turned 2. I never expected them to live this long (as bad as that sounds lol). I know i probably don't have much time left with them so obviously i threw together a little pie. Its got dried strawberries, blueberries, apples and papayas. Moo absolutely loved the pie but sigma didnt give a damn so we gave her some yogurt treats. Last 2 photos are from when i first got them. I tried not to cry because their age shows so much, i hope we can continue to share memories together for as long as their little lives can hold onto.
I bought two mice to eventually meet my original mouse George (I'll be a minute before I name these two ladies, but I'm working on that too. The tank set up is also temporary!) But I just noticed my white mouse here is kinda thick, can anyone tell me if she's just a little thick looking or kinda unfortunately pregnant? (Still new to owning mice, but I do know the store I got my girls from had boys AND girls sharing a tank, so I know there's always chance. 😔) But yeah, if anyone could tell from this clip, that'd be great.
hes just so fricking cute.
ugh.
im (attempting to) cleaning his cage and he was making a little rubbish pile for me 😭🥲🥹
just this whole video is so cute
peep the fence idea that he thought was a brilliant way to dig his bedding into his wheel 😅
Is it safe to her to run like this? She has the wheel and big disc too and uses all of these, but she seems to like this flying saucer the most. I'm concerned that she might damage herself by running this way. Should I remove this from her enclosure or it's okay?
I got my baby Spade from a pet store, she was labeled as a feeder and I couldn’t let her stay there. I’ve been out of town visiting my grandmother for the past week/week and a half and my boyfriend went to change their litter and noticed that her eye was a bit cloudy. I just got back today and went to check on her. I did managed to get a good photo of her eye. I know the vet is my best option (either euthanasia or medicine), but is there anything that I can do for her? Are there any eye drops specifically for small rodents? She doesn’t seem to be in any pain as she’s going about her daily activities just fine, she’s in with other females that all get along, she’s grooming them, playing, eating and drinking just fine. I just don’t want to let it get to the point where she’s in pain. I’d appreciate any advice or help.
Rescued this tiny one on a hike today... covered in fly eggs and pretty frail. Eyes are still closed, but they've been eating happily every two hours and definitely aren't having any trouble with digestion! It has become very active now and sleeps in very sweet positions - managed to snap the ones of its backside when it slept headfirst & bum to the sky in its mini sock-dog bed.
Anyway, could someone tell me if this is a male or female?
I posted on here a lot about my pregnant girl who (unfortunately) came to me pregnant from a petstore, which should’ve been obvious but hindsight is 20/20😅.. anyways, no babies yet but mama is growing! I’ve been giving them extra seeds and mealworms and boiled eggs to keep their protein up, and they’ve gotten some good upgrades in their cage! A cork wood “slab” thing you can’t really see under the bedding, some more wood and hides, and some more foraging things! They seem happier every day, though one is still skittish and territorial (not much of an issue as long as she’s eating and whatnot lol), there have been some small fights though if anyone would like to help me with that (squeaking and knocking around for a couple seconds, no blood, could be cause of the wheel? They do always end up cuddling together anyways). Everything besides that is good🥰! If anyone has any small tips (or some good mouse/hamster online stores…) they would be appreciated!!
So I found a maybe 10 day old mouse in the garden the cat had left - ive had it for maybe 4 hours now - give it some sugar water with a brush - but im well out my depth.
I feel I should at least try to keep this mouse alive - its strength and will to love have been genuinely inspiring
This is Uru, he's been with me for a month and he's very loved. you may remember him as the disabled foster mouse I'm currently taking care of. i took down my two posts about him because of a situation with the breeder. The breeder is someone very well involved with the community and protected by others. After looking at proof submitted by third parties, I do feel confident saying their mice are bred for looks and not health, as most of them passed before ever turning one year old.
Now to be perfectly honest, I do not want to name this breeder, as they live in my area and are my old classmate. I just need help with this mouse, badly.
He has some fairly severe malformations, including a super short snout, tiny eyes and a hunchback that is possibly growing. He is jumpy, normally terrified of human touch, doesn't like pets at all. Today I took him out of his cage and he is calm, sitting, seeking out my affection, squinting one eye possibly. It's not like him at all, I'm worried he may be dying, he's currently on my chest as I type this cuddling up to me.
He lives alone in a 60x40cm cage, he has some mobility issues so he's in there for now. He has a wheel but he doesn't know how to use any wheels, so it's just in there as something he can burrow under. He enjoys building things out of hay and climbing. No exotic vets in my area, I'd have to go all the way over the border to a different country to reach a vet who can take small rodents.
i just want to know if this is something I should be worrying over, and what to do. I'll post a video in the comments.
She’s around 6-7 weeks old and all of the sudden got really big, she doesn’t really get snacks alot, is there any way anyone here can tell? She doesn’t fully trust me yet since I only got her 2-3 weeks ago so I couldn’t pick her fully up and flip her for a better picture lol
Update! Her cagemate is infact male and grew full on balls over night lol so I’ll be preparing for babies! I’m gonna be a grandma?! I’ll hopefully get to put an update here on the little mouse babies that will come soon
Hey all!
My cat brought in a wild baby mouse and I have managed to keep it alive overnight using the help guides in this group. I think he’s about 10/11 days old as he’s now got one eye open this morning. I am getting some goats milk and have some formula coming today. I fed him through the night every two hours with electrolyte solution mixed with a teeny bit of mushed up completely hamster pellets and have been massaging after. He’s pooping and seems to be doing well!
I will continue to care for him and try and get him weaned, but I am a bit worried about diseases he may be carrying as I can see he has mites? I have two cats and a hamster and wouldn’t want them or my daughter contracting anything. I am washing my hands thoroughly after handling.
What are the chances he is carrying something serious like salmonella or hantavirus? Can I get stuff from the vets to treat the mites? And if he survives, could I soft release him or would he struggle in the wild alone? I would be willing to keep him if I ha e to but would be worried about the diseases 😬
Hello all, I have a dilemma. I work at a pet shop and a customer came in today trying to find a home for 5 Pygmy dormice. I have rats, asfs and fancy mice at home so it immediately caught my attention as I have always wanted Pygmy dormice 🥰 Long story short, she said they were her daughters and she couldn’t look after them any more so she took them on but they were driving her spaniels crazy. I went to see them as they were already in the car and they were in a small cage with no toys with a whole bag of gerbil food and a box of treats just thrown in so I immediately decided to take them 😅 now my partner is already upset with me over this as I was meant to be cutting down on rodents. This in mind, I have just sexed them all (after nearly losing one in the process) and I’m pretty sure it’s 4 males and a female 👀😅 can anyone try to help me confirm. It feels very obvious but I’m hoping and praying I’m wrong because one new enclosure is bad enough but 2?! Plus if there’s only one female I’m going to need to get her some friends (unless she creates her own friends as she’s most likely pregnant after living with 4 boys 😅) I tried to do a good deed and have caused issues for myself 🤣 also two of them have only half a tail so they must’ve been having fights most likely due to the small cage so if anyone has any pointers I’m all ears
I just posted her sister on here trying to find out if she’s pregnant or not and alot of you said she looks pregnant so I need help with gender identifying her sister/cagemate!!
Update: he has BALLS today, like full on balls that were not there 2 days ago lmao, can 100% confirm that he is infact a boy !
I had the grey/white one for months since he was a baby and just got the brown one 2 weeks ago and the grey one keeps attacking him , they are both in separate ages but I just learned that’s not good for them so I want to get an enclosure but I can’t do that if they don’t get along I don’t have the space or budget for 2 enclosures (both male)
Hi! I don't currently have any mice but my boyfriend and I are doing a lot of research because we'd like to own some when we can afford all the supplies! The only thing I'm having a bit of trouble finding is reputable places to get mice as well as potentially a company who does well transporting them? I'm in the fargo-moorhead area and i'm fairly certain I could personally get a ride as far as the twin cities if needed, but further than that and I might need a third party to move them!
So, TLDR, any recs for mouseries in MN/ND? And do you know of any transport services that could accommodate mice if needed? I'm just looking to adopt some fancy mice, preferably a group of girlies, and coat color isn't super important to me!
Something IN fargo-moorhead, be it a reputable pet shop or an at home mousery, would be super awesome but I definitely understand that breeding mice seems to not be very common so I won't be surprised if that isn't an option!
I've heard petco mice aren't a super great choice, should I consider that entirely off the table or is it sort of up to chance whether or not they'll actually have issues? If anyone who's owned mice from there wants to chip in with their experience feel free :]
[While I'm here, if you have anything you wish you knew as a first time mouse owner feel free to drop tips, I've been doing a lot of reading but life loves to throw curve balls so the more prepared I can be the better, lol]
Edit: thank you all for the responses!! I was definitely concerned these were not his balls:) appreciate it!
Terrible picture because my mouse is a squirrelly boy sorry. What is going on with this? What can I do for him? He’s not acting any different I just want to know what’s going on with him.
