|
Mouse
This endearing little rodent has come a long
way from the house mouse, who has followed humans for thousands
of years in our walls.
Information
| Care | Caging
| Links | References
Information
| Size: |
About two inches with a two-inch tail. |
| Food: |
Mouse pellets. Fresh veggies, occasional
piece of cheese, grains, small amounts of dandelion leaves
or clover. |
| LifeSpan: |
Normally about a year. |
| Habits: |
Mice are easy to tame and make quiet
pets. They sleep all day like hamsters and chew
constantly. Mice can climb their water bottles and
toys, so make sure the cage cover is secure, or you won't
find the pet again. As a rule female mice smell
less and get along well with other females. If you
have a female and a male they will need another cage quickly
and if you have two males you need two cages. |
Care
A twn gallon fish tank with cover, or a cage
with a pull out bottom for easy cleaning. They like
nesting material like wood chips or reprocessed paper.
A gravity flow water bottle and constant things to chew on
are needed. Extras include a nesting box, non-toxic
wood sticks to chew on, exercise wheel and toys.
Caging
A glass bottomed aquarium with a sturdy screen
cover with snap holders makes a fine habitat if kept very
clean. Make sure the cover is secure, as they are escape artists.
A wire cage is also good, but avoid those with wire floors
as it is bad for rodent paws. Bedding can be Aspen or other
hardwood shavings, recycled paper, or other commercial product.
Avoid Cedar or Pine shavings as they are extremely toxic to
rodents.
Other items include a water bottle, heavy
plastic or ceramic dish, and at least one hiding place. The
hiding place could be made out of wood, plastic or straw,
but be aware, whatever it is it will be chewed. Last item
is a wheel, because many rodents will spend hours running
in place. A plastic wheel is better than a metal wheel, because
if your pet slips he could break a limb by it falling between
the slats of a metal wheel.
Another item your rodent will probably enjoy
is a plastic free ball. Those are the running balls with air
slats for them to run around your house it. Just keep them
away from stairs, and don't leave them in there too long.
Links
http://www.rodentfancy.com/
-- Rodent Fancy
http://www.rmca.org/
-- Rat and Mouse Club of America
http://www.afrma.org/
-- American Fancy Rat and Mouse Society
References
Hanna, Jack w/ Hester Mundis. Jack Hanna's
Ultimate Guide to Pets. 1996.
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