Congrats on adopting your new mouse friend! Here's what you need to know to prepare...
Does my mouse need friends?
If you adopted a female mouse, the answer is yes. Female mice are social and do best in pairs, or even better trios. But the more friends you give your female mouse, the happier she will be! On the other hand, if you adopted a male, you will need to make sure he is housed alone (unless of course you are a breeder). Male mice housed together may work out for a little while, but it is certain to end in a huge fight that will end up with one of your mice injured or possibly dead.
How do I decide whether to get a male or a group of females?
If you are looking for a mouse that is going to love to be with you & form a strong bond, you will likely want to go with a male mouse. They tend to be the sweetest because since they have to be housed by themselves due to territory issues, you will become their best friend. However, if you're looking for multiple mice that are more independent & need less of your time & attention, females may be the best option for you. While males like lots of attention, females have the company of their cage mates, so they will be a lot less dependent on you. If you are someone who travels a lot or is gone for long periods of time during the day, females may be a good option.
What are some of the pros & cons of male mice?
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What are some of the pros & cons of female mice?
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What types of bedding should I use?
For all of my mice, I have always used aspen bedding. Kiln dried pine is okay, but you must make sure it is kiln dried. Cedar is not an acceptable bedding as it is toxic to most small animals & paper beddings are an upper respiratory infection waiting to happen if not cleaned appropriately & often. I would only recommend paper bedding as a last resort if you have an allergy to the acceptable wood beddings mentioned above.
What type of enclosure should I get & how should I set it up?
I personally prefer to use aquarium tanks with mesh lids & clips or homemade bin cages for my mice. If you are getting a trio of females, a 20 gallon long tank would be a perfect size for them & if you are near a PetCo, you can pick one up during their $1 per gallon sale for $20. Clips are recommended because mice can be escape artists, but they are also recommended if you have other animals such as cats or dogs that may try to get into your tank. If getting a tank isn't an option, or you would just prefer to save a little money, you can go pick up a sterilite (or any brand of your choosing) tub to turn into a bin cage. To make a bin cage, you'll need a bin, zip ties, 1/4 inch hardware cloth, & something to cut or melt out a section of either the side or lid of the tub. Once you remove a section from the tub or the lid, you'll need to make holes to attach the hardware cloth with the zip ties.
In order to properly set up your new enclosure, you'll need to fill the bottom of your tank or bin with a few inches of bedding. Mice are naturally burrowing animals, so they like to dig & explore their environment. You can also shred up toilet paper to give them nesting materials to be able to take into their nest where they sleep. Mice also like clutter, so you'll need to try to fill the enclosure as much as possible.
Another thing to remember when picking an enclosure is that mice are PREY ANIMALS! Putting them in an enclosure that is too big will do nothing but stress them out & potentially cause issues such as excessive skittishness or territorial behaviors such as nipping & tail rattling. They are NOT like hamsters, so they do not need the same ginormous amount of floor space in an enclosure.
In order to properly set up your new enclosure, you'll need to fill the bottom of your tank or bin with a few inches of bedding. Mice are naturally burrowing animals, so they like to dig & explore their environment. You can also shred up toilet paper to give them nesting materials to be able to take into their nest where they sleep. Mice also like clutter, so you'll need to try to fill the enclosure as much as possible.
Another thing to remember when picking an enclosure is that mice are PREY ANIMALS! Putting them in an enclosure that is too big will do nothing but stress them out & potentially cause issues such as excessive skittishness or territorial behaviors such as nipping & tail rattling. They are NOT like hamsters, so they do not need the same ginormous amount of floor space in an enclosure.
What types of enrichment do mice need?
Your mice will need at least one hide, a wheel that is big enough so that their tail does not curve while they're trying to run (wheel tail is a thing & it's painful for them), a water bottle, & a food dish if you choose. Some owners prefer to scatter feed their mice without a bowl. This encourages them to forage as they would naturally do in the wild. Toilet paper tubes & popsicle stick ladders/other crafts are another great way to give your mice cheap, effective enrichment. They also love to climb, so bird toys are also a good investment as well as ropes. You can attach these things to the lid of your enclosure using zip ties or twist ties.
What type of food do I need to feed my mouse?
I used feed my mice & rats Oxbow Adult Rat food. My rats are still on the same diet, but I have had to modify the food for my mice now that I am breeding, because it is far too expensive to continue on with just the Oxbow. They currently are on a mix that many breeders use, consisting of catfish food, hog feed, & black oil sunflower seeds. Other foods you may find that are okay would be Oxbow Young Rat & Mouse food (although the Adult Rat version is higher in protein & is better for them) or Mazuri. I have been able to find these brands at the following websites/stores: Chewy, PetSmart, PetCo, Amazon, or Tractor Supply (or Atwood's as well if you're in Texas). Seed mixes or cheap foods (like what you will find at Walmart) is not a proper diet for any small animal & you will notice a difference in how much they smell & their overall health if you choose to go the cheap route on their diet.
How do mice compare to other small animals like hamsters?
After owning both hamsters & mice, I don't know yet if I will ever own another hamster again. I have owned 3 hamsters & have had two of them that were completely unable to be tamed. I have never been bitten by or had any of my mice or mice that I have bred try to bite me or show aggression like hamsters have. If you are looking for a cute little pet for a child/children, I would absolutely recommend mice over a hamster. Especially if you have more than one child & would like to get them each a pet. Where hamsters are solitary animals, you can get a group of female mice & let each child pick their own pet & they can all be kept together which will help reduce space.