File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
I'm thinking of getting two female mice for my dorm room. Can anyone tell me about their care, how to tame and play with them, etc.?

Pic somewhat related; it's fake, before some /an/ons start raging.
>> Anonymous
Will your dorm even let you have them? Most dorms only allow fish.
>> Anonymous
>>315072
No, but no one cares. My RA comes to play with my friend's leopard gecko.
>> Anonymous
>>315074
I wouldn't get them then. You're RA may seem cool now but later he may get in trouble for being so lax and you'll have to get rid of them.

Also the things can live 2-3 yrs and in college your living situation changes so often it becomes more of a pain than it's worth.
>> Anonymous
Can we go through what's involved in keeping them anyway? I graduate soon, so I may want to do it then.
>> Anonymous
>>315082
You're a senior and living in a dorm?

It's pretty much like taking care of any other small animal. You change their cage once a week, get them a little hourse, make sure they have food and water and play with them daily.
>> Anonymous
>>315086
Yeah, liberal arts college.
>> Anonymous
>Can anyone tell me about their care, how to tame and play with them, etc.?

Not the way that guy is doing
>> Anonymous
Even if you try to socialize them properly, don't be surprised if they are bitey. Mice are unpredictable when it comes to their personalities. Fun to watch, but know you might end up with mice that would rather nip your fingers than play with you despite attempts at socialization.
>> Anonymous
>>315100
That's because mice from pet stores are bred en mass for profit, with no consideration for personality or health.

That being said, I've never had a mouse bite me out of aggression ever. Fear once, she was a mother. I don't believe that I am merely lucky, mice are no as predisposed to biting as most small animals are.

I now have mice from respected breeders that are the most marvelous little creatures I have ever owned. I'm sorry your experience with them have been poor but please recognize that 99% of mice brought into this world are done so for the wrong reason and I treated very poorly.
>> Anonymous
>>315133
Would you happen to be the same poster as>>314824? You seem very knowledgeable about mice. Have you ever owned rats? I own two darling rats, and everything I've read tells me that rats are friendlier than mice. How do they compare?
>> Anonymous
OP Here

So, aquarium? Cage? Dimensions? Food, toys, do they need out-of-cage time, etc.?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>315155

most hamster cages will do, try a crittertrail or something, pic related its the best one they make IMO
>> Anonymous
>>315067
It's not fake, it's real, it's on the instructable site which shows the guy dissecting it
>> Anonymous
>>315257
OH SHI--
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
>>315146
Yes I am, actually. I also quite frequently (accidentally) have this subject line since Mozilla saved it and I always forget to delete it ;]

I've never owned a rat myself although my ex used to have two that were very sweet. I would say that they are not as predisposed to NOT bite as mice are, and if they decide to, heck, even a nibble, they're a lot bigger of an animal so it can be a bit more scary :)!

However, I think a lot of people can relate to rats as they are a lot bigger than most small animals, are VERY intelligent, and really, are very "dog-like." I think they make great pets.

I wouldn't choose to have them over mice, mice are just infinitely cuter imo :D but I'd like to own rats some day when I have more room - although that could be a problem since the smell of rats increases the stress levels of mice, sadly. Muricide!

>>315155
I would have to very strongly suggest you get an aquarium with a sturdy screen lid. They are virtually escape proof and if you use suitable bedding and change at least once a week, ventilation should not be a problem. It also is an attractive cage and allows you to view them without much obstruction.
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
I can't express the horrors of Critter Trail cages to you, they are an overpriced, shitty death trap. Please please PLEASE do not ever keep a mouse in these (or any small animals really, ugh!)

If you get girls, you will need to get at least two, preferably 3, as they are social creatures and need a companion or they will become depressed - I've seen it happen to my first mouse ever when I was stupid and didn't do the research. If you get a male, that's it, get *A* male. Males will fight and kill one another, even if they're brothers - don't listen to what the pet store says, they want your money and want you to buy two mice.

As far as food, don't get anything made by Kaytee as it contains a nasty preservative, Ethoxyquin. Although I e-mailed them and they said they intend to remove it in the near future, we'll see.

If you get girls, they will only *need* contact with you if you want them to be tame and like you. My mice love me and dance with excitement when they see me and leap onto my hands. If you get a boy they WILL need contact with you and plenty of entertainment as they can get very bored and depressed as they must live alone. But, on the plus side, they will get very attached to you and enjoy being held and petted and scritched more than girls usually do. They stink a fair bit though, so that might not be good for the dorm scenario.

Any other questions? ;D
>> Anonymous
>>315184
critter trail is the shittiest brand ever. the cages always break! always. plus, they are really small and you can barely reach your damn hand in there to get the animals out. The mice/hamsters always get out of those too because they have little connecting tubes which usually fall off and need to be duct-taped on! aw, yea they're just a pain in the ass cage brand. dont get one

All Living Things is a good brand for cages.
>> Anonymous
I think something like a Savic Rody Hamster or Ferplast Duna are okay cages for mice, but I've never owned them. Problem is they are so small, and most larger cages will have bars that they would be ableto get out of.

There is also a new cage out called Hamster Heaven Metro which is pretty big.
>> Anonymous
>>315446
Helpful anon is extremely helpful. Thank you!
Just one: Will they be less attached to you if you get two, like parakeets? I think I'm going to get two females in either a 10-gallon aquarium or similar-sized cage (probably the cage, if I can find one it's really hard to escape from) if everything works out.
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>315528
Nah, mice don't work like parakeets really ;D!

You really need need need at least two girls, three is preferable in case one dies, the other will have back-up.

A great affordable set up is a 10 gallon tank with a screen lid. It can easily house 3 girls comfortably, and 3 girls isn't really much different than 1 or 2 as far as food consumption and stink goes, you won't even notice it. So yeah, screen lids like 12 bucks? Ten gallon's like 9 or so. Then you buy a wheel, usually around 3-4 and a water bottle for like 2-3 and you're good to go!

Btw, as far as wheels go, there are a lot of really bad wheels on the market, and even the "good" ones have their risks. I'd reccomend a mesh wheel, Petco and Petsmart each carry their own brand, I think. Never ever get one with bars / rungs for them to run on since they can easily break their legs or worse on those. I don't really like the solid wheels, like Comfort Wheels, as they get really nasty really quick. Petsmart now sales "saucer wheels" which are by far the safest and I'm stoked about potentially getting one really soon!

I really am going to try my best to dissuade you from getting a "cage." They just really don't make mouse safe cages in the US, I known a few users in Europe with appropriate cages, but as far the states go it's just really unheard of. Tanks are also easy to hide, just get a cardboard box and set the 10 gallon in it and put it on a high shelf or something if need be.

Ugh, I'm typing too much and going to have to split my post! >_>

Where do you live? I could maybe recommend a breeder since they're infinitely better than pet shop mice.
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Oh! And if you're ambitious, get a hot glue gun and a box of Popsicle sticks to make toys for your mice, really cheap and you can make new ones all the time and they go crazy with excitement when something new's introduced to the cage.
>> Anonymous
When I go to Uni, I'm not sure what the policy with pets is but most likely you aren't supposed to have them, but I've had pets since I was about 5 and I can't imagine not having any so figured I would get mice, don't need a huge cage, interesting the watch and aren't expensive to keep. Easy to hide as well ;) would love more rats but they need hooge cages.
>> Anonymous
>>315754
>>315754

That looks well good ^^
>> Anonymous
OP Here
OK, so it looks like two females, 10-gallon aquarium with a good top, probably an 8-ounce water bottle, flower pot and assorted toys and chews. Generic mouse food and low-fat treats. Am I missing anything?
>> Anonymous
>>315611
Not OP, but any in Philadelphia? UPENNfag here.
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>315877
You're in a pretty good spot to find mouse breeders. The East Coast Mouse Club has their fall show this November (10th? Don't quote me) in Leesport, PA. I'm from near Erie, PA myself and drove there last spring to obtain my first breeding stock, lol, such a drive. You're a lot closer!

There's also a few breeders in MD:
A Mouse in the House Mousery (MHM)
Gaithersburg, MD (USA)
Strive to breed friendly, healthy mice in a variety of colors/types. Mainly Siamese, Merle, Roan, Tri-Color.
Contact: Anita Rhawn
(I have the best mouse ever from Anita Rhawn, pic very related)

One Stop Rodentry
Gaithersburg, MD (USA)
We are hobby breeders located in Maryland striving for great temperament and well bred pets. Absolutely no feeders here.
No Shipping
Contact: Jennifer Hipsley
Phone: 240-994-3870

Sandem
MD (USA)
I mostly breed curly mice. I have a variety of colors such as argente, lilac, dove, orange.
No Shipping
Contact: Sandy

And there's one in Delaware... she usually has a lot of mice available I *think* I had two girls from her that were very sweet, although a bit on the small side :\
KAW Mousery (KAW)
Bayonne, NJ (USA)
I specialize in quality pet and show mice in many different colors and coat types. I specialize in many different colors and take pride in my Satin and Angora Lines.
Contact: Christine Fogu
Phone: 201-455-2189

Hope that helps, I'd look up the East Coast Mouse Club if I were you! :)
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
And uhhhh, OP: if you get a flowerpot make sure it's never been outside or used to hold any plants ever for safety's sake. I wouldn't get Kaytee food products, and well, generic ones aren't that good, you should look for the lowest protein food you can find, like 13% or so, usually hamster food, which is okay to use, has lower protein than mouse food.

A good treat for them would be just some old-fashioned oatmeal, I give my mice one flake at a time and they go crazy every time they see the oatmeal coming.

Uhm, bedding- don't get cedar! Pine is okay as long as it's kiln-dried as the phenols are burned off. Regular carefresh, imo, is crap. Carefresh ultra is OK but not my fav and very expensive. Kaytee SoftSorbent's control odor well and are pretty but a bit pricey. You can use *organic* garden soil and then bake/freeze it to kill any mites/parasites in it.

I suggest you all check out www.thefunmouse.com or www.fancymice.info
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>Pic somewhat related; it's fake, before some /an/ons start raging.

lol, no, it's a real mouse skin pulled over a computer mouse.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mouse-Mouse!/?ALLSTEPS
>> Anonymous
>>315926

GTFO
>> Anonymous
>>315926
I hate it when people do taky taxidermy shit like that. Also the people giving the instructions usually actually suck at skinning and prepping the animal.
>> Anonymous
>>316093
I hate it when people taxidermy shit at all.
>> Anonymous
>>316381
Why? Some of the stuff you see in museums are actually beautiful and educational.
>> Anonymous
Poop pun
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
For a cage just get a sterilite bin or something, they cost like 10-20 bucks, heres mine, 116 quart for my syrian hamster. doesn't have to be THIS big for mice but you get the idea. I'm not finished with mine btw.

heres a link
http://www.petwebsite.com/article_read.asp?parent_id=14&parent_name=Hamsters&cat_id=63&s
ub_name=Hamster%20Care%20And%20Health&id=256&title=Make%20A%20Homemade%20Hamster%20Bin%20Typ
e%20Cage
>> herbsnherps
why are you buying snake food?
>> Anonymous
>>316440
GTFO
>> Anonymous
>>316401
Can't they jump out?
>> Anonymous
>>316472

it's too tall, and if you are anal about it you can put the lid on and cut a little vent type hole thing with chicken wire
>> Anonymous
>>315926
Hahah. That's delicious.
>> Mice Breeders! Anonymous
>>316401
Those work too but they run the risk of the mouse chewing out, it's not common, but you may get one that particularly likes too chew. And yes, they don't need a place to get "started" chewing, they can just start gnawing on the smooth plastic.

On the plus side, though, they're light weight and easy to clean. You'd need a lid for mice, hardware cloth / mesh hot glued to holes cut in the top should work.
>> Anonymous
get rats, they dont stink
>> Anonymous
One thing not mentioned so far - get a small travel cage, to put your mices in when you're cleaning their main home.
Otherwise, as stated before - 10 gallon aquarium with a mesh top, a mesh wheel to run on, a water bottle. STUFF TO CHEW! Very important. The local pet stores sell some sort of mineral composite - it's a purple sandstone-looking tube. My girls go nuts for it. And a place to hide. A ladder's nice, too - they climb up and say 'hello!' when you bring them seeds.
Mixed seeds >>>> lab blocks, too. Look for the lowest protein content you can find. Seperate out the biggest seeds and simply put your hand in the cage and let them eat while you're socializing them. Trim your nails, though, or they might just do it for you.