Beginners Guide to Mice Care
- Mice make great starter pets
Mice make great starter pets for young kids or teenagers, as they are fairly simple to care for. They tend to be of docile nature and come in many shapes and sizes. The average lifespan of a mouse is 2 to 3 years.
- Mice are very agile
Mice are very agile, and tend to spend their time running and being active. They require time outside of housing to roam with a lot of stimulation, like tubes or toys.
- Cage Requirements
Your mice's cage should offer large amounts of ventilation, and be at least a foot long. The cage must be escape proof, as mice tend to be escape artists! Especially if a child is caring for the mouse. It can be made of material such as metal, wire, or plastic. The cages that tubes can attach to, work well for stimulation. Aquarium type of cages are not recommended due to poor ventilation.
A sipper bottle is recommended, to prevent spilling and soiling bedding. If water spills and the pet sits, it can cause various health concerns for the pet. Fresh water must be available at all times.
Mice are typically found to be chewing on plastic, so ceramic or metal bowls are recommended for feeding.
For bedding, shredded newspaper or recycled paper litter is recommended. The cage is recommended to be cleaned out and bedding replaced at least 1 to 2 times weekly to reduce waste odor and contamination.
Toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls can be used as hideaways, or as chew toys. Exercise wheels are highly recommended to keep stimulated.
Mice should not be housed with other mice unless they have grown up together, as they can show aggression to unfamiliar mice.
- They require a balanced diet
For mice, they require a balanced diet of grains. You can typically find different mixes of grains at a local pet store. These mixes contain a blend of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and grains.
For snacks, they can be given fresh vegetables like bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, parsley, beans and corn. Otherwise, they may have whole grains, pasta, and healthy cereals.
Fun fact: Mice are nocturnal! They spend most of their day time snoozing away, and are most active at night.