RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Mon Aug 26, 2002 1:31 pm

Thought I'd get the ball rolling here with a picture of my mouse, Marcus.

Jenny

Mon Aug 26, 2002 4:54 pm

Cute!
The only mouse I have experience of is our little rescued fieldmouse, Charlie (and we almost never see her)

Tue Aug 27, 2002 1:03 am

Awwwwww...she's beauooootiful! Sounds silly to ask, but is she friendly? I mean, can you play with her without her running away from you? She looks so relaxed in her picture! :-)

Tue Aug 27, 2002 1:21 am

To be perfectly honest Marcus isn't really that friendly. He'll beg for treats and come to the cage door when you open it but he doesn't like being handled at all. He comes out to run about on the sofa but I think it makes him abit nervous.
Jenny

Tue Aug 27, 2002 1:27 am

Weee, another mouse owner! Here's a pic of my little guy, Moo Cow, curling up with the baby, Louison. He's the same as your Marcus: friendly, but to an extent. He very much likes to ride around on my shoulder, or have play time out of the cage with the ratties. When he's in the cage however, he's very shy.

~Vande,
Lisa Rainbow Smiley

Tue Aug 27, 2002 1:39 am

That is a fantastic name for your mouse btw Mr. Green

Jenny

Tue Aug 27, 2002 1:41 am

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Christy
RP Admin
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Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Tue Aug 27, 2002 5:13 am

Was that comment/laughter aimed at me? If so, let me join you, hehe. I just got tired of trying to come up with meaningful names for my animals somewhere around the cat I got in ninth grade (Nijinsky). He really is a heffer though! :mrgreen:

~Vande,
Lisa Rainbow Smiley

Tue Aug 27, 2002 5:16 am

	milkymaiden wrote:
	Was that comment/laughter aimed at me? If so, let me join you, hehe.

Yes - that name cracks me up! I love it! Mr. Green

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Christy
RP Admin
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Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Tue Aug 27, 2002 5:46 am

Now that I can go pic-happy (thanks to you Christy), here's another of Moo, this time with my other blue, Mousie (and ME!)

~Vande,
Lisa Rainbow Smiley

Tue Aug 27, 2002 8:05 pm

I'm also curious about Mice. There is a petstore in our local mall (where I got my first ratties, Mousie, Ellie and Bailey). I always check in there to see the ratties when I'm at the mall. Last week they had a tank with the cutest mice I've ever seen. Lots of brown/white and black/white ones. I told my husband I would love to get a couple of mice someday.

For the most part are all mice like the ones you've all mentioned here? i.e. not that friendly and hide alot? Are they happy not coming out for playtime like the ratties do? What is there life expectency? Are they prone to respiratory problems and need special bedding too? What do they eat?

Ok, ok, too many questions. But i really am curious Rolling Eyes

Thanks

Wed Aug 28, 2002 1:29 am

I only have the experience I've gained Moo, and the research from other sites like this, but here goes.
Yes, mice tend to me more shy than rats, needing much less time out of their cage. They do however need alot to keep them stimulated while in their cage (like new things to climb on or inspect) because they tend to get obese very easily. Most enjoy using a wheel, but Moo won't touch his. They can eat the same thing basically as rats, like a high quality, low fat lab block. Moo was okay on that, then when I started feeding Suebee's diet recently he started to gain weight again. Not sure if he's just being a glutton though.

As for bedding, they have the same requirement as a rat. NO cedar/pine (like you didn't know that, heh), just a low dust, no perfume bedding like carefresh or yesterdays news I suppose (haven't used the latter one). If you purchase young mice the cage almost 100% MUST be glass or 1/4 inch mesh because the tricky little things will squeeze through anything! Adults however seem to stay in regular 1/2inch or 1/2inch by 1inch caging. Male mice tend to fight, even litter-mates, plus their urine is REVOLTINGLY STRONG (sorry Moo). Therefore pairs are best kept of 2 females. Because of the strong odor, a wire cage is best because it allows for free air flow. As for illnesses, luckily Moo has none, but I have heard of tumors in mice, just as in rats.

All in all, I think they're wonderful pets, but I wouldn't necessarily NEED one in my life every moment (like my ratties!). They're very entertianing to watch, once they decide their life won't end if you see them outside their box. OOOH. Almost forgot, they like dark boxes to sleep in, or maybe even a dig box. Moo used to LIVE in his dig box (I used carefresh, not actual dirt though). Now he just sleeps in the hammock with the rats.

Ummm, okay, that's all for my knowledge, hope it at least helped! I think you should get a pair some day, because they really are a unique pet experience. Plus, you can't beat the cuteness factor.

~Vande,
Lisa Rainbow Smiley

Oh, and the obligatory disclaimer to new rat/mice owners:
Even though I mentioned I have a mouse living with my rats, this does not mean that they BY ANY MEANS should be placed together. Rats will EAT mice in many situations. Moo is simply a fluke; a rat at heart I guess, because he is allowed to coexist with my female rats. Just a heads up!

Wed Aug 28, 2002 1:36 am

I think it depends where you get your mouse from. Marcus was so frightened when we bought him home from the pet shop. We tried to socialise him with us but he didn't like any of it. I have heard similar from other mouse owners but also heard of people who have mice that like to be handled - I think Marcus tolerates being handled rather than enjoys it. I wouldn't call him an interactive pet.
AFIAK they do get myco but I don't think it's as common as in rats. Marcus gets out for exercise on the sofa but I wouldn't really consider it "playtime". I have read that they live between 18 months to 2 yearsish. I keep Marcus on the same bedding that my rats are on (cardboard strips) and he makes a giant nest. I feed him Xtravital rat food. I did try making my own mix for him but he got very fat on it so I decide to go with a commercial food. He also gets chicken and veggies when the rats get chicken and veggies.
Jenny

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Jenny
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"Rimmer, people who say 'har har' have no sense of humour, they just can't think of a witty retort." - Lister (Red Dwarf)

Wed Aug 28, 2002 4:57 am

Thanks guys for the info on mice. They are just the cutest little guys! I do think we will get a couple someday :mrgreen:

Thu Aug 29, 2002 10:46 pm

my sister and i were in the petstore yesterday to stock up on yogies for my upcoming flight with the rats, and in the "fancy mouse" tank, a mouse had clearly JUST given birth. itty bitty little eepers! you just wanted to grab a handful and take them home in a pocket!

too cute.
and also, those mice that look like they're calico, almost... is there a name for that? they're kind of orange/brown/black? i've always thought that was so lovely.

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Orson (Captain Chunkybutt), Pheonix (Queen Puffball), Buddha (Lady Spazmotron) and Gotham (Weenie McSqueaker)

Fri Aug 30, 2002 5:27 am

Aww! those mice are just too cute!

i have never owned a mouse, but i have saved many. when i was younger, whenever i found an injured mouse, i would carefully bring it inside, but it in a box with some cloth on the bottom, and put a heater underneath the cloth. when it started acting more lively, i would bring the box outside and release it. i just felt great after helping the little mousies.

Marcus and Moocow are just way too cute!
Rainbow Smiley

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~~Mallory~~
*~Paz~Mia~Nina~Medellia~Penelope~*
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~Eleanor~ ~Sally~Maggie~

Sat Aug 31, 2002 2:38 am

Aww!!! What a cutie! I love her coloring! Mr. Green

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Jennie and...
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Smores
Naboo
Anakin
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R.I.P., my little Poprocks. I will always love you.