RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Mon Nov 11, 2002 8:16 pm

Of course, I've been thinking about it awhile now and probably will keep thinking about it for a while longer.

But I'm very interested in mice.

Do they get to come out and play like our ratties do? Would they be ok in the same room as ratties? i.e. they will be separate of course and my cages are very secure so no ratties can get at them. But does the smell of the ratties frighten mice? Would a ten gallon aquarium do nicely for two mice? What is their life span? Are males or females better to get in pairs? Can I hold them like we hold our ratties. Or are they really spazzy. What types of toys do they like (i.e. are they wheel runners?)

Sorry for all the questions, but I know nothing about mice other than they are simply adorable!

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Debbie and the gang of spoiled furries

Tue Nov 12, 2002 12:23 am

http://www.horns.freeserve.co.uk/mouse.htm

I know there are lots of great mouse websites out there, but this one has adorable pix!

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Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Tue Nov 12, 2002 4:25 am

I can't really offer any kind of advice on mice in general, since my only experience is with Charlie mouse and he is wild. He's very entertaining to watch, but not a "pet" in the way our ratties are.
He is cute as a bug's nose though

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Linda and the RMDs

Many have forgotten this truth but you must not forget it. We remain responsible forever, for what we have tamed.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Tue Nov 12, 2002 5:03 am

	Linda wrote:
	I can't really offer any kind of advice on mice in general, since my only experience is with Charlie mouse and he is wild. He's very entertaining to watch, but not a "pet" in the way our ratties are. He is cute as a bug's nose though

That's a very good description of Bunn as well.

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Arvay and the Squirmin' Vermin

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'

--Erma Bombeck

Sat Nov 16, 2002 9:32 am

The mice I have come out for play time. I have a table, with a towel on it or they WILL fall off, the table is set up with various toys, wheels ect and they have time there every day.

It is best to keep them in pairs or small groups. The females are easy to introduce to each other and will rarely fight. The males, its better if you get two or three young, preferably litter mates, and house them together.

Mice are different to rats in that you cant really "pet" them as such. They are very wriggley little creatures. Basically having two speeds, flat out and asleep. They dont stay still for long and are just go go go.

Life span is one and half to two years. I dont think the smell of rats scares them because the smell of the rats is on you as well. I think with mine they are used to the smell of lots of different mice as well as the rats on me.

As for housing, make sure they are secure from other animals including rats as mice are quite defenseless creatures. Some of mine are housed "free range" on tables some in the 110 litre storage crates on wheels, without the lids, that is a cheat effective houseing method IF you dont have other animas or small children.

Personally, I think mice are great and highly under rated as companion animals. Just remember they are very vulnerable, as you will notice when just about every person you meet stars the "I had a mouse once but it......" story about how there mouse tragically perished.

Let us know what you decide.

Sun Nov 17, 2002 4:13 am

Wow, thanks for the info.

I know when/if I do get a couple of mice, they will be in a very secured area. I have three cats and although I worry about them around the rat cages, I know if it came down to it, the ratties could put a world of hurt on the cats if they had to. Where as little meeces are different.

I went to a friends house in Sacramento last summer. Her roommate had a tiny little mouse. He had just lost his mate and was hiding in his "house" (an upside down coconut shell). I missed my ratties terribly while I was gone, so I would go visit their little mouse often. He never came out of his house, but I did put a couple of sunflower seeds next to the opening and saw him pop his little nose out once or twice.

I think they are adorable. Hopefully, we WILL have a couple some day soon.

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Debbie and the gang of spoiled furries