Mouse Health And Nutrition

Mice Are Nocturnal animals and spend most of their time awake from dusk till the early hours of the morning. The best time to feed your mice is in the evening, so that the mice don't end up hungry during the night If fed in the morning they will only eat a small amount and will need something left over for during the night. Mice like routine, so if you can try and give them their food at about the same time every day and they will get used to this routine. They are also omnivores which means they will eat both vegetable and animal foods.

The bulk of a mouse's diet should consist of a dry mix, containing things like oats, maize, dried crushed peas, sunflower seeds and peanuts, you can usually buy something like a mix called Reggie Rat, Harry Hamster or a dried mixture made up at your pet shop sold as hamster/mice food. If given the opportunity mice will eat anything edible.

Treats To Give Your Mouse

Wholemeal Pasta

Sunflower seed

A Piece of Apple or Tomato

Millet Spray that Budgies have

Millet Seed/Honey Bars or the rodent ones

Chocolate Drops

Sour Cream or Yogurt

Bread and Milk make a nice change from plain water (but still give water)

You will also need to supply something hard for your mice to chew on, as their teeth continually grow and need to be worn down on something hard, otherwise they will turn to their cage for something to gnaw.

Mice also love dog biscuits such as Markies, shapes or Marrowbone biscuits, these contain essential vitamins and can be given once or twice a week.

Foods To Avoid

Too many peanuts or sunflower seeeds, A few is ok in the food but too many are fatty and can cause a skin reaction in some mice.

Chocolate is ok in moderation

Unwashed fruit or veg could be toxic with pesticides (always wash and dry first)

Never give rotten fruit or citrus fruits as this contains a high level of citric acid which can be harmful to a mouse's digestive system

Check grain doesn't contain flour moths from being stored to long at a time

A quick note on fruit and veg

Ensure all fruit and veg is washed and dried before giving it to your mouse. Lettuce can cause diarrhoea Foods such as carrot, Turnips and Swede are good for mice. Mice will also accept Cabbage, Sprouts, Peas, Spinach, Watercress and Cauliflower if given. Always remove dried up greens quickly when finished with. Provide food in a container secured to the cage or aquarium so that it cannot be tipped over. Whole grain or white bread, crackers and rolls can also be given.

If you have a home made recipe to share with others send me an email and I will add it to this page.