Your First Mouse (A Beginners Guide)

Things to Consider First

How many mice do you want to keep?

Is anyone in your family allergic to fur or dust?

If you decide to buy male and female mice, do you intend to breed from them. If you do decide to use the mice for breeding can you find new homes for all the mice or do you have the room to keep them all yourself.

Does everyone in your family agree to you getting one or more?.

Is there someone who can look after your mice if you go on holiday?.

You will also need at least an hour a day to play and take care of them.

Are you willing to take a sick mouse to the vet if necessary for treatment. Mice feel pain and discomfort just as much as other pets and shouldn't be left to suffer.

Are you willing to give up smoking for the sake of the health of your pets or at least keep from smoking in the same room as their cage.

Mice do smell a bit boys more than girls and if kept in a cage will make a mess with sawdust scattering outside the cage and onto the floor.

F.A.Q

Should I buy a female or a male mouse?

This is down to personal preference but a male mouse does smell more then a female and two males would most likely fight as they get older. A male mouse can show a bit more temperament and picks up simple tricks quicker then a female. Female mice only have a slight smell and more than one can usually be kept together without too much fighting .Females have a gentle nature.

How Many mice should I buy?

If buying female mice then at least two mice. A mouse kept on his or her own would get very lonely as they like to be kept in groups. If buying male mice then a larger group are less likely to fight then two kept together or male mice from the same litter.

Where can I get my mouse?

Usually from a pet shop, but make sure the pet you buy appears healthy and not overweight or you could end up with a pregnant mouse. Although not all pet shops will sell mice you might have to travel depending on where you live.

How do I know whether I have male or a female mouse?

If you have one of each it's easier to compare. Adult males are easy to recognize look for an oblong thickening at the base of the tail, called the elongated scrotum. In females the anal and genital openings are closer together than in males. Also in young female mice you can see the nipples where the fur has not yet grown.

How Long Do Mice Live?

The average lifespan is between 1 and 3 years. Most mice live to about 1 1/2 years. Occasionally mice do live till they are three years old.