People usually think about white mice when thinking about mice as pets, however there are more than forty varieties. These days mice are not so popular pets compared to guinea pigs or rabbits, so you might find some difficulties in finding them in pet shops. It’s a pity, because mice are lovely pets, very cheap to feed, not so complicated to keep and maintain. In addition, you can keep them indoors and they require very little space. In general, mice are healthy animals and they live up to two years. If you look after them properly, they will remain active and fit throughout their lives.
In general, it is better to keep female pet mouse, because their urine is not so smelly and you can keep two females together. Two male mice will fight each other and if you keep a male and a female, they will probably have babies. Since it’s better to keep two mice, because they like company, we recommend female mice.
Mice should be picked by the tail (the root, not the tip) and transferred to the hand. Before you learn to handle your mouse and before you get to know each other, keep a hold on the tail to avoid an anxious pet to leap from your hands. Mice squeak if they are hurt and if you pick up them this way, they will not be hurt, even though many people think so.
What do mice eat? In general, their diet should be based on rolled or whole oats, some hamster food. Wholemeal bread soaked in water is good, as well as dog biscuits from time to time. Basically, mice are omnivorous, but they do not love cheese that much as many people do believe. Water should always be available to them and if you have nursing mother mice, they would appreciate milk.