mouse question

Byron · #1 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:08 AM

(before I start, I'd like to say that I understand the dangers of feeding live and have given up the f/t and pk fight with my IJ for now. I'm not a fan of it, and I am as safe as possible with the feedings..hold the mouse until coiled, redirect head/feet as necessary, never leave the prey in the tank)

the place I buy my feeders from is across town and no matter what I do, it takes over an hour to get there and back. I have started buying mice 2 at a time and keeping one until the following week. (I see no difference in it spending the week with me or in the back room of a pet store waiting for me to come back)

my question is, what do I need to make their life 'comfortable' until the next feeding day?

I keep the mouse in a 10x14x5 sterlite container with a mixture of aspen and shredded paper. With each new mouse, I change everything out and throw in a paper towel roll, larger pieces of paper towel and if I have one handy, a small cardboard box.

I feed it an over the counter rat/mouse/gerbil mix of seeds, nuts, pellets, etc along with an occasional cheez-it and change the water daily.

I'm not trying to torture it the last few days, but I'm not wanting to provide a mansion either. I'm just wanting to be sure I'm providing it the same care I would as if I were keeping it long term.

When my AP cages get here, I plan on keeping the mouse in a 10g tank.

Other than the above mentioned practices, what else should I be doing?

thanks in advance for your advice.

AGActaeonia · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:12 AM

All sounds in order, Grnx.

I'd frankly do nothing else different myself ( and don't ) and I breed.

Byron · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:18 AM

thanks. I've read that they're social animals and do better in pairs (except for males together). Do you feel it necessary to keep multiple mice if its only for a week?

AGActaeonia · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grnxnam

thanks. I've read that they're social animals and do better in pairs (except for males together). Do you feel it necessary to keep multiple mice if its only for a week?

Nope.

Such recommendations are "long-term" considerations and are unnecessary. I personally worry over the quality of life of my feeders, not their qualities of happiness.

Byron · #5 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:04 AM

just heard noises from my mouse area. Went to investigate and the lil goober was trying to gnaw through the plastic near the lid. it has jumped up and was holding on near the lid as it tried to escape. normal actions? or did i get a psycho mouse?

HERPHAPPY · #6 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:20 AM

Normal....I would not trust in sterilite...to easy to chew out of! And skip the cheez-it...way too much salt: the rodents I raise (rat, mice or hamsters) are fed the sunfl.seed/scratch/pellet/oat/birdseed mix, with a treat of a tiny bit of dark green veggie (Kale is power chow! they may hesitate to try at first, but do like...) or raw carrot...no cheese! although my breeders get dabs of cottage cheese, or get to lick out yogurt containers! Get a critter cottage with hard plastic & rounded corners so they cannot chew...I prefer lab cages for production purposes, but for one guest mouse the other is fine.

telefrag · #7 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:29 AM

you got it covered, and thank you for treating a feeder animal with some dignity.
Having to feed live when you don't want to really can get frustrating.

Byron · #8 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:35 AM

I'd rather be able to find rat pups around here. OMG I think they look for the smelliest mouse when I go buy them.

I hear rats have nearly no odor compared to mice (especially male ones).

HERPHAPPY · #9 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:46 AM

Ha ha ha...male mice reek!

PaganMommy · #10 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:49 AM

All sounds fine and dandy to me! Yeah rats have a less distinct stink than mice. And ya know you and I are a lot alike! I have to take a 50 mile drive to pick up a few mice. I've tried to breed them twice with no success (I didn't know that they COULDN'T have babies?!). And the only place that HAS rat pups, won't sell them to me... and wouldn't give me a good reason either. So I'll be breeding rats soon.

Ya know... when I had those 'breeder' mice, they're little nesting box was too close to the top, and they bit around one of the air holes. It was plenty big for them to get out... but they stayed there, cause that's where they're food and water was... lol... so I'd say that's normal.
Lemme know if ya need anything else.

BlackLava · #11 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 06:49 AM

IMO mice are just a little stinkier than rats. ours rats reek even with every-other-day cleanings

Advertisement