Mice are Rodents, small mammals belonging to the largest order seen on our planet.  Unfortunately, due to their destructive nature in the wild, they are classed as Vermin by the majority of people, which has given many an unwarranted opinion when it comes to their domesticated cousins.  Mice do not get the recognition they deserve and can make rewarding pets.

Mice maybe small but they have big hearts and in most cases are gentle creatures.  When choosing a pet it is generally wiser to seek out a hobby breeder over other sources.  A hobby breeder will know the personalities of their animals, breed for temperament and should be able to answer basic questions on all aspects of husbandry when it comes to that animal. You should be able to view the animals in the home with their litter mates, this is where they are most comfortable at this stage in their lives and it is the only place you can see them interact normally with one another and their owner. Any change to their surroundings or uprooting them to travel to meet you will obviously have an effect on their behavior and could be misleading. Never choose a Mouse who seems withdrawn, sullen or extremely scared of their breeder. Ideally, the perfect candidate is inquisitive, approaches the cage front to great their owner and is interested in activities around them. The Mouse should be alert, have an over all look of good health and show no aggression what so ever toward the owner.  It is not uncommon for a mouse to nibble on your fingers but this is not to be confused with an aggressive bite.  Most of the time nibbling feels similar to tickling and does not hurt but always remember to wash your hands after handling food as Mice have a good sense of smell and could mistakes the fingers that smell like food, for food :)

When it comes to housing you should provide your mouse with the most comfortable, safe environment possible. Always remember it is not what you deem to be aesthetically pleasing but rather what your mouse will enjoy and benefit from the most.  Keeping that in mind the first thing is the enclosure. Mice need security & ventilation.  We find the most secure housing you can offer to your mouse is a Glass Reptile tank, similar to the Exo Terra for reptiles (NEVER keep in direct sunlight as 'the Green House effect' will most certainly come into play with temperatures rising inside the tank and the outcome for your pet will not be good). Not only does this provide four impenetrable walls and flooring (if your little furry decides to test the water by digging and chewing), it also provides a wire mesh roof which allows for good ventilation. So now you have a safe, secure house sorted, you need to look at furnishings.

As Mice are primarily Nocturnal, you need to provide a good substrate, a solid none-transparent hide, some play toys and cosy bedding.  Aspen shavings or Newspaper are the best to use as there are many reports of Pine & Cedar shavings containing toxins which are fatal to many animals, Mice included.  If you choose shavings, I highly recommend you sieve them before placing them into your pets home, even if the package states 'dust free', in my experience there is no such thing as completely dust free so sieving is the way to go (this reduces the amount of dust the animal could possibly inhale).  The hide should be large enough for the Mouse to sleep inside comfortably but also block out any day light when the animal is resting. Sleep is very important for physical and mental stability.  Animals who do not rest properly can become erratic, loose feeding routines, over eat and find simplistic tasks a challenge.

Mice are omnivores. Requiring a diet which consists of protein (avg. 16%), Fiber (avg. 18%) and fat (avg. 4%). It is up to you as an owner to provide a healthy, varied diet. Mice synthesize their own Vitamin C so you do not need to substitute this in their diet. Citrus fruits can be avoided completely as they can cause upset tummies.  If you can source a good quality mouse pellet, this can be offered as the staple when mixed with grains (although seeds, grains, nuts and any mix, should be offered sparingly), this way you know exactly what your mouse is eating. Some people suggest feeding Iams (Dog kibble, not over 8% fat) mixed in with some rodent mix if you cannot locate a good mouse pellet but not too much Cat/Dog kibble as they are a rich food.  A small portion of Denta sticks can be offered as a treat. The following list contains foods you can offer to your mouse along with their staple.