any advice for an untamed spiny mouse??

[laydeerodentzz]

On sunday Im getting an untamed spiny mouse, Im not sure if it's male or female yet, but im taking it home with me because someone gave it to her little boy for christmas, it bit him three times and they can't cope with it, they lost it behind the fridge and so when they get it out and I can make it, im going to pick it up and bring it home. Im worried I won't be able to handle it or introduce another mouse to it as I know they have to be from the same litter to get along or it will probably go down completely the wrong way. I know quite a lot on this stuff, but if anyone has any top tips for me please let me know as spiny mice are quite new to me.

[Sasami]

You have to go slow with spiny mice...don't pick it up, let him/her come to you. I've found that sitting in a bathtub and letting the mouse/mice run around is a good way to tame them. They can climb on you and get used to your scent. Some nibbling is normal and from the sound of it you might get nipped a bit. This might sound strange but try not to quickly pull away if you get bitten. S/he'll realize that biting will make the big, scary hand leave. Making a loud noise to startle the mouse works better.

Be patient and remember that spiny mice are wild animals, they are not domestic like fancy mice. But they are intelligent animals who will usually bond closely to you after a while . Mine would literally leap out of the cage when I'd open it and jump onto me. Osiris was especially sweet and would sit on the couch with me and watch TV. In personality they reminded me of hyper-active degus...just a bit more mouthy.

I started with just one spiny mouse too and was able to introduce a non-related second one . I did what I do for introducing degus, only I took it a little slower. I kept them next to each other and mixed the bedding between the cages. After a week or so I introduced them in the bathtub. I did this every day and slowly increased the time they played together. I would also switch them between the cages to help them get used to each other's scents. I found that the easiest way to get them living together is placing them both in a new cage/tank (new to them, anyways) since it'll be neutral territory. If you can do that then definitely try it. Soooo much easier.

Be prepared for a little fighting, though, unless you get a baby. Don't separate unless you see blood.

I found this website really helpful: Spiny Mouse Care Basics

Good luck!!!

[laydeerodentzz]

Thank you Im very greatful for your info and will try this when I get it tomorrow, your mice sound really sweet and the bathtub method sounds hopeful, I will fill you in about it soon!
Thanx!!

[laydeerodentzz]

I have my spiny mouse, I named him scamper and he is very sweet! I used the bathtub method and it worked wonders! He will take food out of my fingers now and LOVES the hamster ball!! Thank you very, very much! He spends most of his time in his wheel and he will sit on my hand only if he climbs up my leg and gets there first!

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by laydeerodentzz I have my spiny mouse, I named him scamper and he is very sweet! I used the bathtub method and it worked wonders! He will take food out of my fingers now and LOVES the hamster ball!! Thank you very, very much! He spends most of his time in his wheel and he will sit on my hand only if he climbs up my leg and gets there first!

That's great to hear! Mine loved the exercise balls too .

You should post some pictures .

I really miss my spiny mice...I'd love to get more some day.

[laydeerodentzz]

I was doing sooo soooo well tameing scamper, my spiny mouse as I named him. I even spent 40pounds on him at pets at home yesterday, I got him a new ball specailly for mice and he loved it, he had started to sit on my hand yesterday and I thought his ball was great until he went missing...

I've been really tearful and I had made so much progress, but now he has gone. It's been one night now and no sign of him. I thought maybe he had curled up somewhere and gone to sleep, then maybe he would show up this morning, No signs, none of the treats I put on the floor have been moved and to make it worse, there is a pipe in my kitchen leading outside. I blocked of the kitchin, but that was after I realised he was gone..

Im really worried and I have searched and searched. I think he's gone...

[laydeerodentzz]

I found him!!! He was actually in the back of my oven! So I was in there with my screwdriver in one hand and a teatowel in the other. Once the back was of, scamper was just standing there, frozen, I felt quite sorry for him really. I put the teatowel over him and he just stood still, agian. So I took him up to his cage for a rest. Then I had to get my dad to come put the oven back together.lol. Scamper was ok, not even a pin pick hurt him while he was gone and Im so happy!

[laydeerodentzz]

I was just wondering...
I have had a few friendly nibbles from my spiny mouse. It didn't really hurt, but one time he dug his teeth in and just stood there with his teeth digging into me, so I moved my finger and he let go and I put my hand back where it originally was. Am I doing the right thing? Are the nibbles a good or bad thing? Do I need to do the bathtub thing again? Please help, I just want whats best for scamper.

[mtmaughan]

I don't really know anything about mice, but you would think that as long as he's not truly biting you, that's a good thing. I wish you luck, though.

[mebri123]

ditto that good luck with the little guy.... they are cute i have seen a pic of one on here before..... he he ......

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by laydeerodentzz I was just wondering... I have had a few friendly nibbles from my spiny mouse. It didn't really hurt, but one time he dug his teeth in and just stood there with his teeth digging into me, so I moved my finger and he let go and I put my hand back where it originally was. Am I doing the right thing? Are the nibbles a good or bad thing? Do I need to do the bathtub thing again? Please help, I just want whats best for scamper.

I'm so glad you found him!!!! My first spiny mouse, Isis, escaped two days after I got her. And she was not easy to catch! Hehe.

In my experience, nibbling is normal for a lot of spiny mice. If it doesn't hurt then the mouse isn't acting out of aggression, it's probably trying to groom you . That's a good thing as it considers you family.

[laydeerodentzz]

Thank you for your help, it's going really well!

[laydeerodentzz]

forget going really well, he is biting me again! and it hurts now, he does not just bite and leave, he is hanging onto my finger! everyday I give him fresh food and water, put him in his exercise ball and try to give him a treat and let him come onto my hand all by himself. Now I can't put my hand in the cage without him trying to bite me and he also runs away?!? So does anyone know what I might be doing wrong, please help im really worried?? He is only young, could it be his hormones? If it is would neutering him help?

[mulder]

i dunno what to tell you, my girls bit me all the time too

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by laydeerodentzz forget going really well, he is biting me again! and it hurts now, he does not just bite and leave, he is hanging onto my finger! everyday I give him fresh food and water, put him in his exercise ball and try to give him a treat and let him come onto my hand all by himself. Now I can't put my hand in the cage without him trying to bite me and he also runs away?!? So does anyone know what I might be doing wrong, please help im really worried?? He is only young, could it be his hormones? If it is would neutering him help?

Are you washing your hands before handling him? If they smell like food or another animal that could cause him to bite.

Hormones are a possibility but I haven't heard of anyone neutering a spiny mouse . It would probably be dangerous.

Keep trying the bathtub trick but don't leave your hands out...hide them in your pockets if necessary.

Other then that I would just give him some time. Spiny mice are wild animals and they can take a while to tame.