Getting a new mouse and have a few questions..

[Firefly]

I've decided to get a mouse and need some help. Would a 5 or 10 gallon aquarium work for just one mouse? And what kind of bedding and water bottle should I use? I know I will have to get a few hide type things for it....what is best? Do mice need a solid wheel and what size should it be?

Now for food....I don't want to just buy something that says "mouse food" at the store, but I don't really want to buy something online. Does anyone know any good mouse food that I can buy at a pet shop? What do you feed your mouse?

Sorry for all the questions..lol It has been a really long time since I have had a mouse. If there is anything that I forgot to mention add it in!

ty
Bettina

[Padfoot]

I have some basic info about mice here: http://www.geocities.com/padfoot_82/mice.htm

If you have any question not answered here, maybe I or someone else here can help you, or direct you to a website that will help you. 8)

[Vanilla_Rat]

CongRATS on your descision to get a mousey...however if you want a female, you really should get two.They are sociable and like to be together.A pair of mice would do wonderfully in a 10 gallon tank, but make sure there is a mesh or screen top for well ventilation!

There are mouse sized wheels available and even mouse sized "round about balls", however I have never used those balls, so I cannot give you advice on them.

I give my mice a seed mixture, along with nutriblock...however not all of my mice like the nutriblock.I also give them some veggies and fruit,rice or bread and also the occassional dog biscuit.

[Firefly]

Thank you very much for that link!! Very helpful! I have a huge bag of Yesterday's News in my basement.....that would be ok to use for bedding right? Also, I'm don't think there are any mouse breeders around here, so I will most likely have to get one from a store.

Now I would get two females, but I have NO idea how to tell them apart. Can someone help me on this? I Really don't want babies yet! Pics to show me would be Very good. I would really like to have two females if I can, but I don't trust the pet store to tell me the sex.

Also, where do you buy that aquarium silicone stuff? Can I get it at Petsmart?

ty for all the help guys!!!

[Padfoot]

Yup, Yesterday News wll be alright as bedding. 8) About the sexes, I'll have to take pictures later of males and females, but I tell you, with very young ones is very easy to mis-sex them as males can hide their testicles.

Aquarium silicone? yes, you can get it at any pet store, but for what?

[Firefly]

Okay, thanks! On your site you used Aquarium silicone to glue stuff together....I might want to do that.

Oh, and I just realized.....I shouldn't buy from a pet store that has both male and female in the same cage right? I don't want to get one that is preg. Is there a way to tell if one is preg or not.....or should I just get it from somewhere else?

ty for your help!

[pinkie1205]

If you're getting them from petsmart, usually they're already sexed, and I know petsmart does a pretty good job at doing that. If the mouse isn't that young (around 2 months) they should be easy to sex. You just look at their bottom, to see the testicles. That's usually the easiest way.
I give my mice a food that says mouse/rat food. Usually I go through and pick one that I'll know they like. Of course they like the gourmet stuff because of the dried fruits and veggies in it, but that's a little more expensive. I give them a lab block that I get at the pet store here, I don't know the brand but they like those better then any other I used. I have a bag full of I think it's vitacraft, or the other brand that's popular, and they won't touch it. I give them to them anyway just so they're available, adn they're also good for their teeth.
As with toys you can use anything, just be creative.
My meeses house has 2 wheels, I solid silent spinner and a mesh wheel. Mesh wheels are okay, but try to avoid the wired ones. They can get their tails caught. DONT buy the mouse sized wheels, get the next size up. I think they're 6 inches, don't go less than that. The smaller wheels cause their spine and tail to curve up and it can permanently stay that way.

[Firefly]

I had planned to get them at Petsmart, but wasn't sure if they sexed them or not. Thanks! I would never buy one of those "mouse wheels"! I saw them at Petsmart and they are just WAY too small! I really hope people don't think that is ok to get for mice.

I will have to see what all they have at Petsmart in the way of food. I'm sure I will find something good. I finally found a site that shows good pics on sexing mice! So I think I can do it ok. (don't need those pics Padfoot, but i you have them post them)

Now I have one more question for now......if I get two mice do I need two wheels?

Thank you sooo much guys!! You've been so helpful!

[Padfoot]

No, you don't need 2 wheels for 2 mice, with one is ok, but if you want to add another one, it's ok too. I have some cages with 2 wheels and both get used, and I have some other cages with 2 wheels and they all want to run in the same one at the same time. I have a funny video of mice running in wheels here, in case you wanna see what I mean... lol.

[Firefly]

Okay, thanks. I think I will just get one then.

ROFLMBO!!! That video is too funny! Those other mice are just going upside down trying to hang on while the brown one just keeps on running! Thanks for sharing!!!

[Firefly]

One more question about Yesterday's News.....are you sure the mice will like it? It's not very soft....

[pinkie1205]

I don't like yesterday news for that reason. I would make a part of the cage that's soft if you're going to use it.

With the wheels, my one mouse loves being flung around on it when the others are running. I just thought she wanted to run and they wouldn't let her,b ut I started watching and she would hold on and get flung around the wheel.

[Firefly]

Okay, I think I will just buy something else altogether. I know I wouldn't want to sleep on those pellets.

[Vanilla_Rat]

I have never tried the mouse sized wheels, so I never knew that! I use hamster sized wheels.In my girl cage,I only have 1 wheel and they all want to use it at the same time,like Padfoot's video.It is so funny.I have a video of my mice doing it too,but unfortunatly do not know how to post videos online.

Older mice are pretty easy to sex, as the male's testies are very visible.

Good luck on your mouse shopping!!

[Firefly]

Thanks! If they have the females in seperate cages like pinkie1205
said it will be very easy.