Housing a Mouse with Rats

I would actually be a bit concerned about the mouse. Are they all male? Male mice do not do well in group situations (with their own species, they will fight to the death with other male mice), so I wonder how this one will cope with rats... My inclination would be against it.

they are all females so they shouldnt have that territorial instinct.. but so far so good. im just wondering if there is anyone out there who has had success housing mice and rats together?

Okay, females might be a bit better. I've never actually heard of anyone housing mice and rats together, so I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

All animals are individuals and you may have lucked out with rats possessing low prey/territorial drive. However, from everything I've read that's extremely rare. Where did you read it was 12% percent? I'd love to read the article to learn more myself. What I have found myself so far is that mice are among a rat's natural prey.

They may end up being fine, but I am inclined to think it's a very bad idea and I would expect that they will kill your mouse within a few days. I even read one article early on when I still had mice saying it was not advisable to even keep mice and rats in the same room because the scent of the rats would create an unnecessarily high stress environment for the mice, though that may have been anecdotal instead of factual.

Anyway, good luck with whatever you end up deciding to do with the situation.

Here's another forum where they had the same conversation:
http://www.petresearch.net/phpBB2/rats-and-mice-together-t20838.html

Beyond all the facts, another point I would like to make is poor mouse! Mice girls looove to live with other mouse girls, they need to...you have put her with an alien species even if they tolerate each other you are going to have an unhappy mouse one day.

I wouldn't risk the her life in the cage with the rats to be honest. If you want mice as pets I feel it would be best for you to buy another cage and get her a friend or two and house them seperately.
They may get along today but tomorrow she may be gone.

I have a rat, 4 mice and I house them seperately, but the are in cages near eachother so they can see one another. I just do not think putting her in the cage with all your other ladies is a good idea hun.

keep us updated though on your decision

lilspaz68 said:

Beyond all the facts, another point I would like to make is poor mouse! Mice girls looove to live with other mouse girls, they need to...you have put her with an alien species even if they tolerate each other you are going to have an unhappy mouse one day.

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yeah... this is the only thing im concerned about is she may not be as friendly with the rats as she would be with other mice...

on the other hand though, i did put her with the rats and she has been living peacefully with them for about a month. In fact one of the rats has taken on the mother figure with her... she often picks her up by the back of the neck with her mouth in a motherly way and carries her into the house or down from a high ledge she cant get down from by herself... never have any of the rats shown any signs of aggression, on the contrary they let the mouse sleep on top of them and constantly cuddle with eachother..

But yeah, perhaps she does feel isolated being the only mouse... perhaps if this goes well I might get another mouse so she has a true companion, but overall there have been no problems with her caging with the rats.

Awww read your update and glad they are doing well! I agree with the person above me, pictures!!!!