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Now, let's talk proper care. There are MANY crucial parts of proper care for pet mice. This can include cage & bedding requirements, feed requirements, enrichment requirements, and more! This page of the website can help you with just that.
Cage & Bedding Requirements
Cage and bedding requirements are very important for fancy mice. Mice are natural burrowers, which means they burrow deep, whether that be into soil or bedding. A single male mouse can live alone comfortably in a 15 gallon tank. However, females have to live in groups of at least 3. Small colonies of female mice can live comfortably in a 20 gallon minimum. Now, for bedding. Mice should have AT LEAST 6 inches of bedding at all times (unless in a maternity or hospital cage). Preferably, they should have access to 8+ inches of bedding. Here, at the mousery we use a 1:1 ratio of aspen shavings to white paper bedding. Aspen shavings are the safest wood shavings to use, although you should take caution when using any bedding for your mice. Remember to always freeze your bedding for 24 hours before you use it to kill any pests or mites living in it!
Mouse Feeding Requirements
When it comes to feeding your mice you probably want the safest, and most affordable options. I have come into trouble with feeds not having everything the mice need in their diet. Vitamins, minerals, proteins, water, and energy nutrients. These are very important for a mouse's diet just like it is for us. Dificiencies in any of these things can cause significant health problems. I have started making my own mouse food due to these issues, so check out my mouse nutrition page to learn more!
Enrichment Requirements
For mice, there aren't specific enrichment requirements. But, this doesn't mean they don't need enrichment. Mice need enrichment just like any other animal. I use a lot of wood, cardboard, and paper to keep my mice active. This includes, toilet paper rolls, popsicle sticks (uncolored), cut up boxes, pieces of paper/carboard that comes in a package, wooden bird perches, and twine to climb on. Scatter feeding is also a great way to keep the mice involved and not bored. It enforces natural foraging behaviors and keeps them stimulated while looking for their food. Wheels are a big topic around here as well. Some of our mice use them while most don't. They have preferences just like us humans do!Â
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