This is a longshot, but does anyone own pet mice?

I have just bought 2 mice, one dark brown (squeak) and the other pale browny grey (bubble) both female.

I am having a bit of trouble as I have never owned mice before, I have them in a small fish tank, the lid is well ventilated (12-16 holes in each side of the lid) and I did what the pet store owner said. Food, Water and Clean bedding. I have put 2 toilet roll holders in the tank too until I can get some proper 'toys'.

Anyway, Squeak is running around like a mad thing, loves attention and loves being handled, but Bubble digs under the chippings and sleeps under there and hardly moves, when you go in the room she freezes to the spot and wont move but when my boyfriend picks her up she walks around his hand (but wont come to me!) I thought she was dead earlier as she hadn't moved for over 6 hours and there was a couple of miniture flies in the cage but then she suddenly ran across the cage and hid in a toilet tube (and i killed the 2 flies!). She's still there now.

Is this just a shy mouse or is she ill?

Its hard to tell, I know you justify having a tank but the airflow is greatly restricted despite having many holes in the top- pet shops and breeders use tanks for this very reason to prevent smell which says a great deal about how it affects your mice. If your docile mouse has a lung or heart condition it will amost certainly be made worse by the tank. Other than that it just might be very nocturnal and shy, try swapping the lid for chicken wire for a few days and keep them in a very cool place to prevent fly eggs. Hope this helps x

Mice like any animal has its own personality. My sister had mice and one was friendly and would love being picked up and nursed. The other would hide and wasn't friendly at all. I had rats and they were the same. I wouldn't be overly worried.

I would be more inclined to go for a cage as opposed to a tank, the ventilation will be increased which can only be a good thing. An ideal liner for rodents is Carefresh (never use anything with pine or ceder as the essential oils in this can cause respiritary probs, also shavings are not so good) and perhaps a paper based litter in their litter tray such as Yesterdays News.
Remember fly eggs can lead to fly strike in the animals - not pretty! Have you had them checked out at the vets? I always take a new pet to the vets for a wee check up whenever I get a new animal, just to make sure. Also try using safe bed as bedding, this is virtually dust free and only a few pence more than the candyfloss stuff.
Best of luck hun xx

Small Pet Club -- rabbit forum, chinchilla, guinea pig forum, rat forum, mouse forum, hedgehog - Home





A forum that you might find helpful xx

I went back to the pet shop today and he said that she was a 'shy' mouse from the start so I am not too worried now. I am looking into getting a new cage, or at least a bit of wire mesh stuff for the instead.

I am also going to go to pets at home for new 'mouse' food and better bedding/wood chippings.

I just bought what the pet shop owner advised (ie: what they were in at the shop!)

Going to check out the forum too, thanks! x

people in pet shops dont tend to have diplomas in small animal care anyways mate, looks like your little one is just shy so thats good news! Also in pets at home, 'carefresh' is on 2 for 3 at the moment so thats def worth buying! and keep an eye out for their 'safebedding' too, its great! good luck and I wanna see pics of the little mites! lol xx

If you want a cage PM me hun I'm in Greater Manchester I have one that has very small gaps between the bars as I had roberovski hamsters before.
I don't want anything for it btw.

awwwwwwwwwwww how nice are you!!

I have the pets at home safebedding at the moment as thats what I use for my hamster. I've just changed the hamster to wood chipping and bright pink 'cotton wool' type bedding

The only thing I am worried about, is I have a kitten who is very interested in them and also have 2 cats! hehe

No probs hun it's stored in my garage if you decide you want it or if anyone else does x

Okay, thank you

We have pet rats and tbh they are very similar to mice I would handle both the mice everyday even if they nip carry on, They soon get used to lots of love and attention. You will find that one tends to be the boss and they do have a pecking order.

With our rats both are tame but they have totally different personalities, One is always first out of the cage and onto my shoulder She is bossy with the other one too. The other one takes about 10 minutes to leave the cage and is very shy.

Hope things go well with them xxx

I do handle both of them. My boyfriend is the only one my shy one bubble seems to like so I get him to coax her out and we stroke both of them regular.
I am going to pets at home tomorrow for the carefresh stuff, some mouse food and some toys and maybe a plastic house thing.
Then off to Alan Howard to see if I can find a nice Nail Station Table thing