Post by Katt on Sept 11, 2011 1:49:51 GMT -9
Facts:
Scientific Name: Mus musculus
Weight: 20-60 g (varies according to type)
Life expectancy: 1-3 years (varies according to background, "strain")
Sexually mature: 4-8 weeks
Estrus Cycle: Every 4-5 days
Gestation period: 19-21 days
Size of litter: 4-14 (average 7-10)
Weaning age: 3-4 weeks (separate genders at this time as well)
research.uci.edu/tmf/husbandry.htm
www.hiiret.fi/eng/breeding/essentials1.html
Care:
Mice can be kept in small groups of females, or 1 male with 2-3 females; males should never be housed together as they will fight for territory. Males and females over the age of 3-4 weeks should not be kept together unless actively breeding.
Cage: A 10 gallon tank is appropriate for a group of up to 3 mice, though more space is preferable. Larger groups require more space - a good rule of thumb is 5 gallons per animal added. Keep in mind that it is the floor space of the cage that counts, not how tall it is (unless you plan on adding shelves). Avoid barred cages as most mice can easily escape these; tanks or sturdy (chew-proof) plastic tubs work best - be sure to use a screen lid to allow for sufficient ventilation.
Bedding: Many substrates are appropriate for mice, but there are some that are dangerous. The top two recommended bedding materials are Aspen or Carefresh. Other appropriate bedding materials include: newspaper or paper towel (good for monitoring sick mice), toilet paper, shredded paper fiber beddings, etc. NEVER use pine or cedar bedding as these woods have oils that are toxic to mice.
Food: (see Diet board) Mice need a rich variety of grains, seeds, and oats as well as grasses, protein, fruits, and veggies. There are several store-brand foods that are nutritionally adequate, or you can make your own homemade mix (see here: naturalrodent.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=naturaldiet&action=display&thread=1&page=1 ). It is good to supplement with a variety of fresh greens, veggies, and fruits in small amounts. Cooked eggs and some nuts help to provide protein, especially in pregnant and nursing mothers and growing babies.
Toys: While mice will not "play" with toys like a dog or cat, they do need enrichment like any other animal to keep them mentally and physically healthy. A critical "toy" to have is a wheel to ensure that the mice are getting enough exercise. Various hiding-huts, mazes, and different sizes and shapes of chew toys will provide enrichment for your mice. Letting them explore your room in a mouse ball gives them exercise and entertainment as well.
Water: Water bottles should be available, full of fresh water, at all times. Bowls are not recommended as they easily spill or become contaminated.
Exercise: Exercise is very important to keep your mice healthy. In the wild they can run miles a day. Providing a wheel in the cage will allow your mice to exercise on their own time. You can also purchase a small rodent ball and allow your mice to explore your house. This will give them physical exercise, as well as mental stimulation as they explore different surroundings.
Handling: How you handle your mice depends on what your mice are being kept for. Even if your mice are breeders or feeders, regular handling is important. We recommend a minimum of 15-20 min every other day. This will keep the mice used to handling and make it easier for you to check for injuries, move for cage cleaning, check nests, etc. If your mice are pets you will want to handle them even more. The more you handle and spend time with your pet mice, the friendlier and more social towards humans they will be.
Scientific Name: Mus musculus
Weight: 20-60 g (varies according to type)
Life expectancy: 1-3 years (varies according to background, "strain")
Sexually mature: 4-8 weeks
Estrus Cycle: Every 4-5 days
Gestation period: 19-21 days
Size of litter: 4-14 (average 7-10)
Weaning age: 3-4 weeks (separate genders at this time as well)
research.uci.edu/tmf/husbandry.htm
www.hiiret.fi/eng/breeding/essentials1.html
Care:
Mice can be kept in small groups of females, or 1 male with 2-3 females; males should never be housed together as they will fight for territory. Males and females over the age of 3-4 weeks should not be kept together unless actively breeding.
Cage: A 10 gallon tank is appropriate for a group of up to 3 mice, though more space is preferable. Larger groups require more space - a good rule of thumb is 5 gallons per animal added. Keep in mind that it is the floor space of the cage that counts, not how tall it is (unless you plan on adding shelves). Avoid barred cages as most mice can easily escape these; tanks or sturdy (chew-proof) plastic tubs work best - be sure to use a screen lid to allow for sufficient ventilation.
Bedding: Many substrates are appropriate for mice, but there are some that are dangerous. The top two recommended bedding materials are Aspen or Carefresh. Other appropriate bedding materials include: newspaper or paper towel (good for monitoring sick mice), toilet paper, shredded paper fiber beddings, etc. NEVER use pine or cedar bedding as these woods have oils that are toxic to mice.
Food: (see Diet board) Mice need a rich variety of grains, seeds, and oats as well as grasses, protein, fruits, and veggies. There are several store-brand foods that are nutritionally adequate, or you can make your own homemade mix (see here: naturalrodent.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=naturaldiet&action=display&thread=1&page=1 ). It is good to supplement with a variety of fresh greens, veggies, and fruits in small amounts. Cooked eggs and some nuts help to provide protein, especially in pregnant and nursing mothers and growing babies.
Toys: While mice will not "play" with toys like a dog or cat, they do need enrichment like any other animal to keep them mentally and physically healthy. A critical "toy" to have is a wheel to ensure that the mice are getting enough exercise. Various hiding-huts, mazes, and different sizes and shapes of chew toys will provide enrichment for your mice. Letting them explore your room in a mouse ball gives them exercise and entertainment as well.
Water: Water bottles should be available, full of fresh water, at all times. Bowls are not recommended as they easily spill or become contaminated.
Exercise: Exercise is very important to keep your mice healthy. In the wild they can run miles a day. Providing a wheel in the cage will allow your mice to exercise on their own time. You can also purchase a small rodent ball and allow your mice to explore your house. This will give them physical exercise, as well as mental stimulation as they explore different surroundings.
Handling: How you handle your mice depends on what your mice are being kept for. Even if your mice are breeders or feeders, regular handling is important. We recommend a minimum of 15-20 min every other day. This will keep the mice used to handling and make it easier for you to check for injuries, move for cage cleaning, check nests, etc. If your mice are pets you will want to handle them even more. The more you handle and spend time with your pet mice, the friendlier and more social towards humans they will be.
LOL For anyone who hasn't seen a mouse go after one of those guys, it's much like a cat going after a toy furry mouse sometimes! 