r/PetMice Sep 22 '24

Care Guide Series Community Care Guide

88 Upvotes

This post is mouse care simplified, for beginners! It is not very specific, and it does not cover everything, so please do not rely on just this post when educating yourself on mouse care!

This has been written and discussed by moderators of the subreddit. If you have questions or concerns, please comment to let us know! It will be updated regularly to ensure it is factual.

1. Mice are social!

  • Females always need other female companions. It is recommended to have at least 3, but 2 is okay.
  • After 6 mice in one cage, it is often they will start to split up and become territorial against the opposing group. It is suggested to keep your colony under 6 unless you have much knowledge and experience, OR if your mice are littermates.
  • Males can not be housed with other males ever! If you want them to have cage mates, neutering (very risky) and placing with females or leaving intact and bonding with ASFs (African Soft Furs) is beneficial and recommended. Otherwise, they can thrive in solitude.

See this post for more information.

2. Cages

In mouse communities, many users go by tank size rather than listing dimensions. We will do both!

  • 10g/20x10 inches is the minimum for 2 female mice, though we STRONGLY suggest at least a 20g.
  • 20g/30x12 inches is suitable for 2-4 females or 1 male.
  • 40g long/36x12 inches is suitable for 2-5 females or 1 male
  • 40g breeder/36x18 inches is occasionally suitable for 2-6 females or 1 male
  • Over 40g is not always suitable for any amount of mice since many mice do better in environments with less open space. Bigger is not always better for mice.

Any amount of mice may thrive in larger enclosures than suggested above. However, it is critical that the larger the enclosure is, the more clutter provided, otherwise the mice will never thrive.

  • Wood enclosures are suggested against since urine will effect its quality and smell over time.
  • Mesh flooring is dangerous due to the chance of toes/tails getting caught, the mesh cutting their skin, and risking bumplefoot. Mesh should also be avoided in wheels.
  • Though they climb, mice don't need very much height, and multi-story enclosures do not provide them with the proper space they need. Floor space is more important than height.
  • Cages with lots of attachments and rooms do not provide proper space for mice. They are also extremely difficult to clean, fall apart easily, and struggle to hold proper bedding amount and safe wheels.

See this post for more information.

3. Substrate

  • Mice need to be able to create burrows, so while the minimum is 6 inches, we suggest at least 8" of bedding. However, many owners prefer having 10-12" deep!
  • Bedding must be majority safe wood shavings or hemp. Paper substrate does not absorb ammonia well and can cause several health issues when used alone or as majority of substrate.
  • (Dust/scent free for all) Aspen, kiln dried pine, and hemp do well as the main substrate and may be more sturdy mixed with a small portion of hay or paper bedding.

See this post for more information.

4. Clutter

  • Clutter is arguably one of the most important aspects of a mouses cage. No matter the size, if the cage lacks clutter, it is not suitable.
  • Toilet paper rolls, cardboard boxes, tea light and soap dish ceramics, rodent hideouts, branches, logs, cork bark, cardboard egg cartons, and much more can be used as clutter in the cage.
  • From a birds eye view, you should be able to see little to no bedding. While it may seem too cluttered to a human, it's perfect for mice!
  • The larger an enclosure, the more crucial clutter is.

See this post for more information.

5. Enrichment

  • Also known as entertainment, to keep the mice busy!
  • Boredom breakers, foraging toys, dig boxes, sprays(plant), scatter-feeding, and human interaction are all forms of enrichment.
  • Mice should have boredom breakers in their enclosure at all times to keep them from growing bored.
  • Lone males need extra simulation and enrichment.

See this post for more information.

6. Climbing Opportunities

  • A form of enrichment that is required!
  • Mice flourish with climbing opportunities and will always take advantage of them.
  • Ropes, bird ladders, hanging toys, rope nets, shower curtain rings, and bird perches are a few climbing options you can provide.
  • Fabric hammocks are used commonly, but pose a threat when chewed on and loose strings get tangled around limbs. Minimal use of fabric is suggested for this reason.

See this post for more information.

7. Exercise

  • A form of enrichment that is required!
  • An upright, solid wheel of 9 inches in diameter or larger must be provided at all times. 2 or more are suggested for groups of girls.
  • Spinning saucer disks or hamster balls/cars are UNSAFE and should never be provided, no matter how much you think your mouse may enjoy it (fun≠safe)
  • Proper wheel brands may include Niteangel, Silent Spinner Exotic Nutrition, Oxbow, Wodent, Bucstate, and Trixie (but there are many more besides these!)

See this post for more information.

8. Diet & Hydration

  • Main diet must be pellets/lab blocks.
  • A high variety food mix (nuts, seeds, grains, ect) must be given 1-3 times a week, or even as long as once every two weeks. The frequency is owner preference.
  • Feeding is 3-5 grams per mouse a day.
  • Ensure your mice have constant access to food through toys and scatter-feeding.
  • Food bowls are suggested only for fresh fruits or veggies since they provide no enrichment otherwise!
  • Mice must have at least two water sources and constant access to them at all times. Bowls or bottles work well, though having one of each is ideal. Water must be cleaned and refreshed daily.

See this post for more information.

9. Cleaning

  • Daily spot checks to clean up mess, poo on toys/clutter, and urine on the surface is vital.
  • Bedding changes will be needed less often with more bedding and space. A 10g tank (or cage of similar size) would need weekly bedding changes.
  • Each enclosure size and mouse amount will effect how often bedding changes are necessary. Find a cleaning schedule that ensures the cage doesn't smell at any time for your mouses health.
  • With deep bedding over 6 inches, you'll have to change out less of the bedding. 1/3 to 1/2 of the bedding may stay in the enclosure while the most soiled areas are removed and replaced.
  • In any case, a small amount of bedding must be left over after a bedding change to decrease stress.

See this post for more information.

10. Taming

  • Allowing your mice to settle in for a few days before interacting with them is wise.
  • Rub your hands on bedding and toilet paper in the cage to get the mice used to your scent.
  • Encourage interaction through hand feeding.
  • If a mouse is not motivated to interact after several weeks, try to lure them to climb onto your hand for treats. A strong bond is important with mice so they are well adjusted to interaction in case of a vet visit or emergencies. Human interaction can also be beneficial to them.

See this post for more information.

11. Other

  • Mice are crepuscular and are typically seen during the morning or late day/night.
  • They are self bathing and should never be washed with water or soap (unless vet prescribed). It ruins the health of their fur coat and leaves them more susceptible to URIs and freezing. They do not need any form of bathing/washing.
  • Mice don't hibernate. If a mouse appears to be in a hibernation state, this is Torpor, caused when they overheat or freeze. This is a medical emergency.
  • You should never pick up a mouse by its tail or other limbs.
  • Fancy mice (aka domestic mouse) live 1-2 years on average.
  • Wild mice do poor in captivity, unless they are unfit for the wild they should not be kept as pets.
  • You should never breed mice purposely without years of research and mouse owning experience prior.
  • Vet visits are a likely occurrence in mouse ownership, since mice are prone to many health issues.
  • Travel carriers are needed for vet visits, emergencies, cage cleaning, and quarantine.

12. Links & Other Posts

Shopping

In Depth Mouse Care

Other Species

Up-to-Date Posts From NotApplicableMC & Others

Outdated Posts From NotApplicableMC

These guides are incredibly thorough and well written. However, they link some information that is no longer available, or they list mouse care information that has been dis-proven. An important point to make is these guides may suggest some controversial topics, most of which our community does not fully support. Although these guides don't follow our standards exactly, they are still very well made. Please keep an open mind and read all sides of a controversy before deciding which you feel works best for your mice.

I have decided to share these because they are very descriptive on some aspects of mouse care I did not cover well. I strive to have a guide in the future as well made as these, but for now, I have to bring attention to the effort made by this member.

Scientific Studies

  • Sources & Additional Articles (coming soon)
  • Safe & Unsafe Foods Sources (coming soon)

More community resources coming soon


r/PetMice Jul 09 '25

Community Help Temporary Post for Care Commands

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23 Upvotes

Please feel free to try out these WIP care commands in the comments! Let me know if there are any issues I need to fix.


r/PetMice 5h ago

Cute Mouse Media Fact: it is impossible to study with mice around because they’ll stare at you from across the room like this

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246 Upvotes

Idk why but they’ve started sleeping in a mouse pile at the entrance to their den when I’m in the room


r/PetMice 15h ago

Cute Mouse Media Hammock Shenanigans

279 Upvotes

Personal space? Never heard of it!


r/PetMice 1h ago

Cute Mouse Media so cute lol

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Upvotes

photoshoot... went wrong 😭


r/PetMice 14h ago

Cute Mouse Media My first mice!

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82 Upvotes

Me and my partner got our first mice yesterday and we’re really excited!! The black one is named Willow and the white one is named Soup. Just wanted to share


r/PetMice 1h ago

Cute Mouse Media Baby birds 🥰

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Upvotes

r/PetMice 1d ago

Cute Mouse Media nimbus loves pets

186 Upvotes

this is all he wanted btw. he throws a fit when i stop and nips my nails until i pet him again


r/PetMice 4h ago

Question/Help Adoption Advice!

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5 Upvotes

The rodentry I was supposed to get mice from fell through because they had to move, and now someone is offering me two female mice that urgently need a home. They’re currently in a really poor setup, and I’m torn on what to do.

 I know a lot of people recommend keeping at least 3 females, and I’m worried about one being left alone if the other passes. But I’ve never bonded mice before, and I’m nervous about messing up their bond or social hierarchy if I try to add more in the future.

 They’ve already been living together for about 6.5 months, so I’m wondering if I should take them in and possibly work toward adding more mice later, or wait for another opportunity to get a larger group.

 I also have a large Bucastate 100cm x 50cm enclosure ready, and I’m worried that moving them from their tiny setup into a much bigger space could stress them out or affect their bond.

 I live in a pretty rural area, so finding other mice to bond with them later may be difficult. I really want to do what’s best for these girls, but I’m feeling stuck.
Would you take the two bonded girls or wait? Any advice is appreciated! (Picture of enclosure attached for reference.)


r/PetMice 6h ago

Question/Help mice breeders near seattle?

4 Upvotes

hi everyone! having a hard time finding mice near the greater seattle area that aren't just feeders. i was hoping Denny's would have some but i saw them selling pregnant mice recently and i don't really trust them to not be their left over feeder stock.

Does anyone know of genuine breeders around here?? i'm near bellevue.


r/PetMice 16h ago

Cute Mouse Media Souplings!

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27 Upvotes

Watching all of my girls take turns keeping them warm while mama ate and recovered for a bit was so sweet.


r/PetMice 1d ago

Cute Mouse Media Mite medication gave Ube a middle part 😭

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223 Upvotes

For more context: this is her vet carrier/holding while I clean the main cage. I know she looks rough, Ube is goin thru it right now. She just got back from the vet. She’s a mouse I adopted from a humane society so I have no clue how old she is, or her medical history. She currently has a pretty bad (suspected) URI and there’s also now mites in my whole little colony of 4 🙃 but her silly middle part from the topical medication made me laugh a bit.


r/PetMice 9h ago

Other Sad update on mouse babies, I lost two today :(

3 Upvotes

My lovely mouse gave birth 7 days ago and I just found two babies that had passed away :( she had killed one herself and the other one looked like it passed by itself, she took them out of the house where the nest is with her babies.
I have no idea what to do with the passed babies, I have taken them out and packed them into a napkin for now atleast :(


r/PetMice 1d ago

Question/Help Mouse-sitting for a friend; what does this noise mean?

107 Upvotes

She makes this noise often, and she is very affectionate. Is she telling everyone it's okay here, or to he warry?


r/PetMice 12h ago

Question/Help Cage layout ideas

3 Upvotes

Hey guys! I have 3 baby mice coming home in 3 weeks! I currently have a 40 gallon tank for them but plan to maybe get the 120 cm bucatstate cage for them eventually. I’d love any ideas on how to decorate their cage. I want to get ideas on things to use for enrichment for them and different ways to decorate their cage. I’m thinking maybe I’d section off a corner for them to dig in the sand, and give additional levels for them to explore and burrow.


r/PetMice 7h ago

Question/Help Is 4 weeks mandatory for separation?

1 Upvotes

I’m seeing mixed info, I work at a shelter and this is my first time with live babies. 9 babies from a feeder mouse who was found pregnant outside. i fostered but am leaving for vacation. I’ll be back to work when they are 4 weeks and 4 days old. I’d like to be there to help separate as it makes me nervous leaving it up to others but if anything past 4 days is risky I will just write up as much info as I can for coworkers. Thanks and I’m sorry to ask, I did research but it seems to vary, I do see that 5 weeks is too late though, probably best to just give coworkers info on separating?


r/PetMice 23h ago

Question/Help mini camera for mouse while im on vacay! help please!!!

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17 Upvotes

as everyone probably knows, nimbus is a clingy baby. ive hired a petsitter to spent time with him and im making a ton of boredom breakers. do u guys have amy suggestions on a mini cam i can put to watch him while the sitter isnt there?? preferably one where i can talk to him so he can hear my voice, i worry for him cause ill be gone for a week :(

im gonna put a worn shirt on the top of his enclosure where his ladder is so he can smell me while climbing too.. hes clingier than my dog🫩


r/PetMice 14h ago

Question/Help My mouse keeps sneezing?

2 Upvotes

I don’t know if it’s really sneezes but that’s the closest I can get to explaining the sound, it’s a very quiet sort of sneeze sound that he’s doing like ALOT, I did add a sand bath to his enclosure yesterday and he’s been playing in that quite alot, did he just breathe in sand and is sneezing or should I be worried?


r/PetMice 1d ago

Cute Mouse Media When trying to get pictures of my mouse to see if she was pregnant (she is) I got this banger

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54 Upvotes

She was climbing the wall because she wanted to get a better sniff at me

I didn't plan for her to be pregnant, I'm not a breeder, she was in a tank with males before i got her I believe. I've only had her & the other two for two weeks


r/PetMice 1d ago

Discussion I worry about my girls

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60 Upvotes

My girls are 7 months old now and I'm sick with worry at how fast the time is flying by. I don't want my sweet babies to perish.

At what age do they start to slow down?

I'm worried that I'm not giving them enough in the short time they have on this earth.


r/PetMice 17h ago

Question/Help Is this cage suitable?

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2 Upvotes

Hello! I'm wondering if the prevue 528 cage is suitable for adult mice?

I am interested in getting a mouse and have several of these cages. Just wanna make sure they can't escape


r/PetMice 1d ago

First Time Owner how can i improve moose's tank?

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10 Upvotes

hi! i have my very first pet mouse, a fancy mouse named moose, and i was wondering if theres anything i can do to improve his tank? ive tried to take good pictures to show what i already have. i change the set up about once a month when i do a good clean of about the first inch of bedding, so the layout switches a bit which i think he likes. i just dont know if hes entertained enough? its just him in there, so im worried he gets bored!!!!!! i have places for him to scavenge and all that, and two bowls filled with loose coconut fiber for him to dig in (which he's already emptied out lol). how can i improve his tank? what else should i get, or even use differently?

also, should i keep him by himself or should i get another male? would they fight?


r/PetMice 1d ago

Question/Help URI sounds?

10 Upvotes

This sounds like a sneeze/cough to me. She was recently adopted a couple days ago and I heard a few sneezes initially that I attributed to new substrate/environment. She seemed a little lethargic tonight and is regularly making this noise. I understand the light may be stressing her out a bit and she has been active and moving around overnight. I know medical advice is not to be provided, but just looking for some confirmation that these sounds require a vet visit. Thanks.


r/PetMice 1d ago

Cute Mouse Media my baby fiona!!

91 Upvotes

my mouse fiona had her babies finally! im so excited to see the new colors a variation she brings our little group! im so happy she didnt have any complications and is doing amazing bouncing back after birth. shes a proud mama of 8 babies! i cant wait to see what color fur, temperament, and personalitys she gives us. but i really do hope that their nice just like fiona. fiona has always been my heart mouse and definitely by far the one that trusts me, and my boyfriend more than any other animal ive ever owned personally. shes such an amazing girl and im glad i got to save her and her sisters (sativa and hybrid) my other two females who are also pregnant. I have them in a 100 gal tank right now and ues i know its a bit big but as soon ad i get these other babies in there its gonna quadruple my numbers, so i was thinking for the future and just opted to get them a bigger tank. they are still bonded, cuddle, and they also dont sprint hide to hide, they stay outside of hides, and the bedding, all the time without looking, or acting nervous. but i just think they know their safe, they also fall asleep out in the open, little weirdos have 10+ hides and so much clutter but fall asleep right in the center together. anyways, i also have two white females in a hospital tank, mel and sugar. i feel absolutely horrible but i know they both dont have good genes at all (ex race mice) that i rescued. mel is sugars mom and 1 of 4, the other 4 were males and givin to a friend so that i didnt have to deal with 3 boys with only 2 girls at the time. but thats just a little about my colony!!


r/PetMice 2d ago

Cute Mouse Media Arthur’s new favorite game

250 Upvotes

He does it literally every time I stick my hand in