Things You Don't Expect

by HeyImSomeone Mon 17 Sep 2018, 10:17 pm

I am doing research (LOTS OF IT) about mice right now, and I have a question?

What are some things you didn't know until you had a mouse?

What didn't you expect?

What the ONE thing you'd tell a first time owner?

Thanks!

by chiroptera Tue 18 Sep 2018, 5:04 pm

One thing, is that you have to be okay with pees and poos. These little guys aren't particularly good at holding their bladders, and are likely to pee or poo outside of their cage, and on you. So, that's one thing to be aware of. I'm sure there's others, too, but that's the first thing to come to mind to me.

by CallaLily Wed 19 Sep 2018, 7:25 am

In my experience, most mice aren’t crazy about being snuggled or petted. You get the occasional one that does though. But most do enjoy using you as a jungle gym. Smile

Mice are very prone to things like respiratory infections and tumors. Expect at least one vet visit in their lifetime.

Mice are messy! Young mice especially can dirty their wheels in less than a day. They mostly have decent bladder control but they poop where they are. Mice smell. I know many online will say their mice don’t smell at all but I think it’s likely they’re just nose blind to it. Girls have much less odor than boys - kind of reminds me of the smell of jasmine rice. Boys have a much stronger, muskier/skunkier smell. It does usually get a little better after they settle in and most of us get used to the smell or at least don’t mind it. Whether it’s good, bad, or tolerable I think depends on the nose. I remember my boy Daryl had a strong odor but I didn’t mind it so much. It was just him, ya know? But my husband still talks about it with disgust to this day and doesn’t want me to get a boy mouse again. Pardon

by Nijimi にじみ Wed 19 Sep 2018, 12:51 pm

Young mice (even if female) stink really badly XD. My first mice were at least 3-4 months old when I got them and they didn't smell much. My newer mice are much younger and stinkier. And mice personalities really differ too.

by FosterMom Fri 21 Sep 2018, 5:13 pm

Just got mice - the thing I didn't expect was how tiny they are! I see them in the pet store and of course they're small, but it didn't really hit me HOW small they are until they were in my house. The twenty gallon tank that is too small for my rats except for short times absolutely dwarfs the mice to the point I have trouble finding them in it. So tiny!

by Squidly Sat 22 Sep 2018, 1:49 am

I didn't realize until I got mine how much they love to climb! I've since gotten some bird toys and hammocks and am trying to turn my cage into a sort of jungle gym. Anything something new goes in the tank, they love to play higher rather than on the ground.

by AmyLynn Sat 22 Sep 2018, 2:16 pm

How very social they are! Both with each-other and with their owners. They are also WAY smarter than I ever thought possible. They recognize their names and can learn from cues from you. I guess I was expecting the social behaviors and intelligence of a hamster...but my mice are more social and much smarter than that.

by Sam Tue 25 Sep 2018, 8:11 pm

Hey there! I didn't expect my first mice to need vets as much as they have. Since I got my first trio beginning of last year I've dealt with mites 2-3 times, at least two of the trio developed tumors and had to be put down (one of which also had a vet visit because of symptoms before we realized it was cancer, ended up spending more money trying to treat her for anything and everything). Definitely have a good form of stransport, some money put away and a reliable vet, and if at all possible get your mice from a good breeder. Good luck Smile