Mice are sleeping way too much

by USFancy Sat 05 Nov 2016, 8:29 pm

I have recently got a trio of female mice about 2 months ago and I feel like they are sleeping more now than when i first brought them home. I know these pets are nocturnal so I am not referring to excessive sleeping during the day, its natural. But, I have there cage set up on my desk in my office at home and study there almost every night, so I frequently observe this behavior. I feed them everyday so i know its not an issue of lacking a proper calorie intake. I notice they wake up around 11-12pm and stay awake only until around 8am the next morning. I try to handle them every day but they are still afraid of me and seems they'd rather get there social interaction needs just from them three (and yes ive ready many hours of how to gain your pet mice trust and proper handling techniques, I've even posted questions on this forum when i first got them). I feel like when they know I am home and studying next to them (which is usual until 12pm so they come out when i leave my office for the night) they purposely sleep) It makes me frustrated and sad because I would like to develop a much better relationship with these three but they just don't seem to care the least bit to form one with me. You read all over that mice are extremely sociable pets and its crucial for a healthy lifestyle to be interactive with them. But not these three, they avoid me as much as they possibly can and then just sleep all day. I don't know if they were mistreated or handled rough at the pet store before me but I did my research and it was a renowned pet store for "Female Fancy Mice" they took great care of all of their small animals, so i highly doubt that.

If anyone could has an idea of what is occurring here and how I can finally begin getting these girls to want to build a relationship with me. I wish i could come home and these mice be as excited to see me as I am them, but no they just want to avoid me, give me the cold shoulder and then just sleep all the time. And when i say cold shoulder they literally do that. One of them is just deathly afraid of me and seems to have a overly skittish personality. When I slowly approach the cage and softly speak to the alpha female while she eats she will literally turn around and face the other way, and if I continue to talk to her she grabs her seeds and heads up stairs. The third one is like the runt so she just follows what the other two do.

Again any help on this would be extremely helpful. I want to enjoy my pet mice and not feel like i am a nuisance all the time to them.

by Peachy Sat 05 Nov 2016, 8:38 pm

Have you tried waking them up when you have time and taking them to neutral territory to play? Mice like schedules and getting out of the house will prevent them from snubbing you, so if you can get them out at the same time everyday and show them that they'll have fun with you, it'll probably help a lot. Smile

by USFancy Sat 05 Nov 2016, 8:57 pm

There have been a few times that I have taken them to the bath tub (plugged the drain) and let them play in there and also tried to use it for them to get used to my scent and sound. If that's what you mean by a neutral territory. The only one that gets near me is the alpha. I also leave the door to cage open and have recently got them to come out and run around on my desk while I study, like right now. But again its usually only the alpha.

by CallaLily Sat 05 Nov 2016, 9:23 pm

I agree, get them out around the same time every day. Playing on the desk while you study is great! Just from now on -at least until they warm up- pick them up and move them there. If they won't climb on your hand willingly, use a box or tube to transport them. Hide treats around their cage for them to find when play is over. After a while of this they really should warm up to the idea of play time outside of their cage. I mean, they may not be begging at the cage door like a buck might, but eventually they should be willing to come on out on their own.

by Peachy Sat 05 Nov 2016, 9:26 pm

You could also try putting them in a smaller space than a bathtub and present your hand for half an hour. Without any other toys, they'll likely get bored and decide you're worth investigating. Whatever you do, you have to be patient and consistent.

Another option that has worked well with some of my girls is kind of like a little game... it's kind of pushy but it helps the mouse get used to hands and being handled. In the bathtub or a bin or whatever, you scoop up the mouse, slowly move them to the other side of the tub, and let them go. Do it again when they wander back to "start". Some people like to add commands to their routines to help their mice understand what's going to happen. You could think of something easy to say when you pick them up and let them go.

I hope you'll find something that works for you!

by USFancy Sat 05 Nov 2016, 9:49 pm

Okay, thanks for responding you two. As far as treats, what are some good ones? I've tried cheerios and peanut butter on spoon and they didnt take it. They would eat the cheerio if I put in their cage and left it for them to find. So basically what are some other good treats for mice?

Also, anything on the excessive sleeping? (or I'm guessing that will probably fade when I pull them out of there cage at the same time every evening.)

And another question. How do i get them to play on the saucer exercise wheel (the horizontal one)? I leave that on my desk as an extra toy but they never go on it, even when I place one on...its like they don't understand the concept. In the beginning, I originally had it in their cage but they never used it so now i try to use it as the top for when i take them out of the cage and play.

by Peachy Sat 05 Nov 2016, 10:18 pm

Waking them up will probably change their habits a little bit, but my girls keep similar schedules to yours. If they're healthy I wouldn't worry.

Some of our favorite treats (besides Cheerios) are pumpkin seeds, plain popcorn, meal worms, other healthy cereals, oatmeal, toast, small pieces of puppy biscuits...

Maybe a little bit of olive oil on the wheel would encourage the girls to climb on and learn that it's fun. If you have another wheel available they might just like it better than the saucer. lol

by CinnamonPearl Sat 05 Nov 2016, 10:39 pm

I wouldn't worry too much about the sleeping. My mice have always gone through phases where I rarely see them, usually 3-5 days, a week at the most. It happened with my girls, and it happens with Henry. Their schedules are subject to change. Once they start warming up to you after you tame them in neutral territory, they'll most likely wake up to play with you. Be patient with them; taming animals isn't always instantaneous. It takes time, and it takes care.

by scaredymouse Sun 06 Nov 2016, 7:29 am

More treats they like are flaxseeds, unsalted raw pecans/walnuts, and millet sprays (usually in the bird aisle).

It's pretty normal for mice to shy away from new treats. You may need to introduce new things to them a few times before they will try it. Then don't be surprised if they go bonkers for the things they wouldn't touch before.