hey y'all!
+6
CallaLily
stephlisa
Norman's Mom
MouseLover
Peachy
boofandkara
10 posters
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hey y'all!
by boofandkara Fri 22 Apr 2016, 6:13 pm
Heyo, I'm a young mental health professional who has somehow ended up with two male mice. I set out yesterday with the goal of purchasing two female mice, for my first ever rodent pets. I was super excited at the prospect of having some cuddle buddies who would be down to snuggle in my shirt or perch on my shoulder while I work. The pet store, however, had no female mice, and offered me some male mice up for adoption. One had been surrendered three months ago, and had been living in mostly isolation for the past three months in the storage room. The other was a feeder mouse that the manager had rescued from certain death. I took both because the one was so traumatized, totally panicked, how could I leave it? And I took the other because when I introduced myself, he climbed on me with a certain degree of friendliness. I had wanted females because they don't smell and they are friendly. I'd had good experiences playing with them at the pet shop - I had one nestle in my hair and refuse to leave. I just felt that it would be awful to leave these two males, especially the one that the manager said had been passed over dozens of times. If I bought females (at another shop), they'd simply order more and 'restock' while these lads sat, unattended to, depressed. So....Suddenly I have these (somewhat stinky) boys! Already I am brimming with questions, so I thought I'd join this lovely forum.
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Re: hey y'all!
by boofandkara Fri 22 Apr 2016, 6:15 pm
their names are Boofaloo and Karamakete, by the way 
boofandkara- User Removed
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Re: hey y'all!
by Peachy Fri 22 Apr 2016, 6:27 pm
Welcome!! It's awesome that you decided to take both the boys... they're tons of fun!
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Re: hey y'all!
by MouseLover Fri 22 Apr 2016, 6:59 pm
Welcome! And bless you for taking those boys home 
all mice deserve a chance at happiness during their short time on this earth.
all mice deserve a chance at happiness during their short time on this earth._________________
Current Mice: None.
Rainbow Bridge: Daisy, Peach, Ivy, Penelope, Hazel, Ruby, Clover, Peanut, Minnie, Ginger, Honey, Violet, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather.
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Re: hey y'all!
by Norman's Mom Sat 23 Apr 2016, 1:07 am
Mice are awesome!
That said - We've gor some issues to warn you about - like, ASAP - like - *yesterday*
Boys - actually (unlike girls) shouldn't ever - live together. Especially those boys from unknown sources, histories and pedigrees...more often then not, they turn on each other in their bid of territory and either seriously maim each other, or kill each other.
It's a pretty big deal - and you should seriously consider separating both boys into their own 10 gallons - immediately. Please don't wait for a "sign", because that sign usually means someone is seriously hurt or dead - it happens that fast.
Girls - and their care - are vastly different.
Please see here about boys.
https://petmousefanciers.forumotion.com/t23-let-s-hear-it-for-the-boys
That said - We've gor some issues to warn you about - like, ASAP - like - *yesterday*
Boys - actually (unlike girls) shouldn't ever - live together. Especially those boys from unknown sources, histories and pedigrees...more often then not, they turn on each other in their bid of territory and either seriously maim each other, or kill each other.
It's a pretty big deal - and you should seriously consider separating both boys into their own 10 gallons - immediately. Please don't wait for a "sign", because that sign usually means someone is seriously hurt or dead - it happens that fast.
Girls - and their care - are vastly different.
Please see here about boys.
https://petmousefanciers.forumotion.com/t23-let-s-hear-it-for-the-boys
_________________
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us." [i][i]JRR Tolkien
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Re: hey y'all!
by stephlisa Sat 23 Apr 2016, 2:17 am
Welcome to the new forum!
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Remembering Basil, Pumpkin & Colin
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CallaLily- Hero Member
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Re: hey y'all!
by CinnamonPearl Sat 23 Apr 2016, 9:08 am
Welcome!
Don't worry, NM. This person popped up on TFM before coming here, and their boys live separately.
Don't worry, NM. This person popped up on TFM before coming here, and their boys live separately.
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Re: hey y'all!
by Artistwolf Sat 23 Apr 2016, 5:06 pm
Welcome! Hey, if anything, those boys will probably be more likely to be happy to snuggle with you. Because they must be kept alone, they really bond with their owner and also they tend to be more mellow than females. 
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No mice... yet
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Re: hey y'all!
by boofandkara Sat 23 Apr 2016, 8:35 pm
Norman's Mom wrote:Mice are awesome!
That said - We've gor some issues to warn you about - like, ASAP - like - *yesterday*
Boys - actually (unlike girls) shouldn't ever - live together. Especially those boys from unknown sources, histories and pedigrees...more often then not, they turn on each other in their bid of territory and either seriously maim each other, or kill each other.
It's a pretty big deal - and you should seriously consider separating both boys into their own 10 gallons - immediately. Please don't wait for a "sign", because that sign usually means someone is seriously hurt or dead - it happens that fast.
Girls - and their care - are vastly different.
Please see here about boys.
https://petmousefanciers.forumotion.com/t23-let-s-hear-it-for-the-boys
They do not live together.
boofandkara- User Removed
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Posts : 53
Re: hey y'all!
by boofandkara Sat 23 Apr 2016, 8:39 pm
That's good to hear...it's only been 3 days but so far they are really jumpy and seem stressed. Sometimes when I put my hand in (and just let it rest there a while) they check it out or climb on it and seem friendly, but there have been other times they've just come over and bit me. My boyfriend put his hand in and one bit him so hard it bled. It's really hard, because I keep wanting to clean in their cages or put in new toys or just am seduced by their cuteness, but I'm going to try to not touch them at all for three to five days to give them time to settle in. I think their lives have not been easy (as rescues) and they probably haven't yet had time to realize they are now safe and in their real homes. (I have to restrain myself not to change the bedding...it stinks because they came with their tanks, but even when I've just taken a wheel out to wash it, or move their little shelter over to make room for a new toy, they freak out and spend a long time readjusting when I put it back. So I think I should give it a while longer.) Any advice is, of course, much appreciated.Artistwolf wrote:Welcome! Hey, if anything, those boys will probably be more likely to be happy to snuggle with you. Because they must be kept alone, they really bond with their owner and also they tend to be more mellow than females.
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Re: hey y'all!
by CinnamonPearl Sat 23 Apr 2016, 8:56 pm
I would leave them alone completely until they seem to have settled down. Don't change their toys, take them out for playtime, or anything. Just go in to change their food and water, and clean their tank if a week passes. Once you can visibly see that they've calmed down and adjusted to their new surroundings, then you can start playing with them.
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Re: hey y'all!
by scaredymouse Sun 24 Apr 2016, 4:35 am
Welcome to the forum! I wanted to address the issue you are having with mouse smell. Most mice that come from pet shops are extra stinky for a little while. We even have a name for it... pet shop funk. It comes from their poor diet, tap water, and then the stress of adjusting to a new home. So, spot clean the tanks as best as you can, clean the toys frequently, give them filtered water, and give it a few weeks. I was surprised at how strong my critters smelled when I brought them home but it gets better. And you get used to it. And a lot of young mice like to pee on their wheels but they seems to grow out of that behavior, in my experience.
What kind of bedding do you have them on? What kind of food are you feeding them? These things can also make a difference with odor and overall health.
What kind of bedding do you have them on? What kind of food are you feeding them? These things can also make a difference with odor and overall health.
_________________
Lady mice: stormy, Dahlia, lily, Ella billie, coco, maggie
Gentleman mice: milo, jimmy
Other pets: Little Buddy, Kevin (cats) robert, lulu, Englebert, harold, Gerald, Zumi, nico, charlie, (hamsters), stella (gerbil), Gilly (hedgehog)
Penny, Honeybun, Lucy, Annie, Gilly, Furgie, Tedward Wigglesworth, Olivia, Goose, Sweet Katie, Binky, Delilah, Bitsy, Boopers, Sprout, Splotchy, Eva, Slappy, Shuggie, Fancy Pants, Jellybean, Charlie, Murray, Sally, Maya, Gunther, Lil Smokey, Magnus, Norman, Winnie, Sally, George, Harriet, Spec, Erzulie, Lucille, Agatha and Clementine.
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Re: hey y'all!
by MouseLover Sun 24 Apr 2016, 8:12 am
scaredymouse - I have never heard of the filtered water thing before :O My mice drink tap water (as do I). Is there any particular reason filtered is better for them?
I agree with just letting them settle for while. They need to learn that they're in a safe place. Sometimes with new mice, before I even try touching them, I just sit right by their cage and watch them for a while. They usually notice that I'm there, and it's a way for them to learn that they can just carry on with their business when I'm around, and they don't have to worry.
I agree with just letting them settle for while. They need to learn that they're in a safe place. Sometimes with new mice, before I even try touching them, I just sit right by their cage and watch them for a while. They usually notice that I'm there, and it's a way for them to learn that they can just carry on with their business when I'm around, and they don't have to worry.
_________________
Current Mice: None.
Rainbow Bridge: Daisy, Peach, Ivy, Penelope, Hazel, Ruby, Clover, Peanut, Minnie, Ginger, Honey, Violet, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather.
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Re: hey y'all!
by boofandkara Sun 24 Apr 2016, 4:13 pm
Yeah I've been sitting by one of them a lot (he gets a little more attention than the other cause his tank is right by my arm chair) and he always looks at me. I do try to wake him up by talking if I notice he is having a bad dream - sometimes when he's sleeping all of the sudden he'll start to breathe really quickly and make little chirp sounds. I asked the pet shop about it and they said 'oh he's just like that' and I don't see him sneezing or anything so I think he is just emotive. Sometimes if I am sitting nearby and staring at him, he will climb on top of his house and start chattering at me.MouseLover wrote:scaredymouse - I have never heard of the filtered water thing before :O My mice drink tap water (as do I). Is there any particular reason filtered is better for them?
I agree with just letting them settle for while. They need to learn that they're in a safe place. Sometimes with new mice, before I even try touching them, I just sit right by their cage and watch them for a while. They usually notice that I'm there, and it's a way for them to learn that they can just carry on with their business when I'm around, and they don't have to worry.
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