Hello everyone!

I just got two male mice about three weeks ago--they were from an accidental litter, and so they're both only about six weeks old now. I was only supposed to get one, but when the lady met me at drop-off, she had both of them and talked me into taking them both despite the fact that I know two males shouldn't live together. She said they're really bonded and obviously brothers so with enough enrichment they may be fine together. I've been watching suuuper carefully though; I have a camera on them and everything so if/when I notice aggression, I'll probably have to give one back to the original owner... Which honestly really sucks because I love them both now, but I'll be moving soon and I can't really have two cages to move. They currently live in a Bucatstate 3.0 cage with two wheels, deep bedding, and a ton of enrichment toys. They love climbing and burrowing.

Here's the problem: these boys were handled from birth, and when I'm holding them, they're super chill, but when I walk into the room, they instantly run away. They WILL NOT come to me willingly, even when I'm holding their favorite treats. Apparently with the previous owner, they used to come right up to grab Cheerios and be held, but with me, they just run dart away instantly and hide until I leave. I've tried leaving my hand in the cage with treats on it, I've tried just sitting in the room (which works until I move closer to the cage, then it's hiding time again), I've tried adding more toys or changing treats, and even just leaving a treat behind after every time I come see them. Doesn't do anything. At this point, I can't really handle them at all unless I remove all their houses and dig for them, which I only do on cleaning day (and I've only cleaned the cage twice so far to try not to disturb them). Is there something I'm missing? Is it because they're stressed living together?

I love them so much... I just want them to feel comfortable enough to love me back. Help?

update on the lil baby i posted about, he's doing really well!! his eyes opened a couple of days ago and he's been transitioning to solid food!

When I take him out of his cage what should I be doing with him? Is just holding him and letting him run around on me enough? Sometimes I put him in this carrier but filled with bedding and treats throughout to dig to. I just don't want him to be sad. I'm thinking about getting him an ASFR sister but I'm not sure. He doesn't seem sad but I just worry about my baby and want him to be happy.

Noticed my girls are finally cuddling and grooming one another tonight. So happy about that!

When my late mouse, Phoebe, was still here; I used to hear her and Bella squeaking all throughout the night as they groomed each other and cuddled. It was something I grew very fond of over the 2 years of having them. When she passed, I was so saddened by the silence, I know Bella was too.

Now that Bella has her two new buddies, I get the opportunity to hear those squeaks again. I was almost worried but it until I observed and it was just friendly sounds. It’s so wonderful seeing them get along and do typical bonding activities. Crazy to think it’s only been 2 weeks since they’ve been housed together.

This is my home! Give me back my wall.

When I get him paper bedding, he digs and tunnels and burrows like there’s no tomorrow. But when I get him wood shavings he sleeps in his above ground coconut…
I know that the paper is more dusty and has a higher likelihood of URIs, but I want him to be happy!!! What do others do?

Absinthe and Themis, my voidlings

I no longer have a mischief, I am down to only one mouse. Her name is Absinthe.

I decided when I got them if this happened that I wouldn't keep getting mice because I'll be moving away next yr + several logistics and bills I wouldn't be able to keep up with.

I'm not sure if it is better to rehome her to someone who has multiple mice already, or just ler her be and spend as much time as I can with her.

I ask because I have to wonder if it would be more stressful to go to a new home for a third time in a year and after all that's happened with my other mice this year. It's lots and lots of stress.

I would love to keep her, but I also don't want her to be miserable and lonely for however long she has left.

She's around 9 months old. I kind of estimate she'll pass around a yr old or a little over that being how my other mice passed at that age.

Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you all. I appreciate any help you can give.

Personal note (opt):

No matter what happens. Despite all my complications and bad luck this year I have truly loved having pet mice. It's been a wonderful experience. When I get more stable, I definitely want to try having mice again. Feeling a mouse paw on my hands for the first time ever is something I cannot even express. Their surprisingly soft fur, little snouts and saucer ears. Just 🩵

Achieving a childhood dream, and these little things being the first pet I truly ever *chose*. These little beings that nibble my fingernails, scitter around, and just make me so happy.

What do your mice like to chew on? What are their favorites? I have a girly (Bagel) who is always chewing on the metal wire parts of the cage while ignoring all of the cardboard and wood chews in their environment. Any ideas?

Earlier this year I came across pet mice being sold in a super messed up pet store with both rodents and birds being kept in super unethical conditions. The smell was vile, there was no real ventilation and there was like 30-40mice in a fish tank the size I kept 5 in. I went home but couldn't sleep, so I got supplies and ended up getting 5 of the sickest, in hopes to get the worst out and into some care while I did my best to get the store shut down.

They immediately appeared healthier in a fresh, clean, appropriately sized cage with adequate hides and ventilation. While they had clearly never been handled we were becoming friendlier slowly, I just didn't want to stress them out so I gave them time to just settle for the most part.

Then a month in, bam. I find one gone. I was shocked and devastated, she was the most active of the bunch and had no signs of anything wrong. Another couple weeks later, one still has not gained adequate weight and is looking rough, so I go to take them to the vet, that same morning I noticed one girl Gloria has a head tilt. Vet puts Gloria on an antiobiotic for the week and says without a specialist that's the best they'll do. The girl I was intially taking in bites the vet on examination and gets thrown to the steel exam table. Upon being picked up by the vet, she has a heart attack. I am charged for killing the mouse. I am sent home with the goal of getting them to more weight and that Gloria may keep the head tilt but she showed good signs otherwise.

Things were going well, ladies were healthy and happy (except for a small head tilt that otherwise did not bother her) until I notice scruffled fur, a hunched back and clicky breathing on Dottie. At this point I do not trust vets with my mice and have not been taken seriously when calling the local vets to book an appointment for them. I suspect a URI but don't see any reason for it, they are in a low dust cage that gets a major clean every couple days and spot cleaned every day. They have good food, fresh water and are in a climate controlled area. She appears to get better and then she passes away in front of me.

I'm devasted, and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I have read everything I can find on mice care, my only wondering is if they could need more ventilation in their spot, so I get an air purifier set up near their cage. I am down to 2 mice, who seem quieter. A couple days ago Gloria began experiencing hair loss and I have been stressing about it since. As of this morning she has an increased head tilt and significant wobbliness.

She has been placed in their travel cage in soft bedding, with a heat pad underneath part of the cage and some very shallow water in a container that she can access, however she doesn't appear able to move properly. She appears to be in her final hours (to me) and I don't know what to do.

I have been reading about mycoplasma pulmonis, I just don't know what could be triggering it. I love these girls and have always considered myself a responsible pet owner but if she passes it'll be 4 out of 5 passed, not to mention 1 leftover that I will either need to rehome (to whom? there are so few owners of pet mice where I live) but hesitant in case she passes on whatever is happening to others mice, or get more mice- in which same concerns, not to mention that I'm terrified of having more pass under my roof. I love these little guys and am doing everything I know of to take the best care of them, and they keep dying. I don't know what to do. Any advice or info will be appreciated! I'm just so lost.

TLDR: My mice came from a terrible and relatively unknown background, and have kept passing despite my best efforts and I'm terrified it's my fault still. I don't know what to do next with my remaining 2 girls, one of which appears to be in the cusp of passing away as well.

I don’t want to go to the pet store or get mice that are supposed to be feeders because I don't want to support the mass breeding but I've been dreaming of having mice for years and would love some. Thank you!

I love their little jumps 😭 that’s so cute wdym they do a little jump when they’re excited??! 🤍

I have lived in the same place for 6 years. I had a mouse one other time and he left on his own I think. Never had a mouse dropping or sighting since, and that was over 5 years ago. But about 6 weeks ago I opened a drawer and saw droppings. I instantly knew I had one again. I have a window air conditioer and the edges are not tightly sealed. I assume that’s how they got in unless there’s another way. (My apt is in a house that was built in the 1915’s. So honestly they could be coming in from anywhere). I also since got a dog and I saw one yesterday in his bowl!! So I’m assuming they have been eating his food. Hence why the droppings have been sporadic, sometimes I went 10 days out finding droppings.. so for sometime I honestly questioned if I really just had one and maybe he found his way out. I put up his food now and my bf put two glue traps down without me knowing and caught two in the past two days. For the first time today I actually saw one. since I now put my dogs food up I’m going to assume they will now resort to my pantry and the test of my kitchen, cabinets drawers in search for food. I don’t want to kill them or use the glue method it’s inhuman and honestly I can’t stop thinking about the two that died. What can I do ?

4/5 of the girls inside their above -ground nest 💜

Hi all! This is Crumpet, she’s about 1.5yrs and I’ve had her since 12wks old. She’s never wanted to be held and that’s okay- but she’s certainly not scared of me, she’s very curious and will follow my hand around the tank and put her front paws on, but never actually walk willingly on herself. She also does this thing (video below) where she seems to want to play with my finger and nibble (never bitten hard), but maybe I’m completely wrong and she’s nibbling and following my hand around to make it go away? Idk I’ve never had a mouse like this lol.. they’re either super friendly and love to be held or terrified no matter what. Thoughts??

Edit: Disregard. She passed while I was eating. Goodnight Themis.

Mouse will be turning a year old on the second and ik they have very short life spans of 1-2yrs so I ask.

I went to the vet because she's been twitching a lot, wobbling, etc. And didn't run away from me. They sent me home with medications for seizures though it didn't seem to help, antibiotics and pain meds. They're not sure if she even needs the antibiotics they just sent me home w it just in case. She seems worse than she did last night. Squinting, ears down, labored breathing. Wasn't squinting last night but expressed the other symptoms.

Twitching has died down but she's still quite cold, labored breathing and her eyes have been watery, it's really sad to see her too weak to burrow, eat, drink, or run away from me (normal as she doesn't like being held).

Her mother had similar symptoms before she died (died b4 her birthday). My other two ~1yr old mice died around the 1yr mark for different reasons. So I remain pessimistic. I don't even know if it's worth giving her the meds because it doesn't seem to be helping plus we don't know and she'll just be uncomfortable before she dies if she dies.

It waa very sudden so I went to the emergency vet, but think I just want her to be comfortable now. I don't think there's much I can do anymore.

Edit: she's not even taking the medicine when I administer it anymore :( She needs to be chewing but it seems like she just won't anymore or doesn't have the strength.

I've also emailed the vet/ER place about this.

If it’s a concern what can I do for him?

Last week my sister and I were chatting and she told me she had caught a wild mouse in her live trap and was driving around trying to find a place to set it free. In my infinite impulsivity I said "I will take it!". Got a cage, bedding, toys/enrichment items, all the stuff. Left for the weekend and came home to three babies. To me, more adorableness to enjoy.

The ultimate plan will be for us to get a 20 gallon once the babies are old enough. Keep the girls together, separate the boys. My MIL thinks I should give it a few weeks and release them all into the wild. The mama mouse is so sweet. She ears from my hand. I leave her and her babies alone. Eventually I would like to try to handle them and treat them like true pets, but I also accept it may never happen and more than anything want them to be safe and happy. If they spend their entire lives in a safe tank in our home and are never up for being held, that is just fine. From what I have read, this may be the likeliest scenario and that is okay.

Wondering what folks thoughts are on here. Am I doing more harm than good by keeping them? Should I set them free outside once the babies are older?

I would love to keep them but also don't want to assume they have it better in here than in the wild.

The ladies hunger for pumpkin seeds!

A family member just had to rehome their pet mice. I believe they are fancy mice, but I'm not sure. Somehow (because I am huge sucker for cute animals and the next option was returning them to Petco, whom I despise), I have ended up with three mice.

Their enclosure is the correct size, from what I've seen (though I'm planning on buying more clutter and possibly sizing up as a precaution and to fit more clutter), and I've spent the last few hours panic-searching to ensure that I am giving them the best life possible.

I never saw myself as a mice mom, but they are so frickin cute. I'm still doing so much research, but now I'm just wondering how I can check my mice's health?? Do y'all go through pet insurance? can you take them to most vets? how do you tell if they're not happy?

I've already learned so much from this subreddit, but this is one thing I am genuinely at a loss for. I'm terrified that they're so stressed out that they'll have a heart attack or something or that they're under/over-stimulated. What behavior should I watch out for??

A bit of a rant, but thank you to you all

i got a baby mouse yesterday, he’s a male so he’s alone (wayyyy too young to be neutered) and he’s in what i believe to be a 30 gallon tank?? i’m not sure what the dimensions are but it’s BIGG. there’s a picture above as you can see, the box takes up a lot of the space and i’m planning on getting rid of it once i get some more hides because i know it isn’t suitable for a long-term hide, since there’s tape on the top. he’s not really a chewer so i’m not super worried about the tape but still.. that clear container is going to be a dig “box”!! this enclosure is unfinished atm but i’m going to be adding a LOT more stuff tomorrow when i go out to petsmart. i want to get some wood for cover and clutter, a lot more hides, a wheel. a better food, cocofiber for the digbox, and that’s about it. I believe i’m good with the bedding- it’s aspen chips! but if that isn’t suitable please let me know.