Ramblings about my mice

I'm so proud of my mice... even if they are descendants of pet store mice. Currently, since I don't have the money to travel to get mice from a breeder, I'm just breeding some pet store mice in hopes of improving their health. Health is my main goal, but I also am aiming for longer living mice and friendlier males.

So far I have a pair of brothers, Avicii and Kenichi (both are pied black and tan mice), who are able to live together and breed without being separated. Triona, their mother, was one of my favorite mice. I had big plans for her, but she died a few weeks back because my heater didn't turn on.. She was nursing a litter at the time (I had bred Avicii with Triona and Triona's daughter Kristell) and wasn't able to regain her strength after I warmed her up. Kristell finished caring for her litter and her mother's litter, so now I have six lovely mice. I've decided to keep all six because they are all so beautiful and friendly. I'm most proud of the three boys from the litters: a chocolate and tan buck with a thin white belt, a long hair pied black and tan buck, and a black eyed white buck.

I'll have to post pictures of them when I can remember my camera.

I'm hoping the three boys will be okay together like their father and uncle are, but only time will tell that. Currently they are still in with their mother/aunt/half-sister.  Kristell is expecting her final litter from Avicii (though I believe Kenichi is the father of this upcoming litter.. Avicii was for sure the father of the first..) and she'll then have a long break from breeding with her daughters/half-sisters.

This makes me very glad that I decided to keep Avicii. I had originally had him in the "not keep" group and I had one of his brothers in the "keep" group with Kenichi, but right before I was preparing to get rid of the "not keep" boys (the litter was 6 boys and 1 girl), I started looking at Avicii and I liked how strong he looked. His body form was very appealing. So I switched him with his brother who was not so strong looking. Lucky me, Avicii turned into a very sweet mouse.

I had a pet mouse once when I was very young, it smelled terrible and my mum 'removed' it..... she says she can't remember what she did with it but I'm not sure I believe her!  I keep asking her about it so make her suffer....      Later on I had a mum and dad gerbil and a regular teenage income from gerbil baby sales (they were suitably rare in the early 70s).  I had names or all my gerbils too.     I can't believe you manage to keep mice and gerbils and rats and hamsters and degus with cats around!  Your cats must be very well behaved - or your small critters in very safe little homes!  Much admiration too for the amount of time you must spend cleaning them all out.     

I keep their cages and tanks in the spare bedroom. The door stays closed unless I'm in there.

Male mice are stinky little guys. I think I'm getting used to the smell... or maybe my males don't smell as bad since I keep them in tanks

Mine must have been male then!    All I can remember is that it lived in a little blue and wire cage and NEVER got past the porch.    I can still smell that 'smell' you got as you opened the porch door.  I don't think I had it for more than 3 months before my mum made an excuse and move it elsewhere.  

Haha. Males smell less if kept in a tank, and its better for them too so they don't get drafts or smell other scents.

My first male mouse that I ever had I had for 3 days. I kept him in a cage and he smelled up the whole apartment, so my roommate at the time said he HAD to go. lol

My son has two mice. I took them out in a box thr other day to let the cats get a close look. Peanut was not impressed at all and Angel is still a little scared since she got chased by a mouse ball. :lol3:

A mouse ball? What is that?

Awaiting Abyss said:

A mouse ball? What is that?

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I think petcrazy76 means one of them hamster balls. They are a pastic ball that you put small rodents inside to run around in for exercise

Awww how cute, I remember when I was a kid I begged my parents for a pet rat for months but they put their foot down. I am considering buying one actually since well I don't have to ask my parents anymore haha.
I am clueless as to how people can hate rats or rodents I think that they are adorable!

A hamster ball is what I meant. Its a nice way to get them out of their cage without the cats looking for a snack.

Ilovecatesxoxo said:

Awww how cute, I remember when I was a kid I begged my parents for a pet rat for months but they put their foot down. I am considering buying one actually since well I don't have to ask my parents anymore haha.
I am clueless as to how people can hate rats or rodents I think that they are adorable!

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Just remember to get at least a pair. Rats are social animals and cant live alone.

Awaiting Abyss said:

Just remember to get at least a pair. Rats are social animals and cant live alone.

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Yes, get two! I grew up with pet rats and they are really smart and clean and they get to know you and learn their names. But they do need rat buddies! They cuddle and groom each other.

Awaiting Abyss said:

A mouse ball? What is that?

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I got one for my hamsters and they loved it.  I would love to see pictures of the mice.

nurseangel said:

I got one for my hamsters and they loved it.  I would love to see pictures of the mice.

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I'm not fond of them, usually they just stress the little critters out (how would you feel to be trapped in a ball?) and they can cause spinal issues.

I have pictures of some of my mice in the other pet photos section.

They can cause back problems, especially if they are too small. And they can get overheated if they are in there too long. But it's nice for an occasional adventure if the ball is large enough so they don't have to arch their backs too far.

Awaiting Abyss said:

Just remember to get at least a pair. Rats are social animals and cant live alone.

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I have been looking around for rats and a breeder near me breads adorable hairless and hooded rats so I decided to get 4. They are settled in now and I am trying to teach them to come when called . lol not much success yet!
their names are :

Pippin, a black and white hooded rat.
Merry, a hairless rat.
Frodo, a ginger and white rat.
Sam, a hairless rat.

they are the cutest little babas ever!


(and yes i AM a Lord of the Rings fan) :-D
ill try get some pics of them :-)

Ilovecatesxoxo said:

I have been looking around for rats and a breeder near me breads adorable hairless and hooded rats so I decided to get 4. They are settled in now and I am trying to teach them to come when called . lol not much success yet!
their names are :

Pippin, a black and white hooded rat.
Merry, a hairless rat.
Frodo, a ginger and white rat.
Sam, a hairless rat.

they are the cutest little babas ever!


(and yes i AM a Lord of the Rings fan) :-D
ill try get some pics of them :-)

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Congratulations on the new additions!