Pocket Pet Pointers
Pocket Pet Pointers by Becky
(Wikipedia defines “pocket pet” as “any small mammal commonly kept as a household pet.” Pocket pets include, among other, “fancy” mice, “fancy” rats, hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs.)
Did you know that mice make terrific little pets for adults (not just children)? It’s true! These little pets can be highly entertaining to watch and very social with their human parents.
And whether you already have one or more pet mice or are considering becoming a mouse mom or dad (always 2 females together or 1 male, please), here are some care pointers that you may find helpful:
The minimum size habitat you should provide your mouse/mice is the equivalent of a 10-gallon tank. Mice are active when awake and love to run, climb, and jump. This size enables you to fit, at a minimum, the water bottle, food bowl, a size-appropriate wheel, a food dish, a little “home” of some sort that the mouse can sleep in and crawl on, and some space to run around. Mice also like crinkly paper in a corner; they love to nest inside.
Please watch out for wire cages as mice can squish through small openings (same for hamsters and gerbils).
An actual 10-gallon tank with a screen top is good and can be found at almost any pet supply store. (You will want to get a little, secure plastic carrier for times you may need to transport your mouse and when you are cleaning out the habitat.)
If you really want to excite your mouse, get a large plastic see-through container (with a snap-on lid) from a local container store or home goods store and drill (or ask someone to drill) holes in the lid (many holes, please, so your pet can breathe), and a hole for a water bottle. Now you can add other things that your pet can climb, crawl on, and chew up. It makes a happier mouse and a happier you.
* Following is what seems to be a little-known fact about pet bedding. (For you other types of pet pocket parents, this is good for you to know as well.) On occasion, packages of pet bedding can come from the manufacturer with mites in them. It just can’t be helped.
To ensure your pocket pet does not get mites (and you won’t necessarily be able to see them), you can eliminate this potential problem by always freezing bedding before you use it. Freezing the bedding kills the mites.
(Don’t worry; humans can’t get this type of mite from the bedding – only the pets.) You may want to put the bedding in the freezer for at least 24 hours. Please thaw it out before putting in your pet’s habitat. No one wants to get a cold belly. Brrrrrr.