Almost every person has acquired a pet at least once in their life. Some prefer common types of pets such as cats and dogs. Some people like exotic reptile species. Well, some owners keep a white mouse as a pet.
It is worth noting that the white mouse has been considered a pet. The origin of these cute animals is controversial. Some sources indicate that the decorative mouse existed before our era. But the more familiar description of the origin of these mice points to the breeding decorative species rodents in laboratories for experiments.
Previously, in many countries there was a belief that if there is a white mouse in the house, it will protect the house from other rodents that are capable of a short time leave the owners without food supplies. Our ancestors also associated these cute animals with joy. To this day, many people have a favorable attitude towards this decorative animal.
Character and size
According to its size white mouse similar to its brothers. Their weight is about 30 grams. The length of the body and tail is no more than 11 centimeters.
Absolutely all mice of this species are active. Despite their excessive activity, they are absolutely harmless both to their owners and to other decorative rodents in the house. To have several individuals of this species, the owner does not have to acquire several cells. Mice will live in harmony and agreement even in the same territory, provided that they were placed in a cage of the same age. When a newcomer moves in, the mice will show him with all their appearance that this is their territory and he is clearly a stranger here. Often such settlements end in tears for a new mouse. But this case may be the only act of aggression on the part of ornamental rodents.
In addition to its activity and kindness, the white mouse differs from its relatives in its strong parental love. In addition to the female, the male also takes care of the newborn mouse. This phenomenon is rarely seen among animals.
How to breed decorative mice
Pregnancy in a female lasts no more than 21 days. One litter can have up to 7 mice, weighing about 1.5 grams. Like many newborn animals, children of the decorative rodent are born not only blind and deaf, but also completely bald. After a few days of age, little mice develop a small fluff on their backs. After a week after birth, their bodies are completely covered with hair.
The female feeds the offspring for 4 weeks. But, despite this, already two hours after the female has given birth, she is ready for another fertilization.
Upon reaching one month old , decorative mice can take care of themselves without the intervention of their parents. Three months after birth, rodents are able to have offspring themselves.
The average lifespan of rodents is 2-3 years. There have been cases where a white mouse has crossed the threshold at 5 years.
This decorative rodent from the white mouse family is very easy to train. Once the mouse gets used to its owner, it will not hesitate to come to its owner's arms. When letting a mouse go for a walk from its cage, it is better to keep an eye on it with both eyes. Because if she hides somewhere, then finding her will be a difficult task.
House for a decorative mouse
Although these pets are not particularly picky in terms of their maintenance , it is worth knowing some mandatory things regarding housing:
Some owners believe that decorative pet Can be placed in an aquarium. This idea is not the best, since glass walls tend to fog up quickly. And cleaning such a home will take much longer than a cage. Even if the owner decides to place his pet in such housing, then he should purchase a metal mesh with small holes. This will allow the pet to breathe deeply and protect the owner from escaping his little friend.
What must be present in the cell?
- Small pieces of chalk. If there is a shortage of chalk, then you can place parts from branches in the cage. A rusty piece of bread also works well. These things are necessary for the rodent to sharpen its teeth and to prevent further growth of the incisors and add the necessary minerals to the diet for the healthy growth of the mouse.
- Litter. The most common bedding materials for rodents are paper and sawdust. A good alternative to these materials is hay.
- Wheel. This is perhaps one of the important attributes for the health of a rodent. Due to their activity, mice will not be able to sit still. And it is the running wheel that will remove all the accumulated energy from it.
White mouse food
To keep your pet healthy, the owner should remember that the diet must be balanced. Daily norm consumption is 50 grams of food feed. You can use it as food:
To summarize, we can say that these peaceful and active animals do not require excessive care when living as a pet. Periodic change of bedding, arrangement of the house and a balanced diet is all that is needed for the healthy growth of a decorative mouse. If you do not neglect these rules, then a happy animal will, without a doubt, thank its owner with love and curiosity, and will become a best friend who will not only be a pet, but also part of the family.
The domestic decorative mouse is an extremely funny and cute creature, communication with which brings many pleasant moments. Decorative mice quickly get used to humans and become tame. Keeping mice in an apartment does not present any great difficulties, so they are increasingly becoming planned and desired inhabitants of city apartments.
Housing to a pet It is necessary to arrange it so that the animal can live in it as comfortably as possible.
Before you bring your pet into the house, you need to buy a cage, equip it with a feeder, a drinking bowl, shelter houses and, preferably, a wheel. You can put twigs and ladders in the cage; the animal is very energetic and will happily climb on them. Since mice will spend their entire lives in a cage, it should be as large as possible; wide, spacious cages are good for mice. 
The cage with the decorative mouse is placed in a dry room, protected from drafts. It is not recommended to place the cage near heating devices and so that it is exposed to direct sunlight. Proper placement of the cage will protect your ward from colds, which, by the way, decorative mice with weakened immune systems are more prone to.
IN wildlife mice live in groups, they are very sociable. Therefore, when purchasing an animal for your home, immediately take a pair for it. Some keep mice in small groups. But mice are kept only in permanent groups.
Mice are “homey”, territorial animals; in the wild, they do not stray further than 50m from their area and protect their territory from strangers. When adding any new individual, it is necessary to take precautions: completely wash the cage, lay out a new substrate to destroy the smell of the “owners” of the cage and traces of their territorial marks. Thus, all mice find themselves in equal conditions, the cage is considered a new home for everyone. If these measures are not taken, the stranger will not be accepted and will be killed.
Keeping mice in an apartment is not very difficult. Mice require light but constant care.
To keep your apartment from smelling like mice, you need to clean the cage at least twice a week and periodically wash the cage and all items in it with soap. Every day they put it in the feeder new food and remove leftover food and debris.
It is best to equip the cage with an automatic drinker containing water for a long time stays fresh.
A mouse by nature is a very active, nimble animal; keeping it in a cage limits the natural mobility of the animal. There must be a running wheel in the cage so that the mice have the opportunity to move sufficiently.
A house for the mouse must be built in the cage. The house is placed in one of the corners back wall cages so that the animal feels protected. The house should be small, about the size of a mouse, and it can be made from anything, the main thing is that the little one can hide in it if the situation seems suspicious to her. Having a shelter for a mouse is very important; it will save the small, timid animal from stress, and the mouse will be cheerful, energetic, and homely.
A tray is placed at the bottom of the cage where bedding is poured. Large sawdust or wood litter for cats can be used as bedding. You cannot use newspapers or magazines for bedding because... printing ink contains lead and other heavy metals, dangerous to the health of these small animals. Cages with retractable trays are very convenient, the presence of which greatly facilitates and speeds up cleaning the cage.
Mice are omnivorous rodents, in the wild they do not disdain anything, they gnaw on everything, they can even eat the stub of a candle for a sweet soul.
Mice are fed using a combination of various dry and succulent foods. Among dry plant feeds, seeds of cultivated and wild plants, grain, cereals, bread, crackers, special feed. In addition, there are various foods on sale for rats, mice and guinea pigs, which mice eat well.
House mice love food for songbirds and dry food for cats and dogs.
Ornamental mice are given pieces of sweet apples, green beans, sprouted grains, and various not very juicy herbs. It is very useful for mice to include various insects, cockroaches, flies, and butterflies in their diet.
Once a month, mice are given vitamin and mineral supplements.
Food for mice must be placed only in the feeder, otherwise the animals will quickly dirty both the cage and the food. You cannot overfeed mice, this will lead to obesity, weakened immunity, and diseases. gastrointestinal tract and other diseases.
A mouse living alone needs to be given much more attention than two or more mice. Otherwise, the animal will become isolated, run wild, will constantly sit in the house and shy away when strangers approach. They often play with a lonely mouse and talk affectionately. When feeding and caring for the animal, you should avoid sudden movements that may frighten it.
Since mice have a well-developed sense of smell, your pet will quickly get used to the smell of the person bringing food. Every time the owner approaches the mouse, it will greet him with a joyful squeak. Decorative mouse Having gotten used to it, it will also willingly respond to its nickname.
The decorative mouse is tamed and trained. First, of course, the animal is tamed to the hand that gives the treat. And then you can teach simple techniques, using, again, a treat. This is how they teach the mouse to run in a circle, do a “stand,” etc. - they develop its inclinations and individual habits.
Decorative pet mice are an ideal option for those who have decided to have their own animal or teach a child to take care of the weak, but are limited by time, funds and square meters.
You can squeeze the mouse
Unlike phlegmatic fish - other inhabitants that do not take up much space - rodents are able to respond to affection: you can stroke them, feel the warmth of a small body in a fur coat, they are quite affectionate and enjoy sitting in your arms.
Varieties: mouse and mouse are different
Oddly enough, tamed and domesticated mice are divided into only two types. The first species is the albino mouse, also known as the white laboratory mouse. The decorative house mouse is an animal weighing on average 30 grams. with a body 7-12 cm, a tail of the same length, hard, medium-length fur, often one-color: black, brown, gray, sandy color. The lifespan of this miniature animal is on average 2-3 years.
White mouse The white mouse stands apart - the ancestor of the entire mouse movement. Bred before our era, this creature was a frequent guest in the homes of Chinese emperors, and later, brought to England, quickly won the sympathy of all pet lovers.
In the 19th century, they were attracted to participate in laboratory experiments, as a result of which a separate species appeared - the laboratory mouse. She was bred to participate in laboratory experiments to study models social behavior, testing medicines and many other things that directly benefit humanity. For pet lovers, this species is not so attractive, although albino mice can still be found in city apartments.
Contents: every mouse has its own hole
Each animal needs its own special space, which it will consider “its place” - sacred and inviolable. Therefore, before you bring mice home, you should take care of where they will live. It was before, not after. Because banks and carton boxes absolutely not adapted for the life of rodents. And any move is always stressful.
Avoid aquariums as well. They are cramped, stuffy, hot, the mouse will not be able to move normally in them and arrange a secluded corner for itself. The best solution would be a spacious cage with metal bars.
Rodent cage Be sure to make it yourself or buy a small house - a hole where the mouse will spend all day long.
Place the wheel to provide your pet with physical exercise and realize his need for movement. For the same purpose, take care of shelves, ladders and ropes. The animal will be happy to show you its dexterity, and you will also have fun watching its amusing movements.
Sawdust for rodents The litter is very important element. The layer should be quite impressive - at least 5 mm. Animals use it not only for its intended purpose, but also to decorate their house, and when there are drafts or low temperatures, they burrow into it to keep warm.
The material should be natural and preferably inexpensive: sawdust, dry peat crumbs, shavings, hay. Avoid cotton wool and sand - the first absorbs odors too well and gets tangled between your fingers, and the second can become a breeding ground for lice. But something tells us that you don’t want such neighbors.
Care: mouse by mouse, and cleaning on a schedule
In fact, the house mouse does not need any special care. But taking care of the cleanliness of the cell - the most important condition. And not only for the animal, but also for the owner. Life cycle The infestation of these rodents is so intense that the cage needs to be cleaned at least twice a week. Otherwise, you are guaranteed to have a mouse smell in your apartment.
Cage cleaner By “cleaning the cage” we mean changing the bedding and wiping special means or soapy water on all items in the cage. If you take the trouble and purchase a cage with a retractable tray, the cleaning process will be greatly simplified and will not take much time.
Feeding
Domestic mice, like their wild relatives, are omnivores. But in natural conditions The mouse age is short and is marked by various diseases. It is in your power to avoid trouble and make sure that your pet eats well, does not get sick and does not cause trouble throughout its mouse life.
The mouse eats The main rule is the same as for humans: a balanced diet. For you this means a combination of dry and succulent food:
- Dry: grains and seeds, as well as bread, crackers, mixed feed. Mice also happily eat budgie formula and even dry cat and dog food;
- Juicy: apple pieces, sprouted grains, green beans, not very juicy herbs. It is useful to offer insects in the diet from time to time: flies, butterflies and even cockroaches;
- Supplementing with vitamins and minerals once a month will also not be superfluous.
But what you absolutely cannot do is feed rodents with leftover food from your own table: food additives, spices and excess salt can harm your pet. If only occasionally you pamper yourself with a piece of cheese or other natural product, but not as the main diet.
Be sure to respect the feeding area. The food is only in the feeder. Otherwise, the mice will dirty your cage so much that you will get tired of cleaning it.
Communication
Get ready for the fact that mice are nocturnal creatures, which means that most of your waking hours they will sleep or hide in their house or nest of litter, and rustle at night. But even with this way of life, a mouse, like any living creature, needs communication. At the same time, a lonely mouse needs much more of it than a family of mice. If you devote too little time to the rodent, it will soon become gloomy, withdrawn, quickly run wild and will hide when a person appears.
Don't let the mouse run wild To make your pet active and friendly, talk to him, sit him in your palm, and play more often. It won’t take much time and won’t require excessive effort, but the return will not be long in coming and will be like in that cartoon: you come home, and he is happy with you.
And remember - we are responsible for those we have tamed!
House mouse, intelligence and playfulness
Source http://www.zooclub.ru/mouse/mous/22.shtml
We continue our conversation about decorative mice at home. In our previous article we have already discussed the characteristics and features of breeds of small rodents, today in our article we'll talk about keeping domestic mice.
Setting up a cage for mice
To make your mouse cozy and comfortable, you need to purchase a spacious cage, which can be made from both natural and synthetic materials. The best option would be a rectangular cage with metal bars and a wooden base. The height of the cage is at least 50 cm, and the floor dimensions are 40x40 cm.
This space is enough for one mouse seed to sit comfortably in the cage. To observe the life of your tailed pets, it is best to install transparent houses and tunnels in their home.
The cage must be equipped with a feeder and an automatic drinker. This will allow you to maintain a certain cleanliness in the mouse house, since your pets will knock over food and spill water. It is best to fill the bottom of the cage with fresh sawdust.
When choosing a place to install a mouse house, focus on lighting. The point is that bright sunlight House mice can't stand it. Due to the abundance of sunlight, pets become lethargic and may suffer from overheating, suffering from heatstroke.
If there is only one pet in the cage, then the smell from it will be almost invisible. But when keeping a mouse family, it is best to use a false bottom in the cage. In this case, through small holes on the floor in the cage, feces will be poured onto a special tray, which will allow you not to bother yourself with daily cleaning.
Nutrition for domestic mice
The diet of domestic mice should contain grain crops, such as:
- Millet
- Wheat
- Barley
- Corn.
In addition, your pet's menu must include protein food(unsalted cheese, eggs, low-fat cottage cheese), as well as bread crumbs.
You can purchase ready-made grain mixtures for pet mice at any Zoogalereya store.
You can offer your pet seasonal fruits: pears, plums, apples. Don't forget to cut them into small pieces.
Just like degu squirrels, the care of which we have already talked about in our article, mice need to grind their teeth. Branches of birch and fruit trees are suitable for this purpose.
Because the metabolic processes rodents pass through very quickly, make sure that your pets do not go hungry and have round-the-clock access to food.
Reproduction of decorative mice
If your pets live in comfortable conditions, then already in the third month of life an adult female can give birth to her first offspring of 6-9 pups. The pregnancy of domestic mice lasts only 3 weeks, so a mouse family can please you with offspring up to 11 times a year.
To slow down the reproduction process, it is necessary to separate mice of different sexes, otherwise in a few months you will be able to open your own mouse nursery.
Be attentive to your pets. House mice are very gentle creatures that quickly get used to their owner. But if the mouse escapes, then over time it may go wild. That's why you shouldn't let your pets walk unattended.
Decorative mice will become your wonderful friends, the main thing is to follow the necessary rules for the care and maintenance of tailed pets.
All articlesFor some, the small gray animal causes disgust, for others it causes tenderness. But whether a person wants it or not, the mouse is his constant companion. So why not get to know this animal better? How long do mice live? How do they triple their homes? What do they eat and how do they reproduce? How to choose a pet and provide it with comfortable conditions?
- Class: Mammals;
- Order: Rodents;
- Suborder: Mouse-like;
- Family: Mice;
- Subfamily: Mouse.
Mouse - description and external characteristics
These small rodents are distributed throughout the entire earth, excluding the extreme northern and high-mountain regions. The closest relatives of mice are jerboas, mole rats, hamsters and dormice. And more distantly related are rats, chinchillas, porcupines, beavers, Guinea pigs. In total, the Mouse subfamily includes 121 genera and more than 300 species.
The mouse is a small animal with an elongated and pointed muzzle, large round ears and bulging beady eyes. Long, hairless or slightly furred tail - distinguishing feature animal. The limbs, which are not the same in length, are adapted for digging and moving along vertical and horizontal surfaces. The body length of a rodent can vary from 3 to 20 cm, weight - from 15 to 50 g.
Mice have a special bite. On the bottom and upper jaws The animal has 2 chisel-shaped teeth, which continuously grow. Rodents are forced to constantly grind them down, which is why their incisors are very sharp.
Animals from the Mouse family are different good eyesight and can distinguish between red and yellow shades. The usual body temperature of these rodents ranges from 37.5 to 39⁰C. The maximum lifespan of mice is 4 years.
How mice behave in their natural environment
So that rodents can hold constant temperature bodies, they need to be active in winter and summer, day and night. Gluttony and fussiness for mice - character traits, helping to survive and leave offspring.
In the fall, animals begin collecting provisions in a burrow or on the surface of the ground, where the “warehouse” is camouflaged with earth. And if in the off-season rodents are awake at night and sleep during the day, then in winter they remain active around the clock. In spring and autumn, when there is no shortage of food and no temperature fluctuations, mice actively reproduce.
Mice live large families, since together it is easier for them to defend themselves, get food, build homes, and raise offspring. In a mouse pack there is a leader who maintains order in the group. Female mice are peaceful. But young males do not always put up with their subordinate position. Stomping with its hind legs and aggressive tail strikes indicate the animal’s intention to conquer the “throne.” Inter-family clashes can lead to the disintegration of the pack.
Mice spend most of their time in burrows, raising offspring, escaping danger, storing food, or resting after eating it. The maximum depth of the burrow is 70 cm, and the total length of the passages can reach 20 m. Some species of mice build nests in thickets tall grasses(baby mouse) or live in tree roots and old stumps (forest mouse).
Minks can be temporary or permanent, and the latter can be summer or winter. Temporary housing for animals is simply planned. The permanent mouse hole has a spacious nesting chamber and several entrances. In summer burrows where rodents give birth, bedding is created from fluff, blades of grass, shavings and feathers. And in winter, a pantry is set up for food supplies.
What does a mouse eat in the wild?
In summer and autumn, when the time comes for the harvest to ripen, mice begin to actively prepare food reserves for winter. The main food of the animals is grain crops, as well as seeds of various plants. Field mice love wheat, barley, oats, and buckwheat.
Rodents living in forests feed on cedar and hazel nuts, maple and beech seeds, acorns, and small insects. And animals living near bodies of water prefer to eat leaves, roots and stems of plants, berries, grasshoppers, caterpillars, larvae, spiders and other invertebrates. House mice living near people willingly adapt to the human diet and eat bread, meat, dairy products, and sweets.
Animals living in the wild drink very little. The mouse body independently produces water by breaking down food. Additional sources of moisture are fleshy plant leaves, fruits, and vegetables.
Enemies of mice
The mouse is the key link in food chain many ecosystems. Many wild animals depend on the existence of this small rodent. For mice living in the forest, the main enemies are foxes, martens, arctic foxes, ferrets, stoats, weasels, lynxes and even wolves. Predators easily tear apart burrows and can eat up to 30 small animals a day.
Mice are the main food for snakes and large lizards. Reptiles such as boas, pythons, vipers, and radiant snakes swallow their prey whole. During the hunt, the snake freezes, and then suddenly attacks the victim, biting it with poisonous teeth, and then waits for the animal to become motionless.
There is also danger lurking for mice from above. Among birds there are predators that differ in the power of their beaks, visual acuity and hearing. These are owls, buzzards, hawks, eagles, owls, kites. They hunt during the day or night, making swift attacks from the air.
The lifespan of rodents directly depends on environmental conditions. The average is 2-3 years. The greatest influence on the lifespan of animals is exerted by factors such as climate, nutrition, infectious diseases and attacks by wild animals.
Both frost and dry, hot weather can be detrimental to mice. Too sharp temperature fluctuations destroy numerous rodent colonies. Often the weather is related to the opportunity to eat well. An inadequate diet significantly shortens the life of a mouse.
Many species of mice that live away from people live a little less or more than a year. And an animal tamed by humans, receiving balanced nutrition and care, can live up to 6 years.
Reproduction in mice
The mouse is a polygamous animal. In nature, one male fertilizes from 2 to 12 females. Over 12 months, mice have from 3 to 8 litters. The female reaches sexual maturity 10 weeks after birth. At this time, she begins to go into heat, which lasts 5 days and is expressed in special behavior.
If after coating the female fails to become pregnant, a new estrus occurs within a week. If fertilization is successful, the female animal is expected to give birth in 17-24 days. There are from 3 to 9 cubs in one litter. Female mice give birth at night. Babies, when born, are unable to move, hear or see. They have no hair, and the size ranges from 2 to 3 cm. The little mice develop rapidly:
- 3 days - fluff appears on the body;
- 5 days - the cubs begin to hear;
- Day 7 - the animal’s body weight doubles;
- 14 days - palpebral fissures appear;
- Day 19 - the mice begin to eat on their own;
- 25 days - the length of the body reaches 500 mm (the tail is 15-20 mm shorter) and the mouse is already sexually mature.
Decorative mice develop a little slower. It is recommended to mate them no more than 2-3 times a year. Repeated births exhaust the female, and each subsequent offspring becomes weaker.
Types of wild mice
Shrew or shrew mouse (Myosorex)
Animals from the shrew family are divided into only 14 species. This long-nosed mouse is small in size (6-10 cm). Only the born cubs weigh less than 1 g. The animal’s nose, curved at the end, is called the proboscis. The animal's coat is shiny, thick, and silky; There are gray, ocher, reddish shades.
A mouse with a long cute nose navigates in space thanks to its sense of smell. It is an omnivore, but prefers to eat insects, as well as some vertebrates (frogs, baby rodents, small reptiles). Without food, this animal can live no more than 10 hours.
Shrews live in large concentrations in South America, Africa, and Australia. This small mouse with a long nose feels great near bodies of water, in damp forests and low-growing thickets.
Japanese mouse (Sylvaemus mystacinus)
A mouse with large round ears and a long nose. It is also called Asia Minor. Inhabits the islands of Japan, southwestern Georgia, and the Kuril Islands of Russia. Prefers mountainous uplands, mixed forests, with dense shrubby undergrowth.
Japanese mice do not dig holes, inhabiting voids in trees and buildings, accumulations of stones and dense bushes. The length of the body and tail are almost equal (up to 13 cm). They breed only during the 6 warm months of the year, during which time they produce 2-3 litters of 3-6 cubs.
Wood mouse (Sylvaemus sylvaticus)
A distinctive feature of the animal is a yellow round spot on the chest. The length of the rodent is 12 cm, the tail is 7-10 cm. These mice can occupy abandoned holes, rotten stumps, voids under stones and other natural shelters. The wood mouse is especially common in Siberia, Western Asia, Altai, and in the deciduous forests of Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. It feeds on cereals, seeds, nuts, and insects.
Gerbil mouse (Gerbillidae)
In the Mouse gerbil family, gerbils are classified into a separate subfamily, numbering more than 100 species of animals. The natural habitat of these animals is the arid steppes of Eastern Europe, African and Asian deserts and semi-deserts. They are active during the daytime; In winter they do not hibernate, but their lifestyle becomes more sluggish.
Externally, the gerbil mouse looks more like a rat. The length of the animal can reach 20 cm and weight 250 g. The color of the animal is brownish-sandy on the back and lighter on the chest. The well-furred long tail disappears into dangerous situations, a new one does not grow. The gerbil mouse can walk on its hind legs and jump over long distances (up to 4 m). It feeds on grains of wheat, barley, corn, millet, as well as fruits and nuts.
Little mouse (Micromys minutus)
The name of the genus is associated with the miniature size of the animal. The maximum length of the animal's body is 7 cm, and the tail - 5 cm. The animal prefers to live in the steppe and forest-steppe, in grain fields, and in floodplain meadows. Among the grass you can find spherical houses of this rodent, made of dry stems and leaves.
The baby mouse is distinguished by its fiery red coloration of its skin, which appears after the first molt. It feeds on invertebrates, green leaves, and grains. The little mouse is peaceful and quickly adapts to new environment, therefore can be tamed by people.
White mouse (Mus musculus)
It is also called homemade or house mouse, since the animal has adapted to live next to humans. In living quarters, sheds, and storerooms, these rodents hide complex, multi-channel burrows, where they live in large colonies. Not far from their burrows, they make storage areas for food: seeds, nuts, crackers, pieces of vegetables.
The white mouse is not a large animal, its length reaches 8-11 cm. The long tail is covered with sparse hair, and scaly rings are clearly visible on it. The color of the animal’s skin depends on the species, but the fur on the back is darker than on the belly. The house mouse lives on all continents, in all climate zones and is a faithful companion to humans.
Grass mouse (Arvicanthis)
The length of an individual's body together with the tail can exceed 30 cm. The gray or brown fur consists of elongated soft hairs and stiff bristles, as well as hard spiked hairs. individual species. Their rhythm of life is similar to that of humans - they are awake during the day and sleep at night.
The homeland of grass mice is Southeast Africa. These rodents love moisture and live mainly in river floodplains and in humid tropical plantations. They can both dig holes and occupy other people's homes.
Field mouse (Apodemus agrarius)
The field mouse is not like other rodents of the Mouse family. The animal has a clear, contrasting color stripe on its skin, which runs along the entire spine, from the muzzle to the base of the tail. The size of the animal varies from 8 to 12 cm without a tail. The color, depending on the species, can vary from light gray to dark brown and black. The field mouse builds its home on its own or uses suitable structures.
The field mouse inhabits the territories of Western and Northern Europe, as well as part of Asia: China, Sakhalin, Taiwan. The animal loves meadows and fields, in deciduous thickets, but is also found in the city. The field mouse feeds on invertebrate insects, cereals, plant stems and fruits.
House mouse: choosing a pet
Decorative mice are friendly, non-aggressive, clean, quickly get used to their owners, and are very easy to care for. When choosing an animal, you should pay attention to the habits and appearance of the rodent. Animal with good health looks like that:
- the fur does not stick out, there are no bald patches;
- teeth white, straight;
- the animal has moist and shiny eyes;
- the animal does not have mucous discharge from the nostrils and eyes;
- The mouse is actively moving and feeding.
We must not forget how many years mice live. The maximum lifespan of these animals is 3-4 years, so it is better to choose a pet under the age of 12 months. You need to pay attention to the sex of the rodent, since several males will not get along in one home.
Males are slightly larger than females, their body resembles an elongated pear. A 30-day-old male mouse has formed testicles under its tail. And in the female, from the 3rd day after birth, 5 pairs of rudimentary nipples are clearly visible.
The house mouse is a collective animal, so it is better to purchase several individuals. If further breeding of animals is planned, then males and females must be kept separately until mating.
Thanks to modern selection, ornamental mice have hundreds of species, among which there are singing, “waltzing”, and animals with unusual coat colors (white albino mice, pure black mice, ashy and cream-colored animals).
Some types of mice are especially popular:
- The Japanese dwarf mouse is very tiny, up to 5 cm long. The white skin is decorated with black and brown spots. Friendly, clean and energetic. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. There are 5-7 mice in a litter.
- Spiny mouse or akomis - large decorative mouse with many needles located throughout the back. The color is reddish-brown or blackish-red. The neck is framed by a voluminous fat hump. The nose is elongated, the eyes are bulging, the ears are large and oval in shape. The mouse is very active and quickly gets used to people.
- Decorative African striped mouse - has interesting coloring: Light and dark stripes alternate along the body. Doesn't come from an animal unpleasant odor. It climbs well on vertical surfaces. The striped mouse is a very shy animal. In case of danger, it can pretend to be dead or jump to a height of up to 2.5 m. The body length rarely exceeds 10 cm.
Care and maintenance of mice at home
The house where decorative mice live can be a cage, an aquarium, or a transparent plastic box. For a small number of animals, a dwelling measuring 25*45*22 cm is sufficient. The bottom of the terrarium is covered with sawdust from fruit trees or hygienic filling made from corn, paper, or straw. Decorative rodents need to change their bedding at least once a week, but preferably every 3 days. The top of the terrarium is covered with a lid with holes for oxygen.
Several shelters are equipped inside the house, preferably at different heights. All types of mice are very active and run up to 40 km a day in their natural environment, so the terrarium should have a running wheel. You can supply water to rodents through a hanging drinking bowl or pour it into a small saucer.
A decorative mouse is an animal that easily gets cold and overheats. It is better to place the animal’s house away from the window, protect the cage from drafts and bright sunlight. The ideal temperature for these rodents is 20-22⁰С.
What do decorative mice eat?
All animals from the Mouse family are prone to obesity, so you need to know what the ornamental mouse eats. The basis of the animal's diet is cereal crops: barley, wheat, corn, sorghum. The grain should not be ground. Usually house mice are very small and eat up to 1 tsp per day. stern.
The animals' favorite treats are sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, caraway seeds, walnuts, peanuts and hazelnuts. Vegetables and fruits are necessary in the animal's diet. It is better if the vegetables are green: cauliflower, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, broccoli, parsley. And the fruits are not very sweet and juicy: apple, banana, quince, pear, plum. Occasionally you can give bread and egg whites.
What mice don’t eat: citrus fruits, smoked meats, meat, food for cats and dogs.
Species of wild rodents have long been considered enemies of humans. The field mouse damages grain crops. The house mouse contaminates food with feces and urine, and damages books, clothing, and home furnishings. Many types of mice carry infectious diseases: salmonellosis, hepatitis, encephalitis, toxoplasmosis, false tuberculosis and others.
But mice also bring significant benefits to people. Cosmetologists and doctors have been using mice for centuries to conduct all kinds of experiments. This is due to the extraordinary fertility of rodents and the similarity of the human and mouse genomes.
Zoologists raise special food mice for pythons, agamas, boas, geckos, snakes, ferrets, owls and cats. Sometimes decorative rodents are used for such purposes and sold to pet stores.
IN ancient Greece The white mouse was considered a sacred animal. Colonies of thousands of animals lived in the temples. They were heroes of legends and myths. They thought that the white mouse helped the oracles see the future, and the active reproduction of animals promised prosperity and a good harvest. The black mouse was considered a product of dirt and was subject to extermination.
In Japan they believed that a white mouse brings happiness. See the place where a colony of rodents lives - good sign, and a dead mouse meant grief. The Chinese considered this animal a symbol of wisdom and honesty. But among the ancient Persians and Egyptians, on the contrary, both the white and black mice were endowed with destructive, evil powers. They associated rodent invasions with the machinations of the terrible god Ahriman.
Cats appeared in the human home due to the dominance of harmful rodents. Even 6 thousand years ago, people began to feed wild cats, and they, in turn, began to protect their food supplies. But even now mice are for domestic cat remain a favorite pastime. This long-standing enmity is the basis of many fairy tales, songs, cartoons, and proverbs. In the Internet era, special videos for cats have appeared. A mouse on the screen becomes a reason for a domestic cat to remember its hunting instincts.
- Mice don't like cheese at all. Rather, animals will prefer whole grains or seeds. The favorite treat for these little rodents is smoked lard. It is often used as bait in a mousetrap.
- Just one year is how long a male marsupial mouse lives. Nature gave these animals only 2 weeks to reproduce. After mating, which lasts 10-13 hours, the male dies to give life to his babies.
- Great importance communication between mice has an odor. With the help of “odorous” marks (from feces, urine, secretions from glands), rodents delimit territory, orient themselves in space, and transmit information to each other. Each mouse family has its own unique smell, which indicates the genetic affiliation of the animal.
- The cheerful, bug-eyed mouse, the restless little one, is the constant heroine of the modern multimedia world. Fun tablet and phone games offer to catch the mouse on the screen; For a domestic cat this can become a real drug, and for its owner it can be a reason to laugh heartily.
Mice are the smallest rodents on the planet, bringing both benefit and harm to people. They spoil crop supplies and are peddlers dangerous infections. But the use of mice in scientific research, helps save human lives.
Varied in appearance and way of life, mice are often easy prey for predatory reptiles, birds and mammals. Because of this, animals rarely live long life. Their small size, calm temperament and funny behavior make these rodents suitable for keeping as pets. Animals that are lucky enough to become human pets live much longer than their wild relatives.
