Mice should be housed in an escape proof wirre mesh cage or even something like a hamster cage with tunnels. The cage should have a plastic or metal soild floor. Mice can squeeze thought very very small spaces, so ensure the mesh is sufficently small. Glass aquaria can overheat and often provide poor vertilation and wooden cages are also not suitable as mice can chew their way out and wooden cages can absorb urine and smell very quickly. Mice like to explore their enviroment and exercise so multi storey and pleanty of floor space is good. Urine odours can easily irrtate thier airways so try to prevent this by changing the bedding reguarly, twice a week to keep the cage as odour free as possible. Their bedding should be dust extracted as this reduces irrtation to the eyes, nose and repiratory system. Make sure the cage is safe and way from other pets in the house (dogs, cats, birds, hamsters and ferrets etc.

Feeding

Mice are omnivores so can eat almost anything - cereals, grass, seeds, roots and stems of arious plants, adult insects and even larvae. Mice need a fairly high amount of protein in thier diet to keep them in good condition. A muesil style mix for mice with natural ingredents can keep your mice in shape. Small amounts of fruit and vegetables can be added for extra variation. Don't give your mice any human food or snacks as these may be high in calories, sugar or fat. Fresh drinking waster available all the time in a stable bowl or better still a water bottle.

Exercise

Mice like to keep themselves busy and like all kind of toys. Mice really enjoy exercise wheels, those with soild treads and sides are safer than open wheels. Tubes and tunnels provide running and exploring areas and boxes or a labyrinth offer good hiding places. Mice are excellent climbers and like to gnaw, so a ladder or rope will keep them busy. Like rats you can even train them to repond to a whistle or a click when feeding snacks
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Handling your mouse

Mice rarely bite but move quickly, so younger children may not be able to handle them easily. Don't handle your mouse too roughly or drop them, as this can lead to trauma. If mice are not use to being handled, they can nip. If your mouse is not use to being handled, grap the base of the tail firmly (not the tip), life their bottom up sightly and slide your orther hand under them with your palm upwards. Keep hold of the base of the tail unless you know they are calm.

Common Illnesses

Barering - Mice housed in groups can show "barbering" behaviour, meaning the dominant mouse nibble off the whiskers and hair around the muzzle and eyes of group members. No other lessions can be seen and often the dominant mouse will be the only one without hair loss. Removing the dominant mouse may resolve the problem. But another mouse could assume the dominant role.

Mites - There are three common mites that can affect your mice. These cause itching and scratching which can lead to injuries on the head and nec area. Widespead thinning of the hair on the head and body can result and the coat often appears grasy. Your vet can identify the cause and recommend proper treatment.

Respiratory disease - Mice can suffer from both upper and lower respiratory disease. Typical signs include sniffing , sneezing, chattering and diffclties with breathing. If the the disease progresses, weight loss, red tears and a ruffed coat can occur. An acte infection in newly born and wearned mice is often fatal. Respiratory disease in mice can be very hard to treat so visit your vet at the first signs of disease.

Overgrown teeth - Like rats, gerbils and hamsters, mice have orang coloured front teeth, and they grow continuously thoughtout their life, in contrast to their molars. Gnawing is important to keep thier teeth in shape. If overgrowing occurs take them to the vet.

Mammary tumours - Older mice can suffer from mammary tumours, which are often maignant. Although surgicla removal is recommended in rats, the chance of recurrence in mice is high and the outcome is likely to be poor.

Tyzzer's disease - This is a very serious condition caused by a bacterial infection and leads to diarrhoea, generalized sign if illness, dehydration and loss of appetite. Take your mouse to the vet immediately if you see these symptoms, as the disease is often fatal. Overcrowding, poor hygiene, or a high temperature plus another disease at the same time may trigger this. Sog good hygene and using an absorbent bedding will help.

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