How to Keep Mice? Feeding Methods and Management Tips
The house mouse (Mus musculus) is a laboratory mouse widely used in experiments and teaching experiments; it matures early and breeds prolifically, and can serve as feed for large carnivorous animals as well as a pet.So how do you keep a house mouse as a pet?
How to keep a house mouse?
1. Preparation
Prepare the mouse cage, feed bowl, toilet bowl, water bottle and running wheel, food, toys, wood shavings and other mouse-keeping supplies.
2. Environment
The place where the house mouse is kept should ideally be between 20-28 degrees, with no direct sunlight and a relatively quiet surrounding environment. In addition, the surrounding air should circulate; in hot summer weather, do a good job of heat prevention and cooling to avoid heatstroke in the house mouse.
3. Feeding
Generally, feed once each in the morning and evening every day; the food should mainly be grains, specialized feed, vegetables, fruits, etc., and never feed it sweets, chocolate and the like. The drinking water can be changed once a day, or you can wait until the water becomes somewhat cloudy before changing it.
4. Hygiene
Change the bedding 2 times a week. When changing the bedding, take the rearing basin along, and change the bedding in a dedicated room, which can prevent indoor dust and contamination. Before use, the bedding should be sterilized by high-pressure sterilization. Keep the indoors and outdoors tidy, with no dust on doors, windows, walls, floors, etc. Persist in disinfecting once a month and carrying out a major disinfection once a quarter: spray the air with 0.1% benzalkonium bromide for disinfection once a month, use Lysol for disinfection outdoors, and spray cages and feeding utensils with peracetic acid once a quarter; other supplies should also be thoroughly disinfected at least once a month.
The house mouse has a very strong breeding capacity, so it is generally not recommended to breed them; house mice of the same sex can be kept separately for viewing.