I found a mouse in the garbage can, and I'm keeping it, how do I care for it?

Question

Right now I have it in a 5 gallon aquarium and I'm feeding it hamster/gerbil food... how do I care for it, tell if it's a boy or girl, tell how big it'll get, and how long do they live?

Answer 1

you need a wire cage, bedding, a home (like a tissue box or something), a water bottle (for pets), feed it alot of fruit and veggies, they sneeze alot so dont think it has a bad cold or sometinng like that. take it to the vet to get a check up. its probly a girl if you cannot tell. and thats about all i have to say.

Answer 2

It depends on if it is a domesticated mouse or not. Pet mice usually live for about 1 - 2 years. If you can handle it without it biting you then it's probably domestic. You need to buy some mouse food at a pet store, normal food stores sometimes have mice food. The aquarium is probably fine but you might need to buy it a wheel to run on becuz they are nocturnal and so they really have nothing else to do while your sleeping. Ummm, if it's a boy it will have some balls under it's tail (I don't know any other way to say that) and a girl doesn't have anything. Mice don't get to big, they are really small and probably won't even get as big as the center of your palm...Hope I helped!

Answer 3

I'm sorry, but you should really get rid of it. Wild mice and rats carry diseases that can make you sick or even kill you. I've had four pet mice, and I have one pet rat. I got all of mine from pet stores. You need to wash your hands really good after each time that you touch it.
You need to get rid of it, you should take it outside and let it go.

You can go to a pet store and buy a pet mouse or rat. Rats are better, but you'll need a bigger cage. They make mouse food that you can buy, it would be better than hampster/gerbil food. You'll need to clean the cage about every week, the body of a mouse will get to about one inch long and the tail will get to be about 1-2 inches long. Mice live 2-4 years, and rats 2-5 years, but there are some exceptions. If it is a boy, their male parts will become pretty noticable; boy mice are among the smelliest rodents, females aren't nearly as bad. Needs fresh food and water every day. Mice poop a lot so if you hold them they will very likely poop on you. You can litter train rats.

Please let the mouse go, and go to a pet store and buy a pet mouse/rat that you can keep instead.

Answer 4

You should just let that one go, seriously. How would you like it if you were just snatched from a big wild environment with lots of places to explore, to a 5 gallon aquarium? Sure, it may look cute, but, I guarantee you it has rabies, which leads to cancer, and, more then likely, it's littered with disgusting fungus. If you really want one, go to the pet store and buy a clean one with out all of the dirtiness. They're not that expensive.

Anyways, to answer your question, I did some research for you on how to care for a mouse, hope this helps you out!

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_mousecare

You really should consider just letting it free, it will be a lot happier.

Answer 5

A wild mouse carries all kinds of nasty bugs...ewwww. If you want a PET mouse, get one from a pet store. One that you KNOW has been raised without contact with wild things and nasty stuff. They live about 3 years. And IF it's a male....you'd KNOW ! If it's a female, you'd better hope its not pregnant.

I used to raise white mice for the pet shops. They loved a TINY bit of bread in milk, bird millet, shredded wheat, Hamster food is the staple, tho.

Seriously, tho; turn the wild, nasty one loose, and go get a healthy, pet store mouse....and get a top on that aquarium !

Answer 6

NEVER CATCH WILD RATS OR MICE TO KEEP AS PETS!
I often get emails from people telling me that they have caught wild mice (or wild rats) and now want to know how to best care for them and tame them. My answer to this is that since over 90 % of the population of wild mice and wild rats carry the 2 different biologic agents that induce "Rat-bite Fever" in humans.

Rat-bite fever may put you in hospital for days, and if you are unlucky you might get recurrent symptoms for years. Never ever touch wild rats or wild mice!

Tame rats and mice don't have these infections so they can't spread them to you. I'd make certain my tame rats and mice never met any wild rats or wild mice in case these infections may spread from animal to animal (I think they may).

The biological agents that cause Rat-bite Fever (and also Haverhill Fever) is mainly Streptobacillus monoliformes. The wild rat or wild mouse that carry this agent mainly has it in the throat, and the animal show no signs of illness at all. When a human gets bitten the agent is transferred ans the person shows symptoms as blotchy rashes, septic fever and later polyarthritis.

Spirillum minor (sometimes called Spirillum morsus muris) and also other species of Spirillum causes another form of Rat-bite Fever called Sodoku. Symptoms in rats and mice are none. Symptoms in humans are rashes and relapsing fever.

These infections are common all over the world in WILD rats and WILD mice.

Answer 7

Flush him. Mice carry about 100 different diseases and parasites

Answer 8

Im sorry but I don't know ALL the answers....but..... If you take her to the vet they can tell. I would let it go, it misses it family and friends, they have feelings to. If you love it, let it go.

Answer 9

Rats carry diseases...make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.

Answer 10

let it go u will get rabies or other kind of disease