Should I get one mouse?

Question

Should I get one mouse or two mice?

Answer 1

I definitely recommend you get two. Some mice, if left alone a very long time can die from depression and not enough exercise as two mice will play together and one will generally just lay around not doing much. I started off with one mouse and I started doing some research and I soon realised they are very social animals and need a friend to keep them occupied. I got another mouse soon after, and I then discovered two mice are much more entertaining then one!! But* make sure you get two females and not two males as males urine has a very strong smell and you will have a hard time getting the distinctive smell to go and males are very territorial and are almost guarunteed to fight with each other unless they are from the same litter or are put together at a VERY young age meaning about 2-3 weeks. There have been stories of male mice losing their tales from fights with another male mouse.. now females don't make much of a smell at all (of course there is always going to be a small smell) and can be put together at any age but of course there will still be the odd fight and at first they will be slightly territorial but this will soon ware off (1-3 days) it is best to just leave them alone for the first 2-3 days to get them used to each other. Although they will become friendly with each other pretty soon I still recommend you putting them together at a young age as they will then be great friends. You can always go for more then two mice but (this goes for females too) make sure you put them all in at the same time (at a young age) as if you have two and then you add one later the other two will leave your new one out and that one will get very depressed and may even die. Just one little thing: Mice make fantastic, great, awesome pets! They are cheap, cute and entertaining.. I'm glad your choosing to get some!
Anyway I hope this helped and good luck to you!
Here is some sites with some other useful information on general mice care and how many to get etc.
http://www.webcom.com/~lstead/rodents/mice.html
http://www.2ndchance.info/miceaspets.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/creaturefeatures/facts/mice.htm

Answer 2

I've heard that mice can go either way. But be sure to get two females. Two males will fight, and with a male and a female you'll go from two mice to twenty.
I had a mouse who lived nearly all of her four years alone, though.

Answer 3

Get two females. Females usually get along well and two are much more interesting to watch than one. Not to mention that mice like to live with other mice.

Two males don't always work out well. Some will do ok together, but they tend to fight more.

If you get two, just make extra sure they are the same gender!!!

Answer 4

Male mice fight unless they knew each other like from birth or soon after. I used to have 2 girl mice. I didn't know it but one was "with mouslings".
They all grew up together and
no fight - to - the - death thing ever happened.

2 females will get along and be happier together than alone. If something happens to one, you can add another. This wouldn't work with boys.

Answer 5

It's good to have two of them, they keep each other company. But make sure they're the same gender unless you want a bunch of little mice!

check this out: http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/careofmice/a/mousecare.htm

"Habits

Mice are nocturnal and very social. They will be very active in the evening and night, but don't expect to do much with them during the day. Being social, they are best kept in groups. A pair of females is the easiest, although larger groups are fine if you provide the cage space. Pairs of males should be avoided, unless they are litter mates, never separated, and given a large enough cage that they can have their own space (unfamiliar males are very likely to fight). Keeping males and females together should be avoided unless you want lots of mice in a short amount of time. "

Answer 6

If 1 you must care for it like 24/7 It will get lonely :)
If 2 here are the options :)
Female: make sure they are both the same sex they wont fight (they will but thats REALLY rare)
Male: dont get same sex they wil fight 24/7 its best to just get 1 Male
Male & Female: A whole lot more mice

Answer 7

They'll be happier & you'll have more fun watching them if you get 2 or 3 girls.
Also, I agree w/ the person who suggested that you consider getting rats instead. We have both & love all our guys, but rats are smarter, more interactive & usually friendlier towards ppl than most mice. Mice are adorable b/c they're so tiny & acrobatic, rats are awesome b/c they can be loving companions.

Answer 8

Two. But be sure they are of the same sex. Mice are social creatures and can fall into a depression if they are kept alone. But again, make sure they are both boys or both girls or else you'll have A LOT of babies to worry about.

Answer 9

You should get a rat. If you like mice, you'll love a rat. They're the small animal world's best kept secret.

Answer 10

Depends. If your getting a male just get one. If your getting a female, its best to keep them in trios, but a pair should suffice