I've had my mouse for 5 days or so, and she's been extremely skittish. When I had chosen her, the guy that was helping me picked her up completely wrong (he came at her from the top, with quick movements), and I could tell my mouse was frightened. I took her home with me, and she's still extremely skittish and jumpy. Whenever anyone in my family walks by her cage, she hides in her tube, and whenever I stick my hand in the cage to let her get used to it, she does the same. Depending on whether or not she's at the bottom level of the cage, she immediately jumps into her wheel and runs when she sees my hand. It's happened every time I have tried to put my hand in her cage, and I'm wondering if it's still too late to regain her trust.
***Please no sarcastic comments.***
2007-09-14 15:47:00 · 11 answers · asked by DiTzYxDoRk ♠ 1 in Pets ➔ Rodents
Try feeding it food from your hand. Specifically a mushy food because if it is a hard food, she can just grab it and cramper back into the cage. If it is a mushy food (peanut butter is the best for rodents-don't give tto much because it is very salty and large quantities can be bad for them), you can sort of lure them out to you.
Also, just give the mouse some time. This is a very new expereince for the mouse, being in a completely new environment without any company. Frightening. 5 days is not that long.
If you can, try getting another mouse. Make sure it is the same gender so they dont breed unless you want a bunch of baby mice. I suggest getting another mouse because this will give the mouse somebody else to be with. It is hard for the animal to adjust, and if it has another pal to be with, it will make it much more comfortable.
Try to maintain cleanliness in the cage to make the mouse's environment more enjoyable. Try giving it a little bit of fresh food every night as well.
Try putting the cage on the floor if it isn't already and open up the door. Just let the mouse come out of the cage on its own. Let it explore the room and become comfortable with its surroundings. Don't try to pick it up right away. After a couple weeks, try to get the mouse onto your bed and see if he is okay with you petting him.
Just take it slow and be patient. Every time I get a rodent pet, I find it hard to wait for the guy (or gal) to become used to me, but it will happen. Good luck!!!
2007-09-14 18:50:41 · answer #1 · answered by Jaspee✈ 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No it's not too late to "regain" her trust, if you ever had it. Probably she's unsocialized to begin with, and you will have to tame her. With most mice, I find this pretty easy.
If she won't bite you, take her out even if she doesn't want you to. Just hold her and let her sit on your shoulder or anything like that. If she is too scared at first, restrain her very gently and don't hurt her. Soon she will realize that she is not being hurt. I can generally tame a pet store mouse in about 20 minutes. If the mouse bites, I either handle it more carefully, or wrap it loosely in a dry washcloth until it realizes I'm not a threat.
Once in a while there is a mouse with a bad temperament for a pet, but most of them tame down nicely.
Wild mice are another matter, usually you can't handle them.
2007-09-14 16:35:08 · answer #2 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The way to their heart is always through food. The mouse has been through a confusing scary experience, there is lots of new weird smells. Give your mouse a bit of time, dont rush things. Start by leaving a bit of a treat food near your hand, and leave your hand in the cage, and dont move when the mouse comes out to investigate. Let the mouse come to you. Then you'll be able to leave food on your hand and the mouse will learn its alright to climb up, and that "hands arent bad, they are where all the yummy things are". After this then I would suggest petting it and playing with it a bit. Animals come to trust people through good experiences, and you have to teach them that you are not a threat.
2007-09-14 15:58:54 · answer #3 · answered by mysticaria 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
first, put her cage in a corner, where nobody walks by, to make her feel more secure. put some empty toiletpaper rolls in the cage for her to play. most pet store mice are not socialized at all, you are doing the right thing by putting your hand in, so she can get used to your smell. leave your hand in for a few minutes, don't move it, and wait for her to come & investigate. it may help, to put a little mushed avocado on your fingers, all my mice & rats go crazy over the taste. let her lick it off, and don't try to pick her up yet, wait till she steps in the palm of your hand, and then gently pet her with one finger . over time she will trust you enough to run up your hand, and play, or ride on your shoulder, every time you put your hand in her cage. it would be good, to get her a second female mouse for company, mice like to associate more with other mice, than with humans, unlike rats, who love to interact with their humans more. good luck !
2007-09-16 20:52:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you want a tame mouse best way is to find someone who breeds them for pets and handles them from a young age. i use to and my mice would come out of the cage when called. or you can do it your self and breed some. generally it will take a while for her to trust. what you have to do is slowly corner her and pick her up and hold her and let her run around your couch minding that she cant escape. and she will slowly come good but never as good as one that has only ever known trust
2007-09-14 18:30:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
all you need to do is pick her up and hold it and play with it a lot the more you handle it the more the mouse will trust you my sons Ginnie pig was that way at first but now we all can pet her
2007-09-14 16:00:08 · answer #6 · answered by Dale (aka drc40m) 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes belive me, it just takes time, turn on music let her get used to peoples voices, sit near the cage and read or another staionary ativity, after a while lever you hand in and just whait, she cant hid forever!
2007-09-15 07:05:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is possible to regain trust, you just have to be patient, try feeding the mouse from your hand,intill it takes it, be extreamly gentle and talk softly to it. I sugggest wearing gloves if you are trying to pick him up becouse he might try to bite becouse he is not used to people.untill he gets used to you, your vioce and your smell.
2007-09-15 06:06:02 · answer #8 · answered by Autum 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
be nice to it...
haddle her often, speak to her with a quiet tone in your voice....
and soon she should be settled.
Be patient and give her time!
2007-09-15 00:02:53 · answer #9 · answered by Lol 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
be nice to it
gain its trust by plying with it
2007-09-14 15:51:09 · answer #10 · answered by arti d 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋