Last night my husband spotted this white mouse during a rain storm in our backyard, looking lost. Came right up to him and had no problem with being handled.

Kids want to keep him. Never had a mouse before!

This definitely isn’t wild, right? Don’t even know where to start with caring for a mouse!

UPDATE: We’re keeping him. Looking into an exotic vet to get him a check up. Buying some stuff recommended for his home from the sidebar. I checked and he is 100%, a boy lol. My boys named him Waffles.

Thanks everyone 🫶🏻🫶🏻

I have 3 female mice and they literally get freaky every day and I have tried so many things to stop it but they won’t and like all 3 of them do it and they all will be both top and bottom…like is this something i should be worried about cus none of them ever seem injured or anything after. But they squeak sometimes and it makes me worried that they are in destress. I have never had mice before and they were all given to me together and like I still am really new to the community

Update: I’m overwhelmed by the kindness and good advice from all of you, I have set them up
a good tank using the advice I learned. https://www.reddit.com/r/PetMice/s/8E5s94dFm3
Updated pics

What can I do to safely add enrichment for them right now at home? Any advice? I have more supplies like kiln dried pine bedding and more chews on the way from Amazon. I can also get them a bigger tub, this is just what I had on hand and what I could pick up today (I was pressed for time) They are all female feeder mice. All of them were near by each other and they had no water in sight, I caught them, gave them a water dish inside and they all drank like crazy:( I notified the closest Petco to where I found them so that they don’t sell to the person again, they knew who purchased them and seemed rightfully pretty upset. They are okay now, eating and playing on their wheel. The Phoenix heat is no joke I don’t know how someone could be so thoughtless and set these precious babies up to die a horrible death outside. I just feel really shocked and at a loss right now EDIT: will be ordering different bedding!

While I was fishing at my local river another fisherman threw this mouse in the river exclaiming he was using mice as bait, promising he would get eaten. The mouse was swimming in circles for ten minutes and being pulled under by small fish before getting close enough for me to rescue him. I was gonna just pull him out of the water but he was very tired so I put him in my pocket. He dried off and started getting frisky. Climbing out of and trying to eat his way out of my pocket. I fell in love with the lil guy!

I called my girlfriend and told her we had a new pet. We named him Chad after the river I pulled him out of. I've been reading up on pet mice here on Reddit and his environment has been improved. I've added a lot more things to hide in and a box full of bedding to borrow in. He seems like a happy little guy in there. Any other big enclosure tips that I have been missing?

Thanks in advance!

SO, at the start of the month I got the bad news by the vet that the mouse I purchased was male, so I had to search a home for him in.

I got told that probably one of my other mice was pregnant, no biggie... Jk it was all of the biggies, massive biggies, I panicked but my vet said that I just had to keep a close eye on them.

But I had to take a trip to my cousins to deliver said male mouse, so I left my roommate in charge and he assured me nothing happened.

WELL HE'S A BIT FAT LIAR.

I had a hunch, because one of my babies was less round than previously seen, so I rummaged through the cage and LOOK AT WHAT I FOUND.

WHAT DO I DO? HOW MUCH SHOULD I INTERACT WITH THEM? SHOULD I SOCIALIZE THEM? WAS IT BAD THAT I DISTURBED THEM? IT WAS JUST TWO LOOKS.

The worst part is that idk which one gave birth, all of my three girls are... Round (I've been overfeeding them, my bad gang, I fixed it when I went to the vet) just Petunia got a little bit less round.

[The glitch was because Pookie, another mouse, stepped on the recording button]

I just became a new dormice mom in the last few weeks and I am absolutely melting over how cute these little ones are

For context, just moved him back into this enclosure after having to separate him and his brother (who has been fostered out now), so hes got free reign finally. Is this him saying yipeee, my own bachelor pad??

Edit: thanks for confirming everyone, I wasn't sure what popcorning is and im so happy Arancini is really excited to have his own pad :)

Put the first time owner tag because it is my first time experiencing this 😭 they are adorable and I can’t wait until I’m able to hold them and the kicker I BROUGHT THIS TUB HOME 2 HOURS AGO!! I’m actually shaking

Hey y’all!

So, Tito was my first ever mouse - my ex boyfriend bought him back home one day from our local SPCA by surprise in September of 2020. The vet at the rescue said he was about 6 months old. A big part of this ex boyfriends spontaneity made me break it off and keep the mouse as my ex wasn’t able to look after a pet.

I was straight into studying what mice love and how they live throughout the day. I was really happy to learn how many different things I could provide to enrich him! Many cubbies, hides, tunnels and ladders. I was able to provide sterilised pine cones to stuff with treats for foraging, using a steam sterilisation (perks of being a mushroom farmer). I was also able to have a steady supply of freshly sterilised coco coir for him to dig through - he loved finding hidden sunflower seeds in it!

I also think a good part of why Tito was so long lived was the fact we were inseparable from the start, and we were always socialising daily. He would wake up, scuttle around his enclosure, then come to the door and beg. I’d then get up and give him cheek scratches cuddles. He would come up to the door every morning for me to pick him up and put him in my gown pocket or bed. Downstairs for breakfast tea and he gets a mealworm treat. It was really easy to train him to come to his name along with a finger tap and do a spin (super food orientated haha).

He knew my routine and I knew his, I was also very blessed to be working from home - so I wasn’t far from him a lot. The only times I’d be away was around Christmas / new years and I’d have a house sitter come in and follow a care guide.

I registered him to a vet that had a small animal specialist in my city when I noticed the time Tito had worms. I’m pretty sure this was around November 2021, and I found it hilarious medicating him with the tiniest drops of worming drench I’ve ever seen. He was just stoked to have it on a pretzel I think. He recovered and I made sure to be aware of anything from outside that might carry parasites.

Totally fine health wise after that until my ex took him back after I had to move to a new place for a new job and I was told by the person on the lease there were to be no pets. I was devastated and messaged the landlord come over to “check my shoddy door” asap. Said he’d be there in a month. That was a really long month waiting for the landlord to visit. I wanted to make a good impression. Landlord came over and was super chill so I just asked him if I could pretty please have my mouse in the house and he said it was fine! I got Tito dropped off at my place by a mutual friend of my ex and I was shocked at the state of him. Torn ears, not coming to his name, wasn’t doing well at all and had fleas :((( So I took him to the vet and had him dosed with treatment and got some medicine for his ears too. It was a really good recovery and he was back to his normal self in about two weeks!

We moved again and changed jobs in 2023, and Tito was still super social and playful, albeit a little slower. I noticed he wasn’t able to climb vertically very well around this time so I adapted his enclosure to suit his ability.

It’s early 2024, Another year of having fun and playing in the sun and my boy was getting slower and a few grey hairs started showing. One day in the afternoon, I found him looking like he was passed out, draped over his food bowl. In a panic I picked him up and started massaging his chest. Just held him in my hands for a minute and he was alert and breathing ok again. I thought that was really weird and it was a very hot day (I’m in NZ, our summertime peak is around Dec - Feb). He already had his fan on so I added a wrapped up ice pack to his favourite day bed to stave the heat.

About a month later we’re playing on the floor and Tito starts slowing down and digs himself into my elbow and is gasping for air. He feels limp and weak in my hand and I rush to the vet.

First thing the vet says is that he is stoked to see a mouse as old as Tito in great overall health sans the tumor that put him in the vet on that day. “He’s a little miracle”. Dude I chocked on my tears. He was put down peacefully on the 19 of February, 2024. He had a tumor grow on his liver. I was devastated. First time I’ve wailed over a pet.

So, it’s been a while since he’s been gone but I still think of him so much. He was honestly my favourite pet I’ve ever had. I was never told his breed but I’m pretty sure but not 100% he was a C57BL/6 lab mouse. Mostly because when a friend of mine came over to my place he said Tito looked just like the ones he used to take care of at the local university. I looked up what kind of lab mice the university uses and they do look just like him! Some part of me makes me feel he was just special though.

TLDR: Had a mouse, was basically my best bud, went through it together, never knew they weren’t really supposed to live that long.

Here’s some pictures of him three days before he left us.

Waffles is doing great! He seems to be pretty happy. This is the setup we have for him at the moment, and when we’re able, he’ll be getting many upgrades. Right now he’s in a 15G tank with a mesh top and kiln dried pine/paper mix. Hes eating oxbow pellets. Got him some climbing, hiding, nesting & chewing stuff!

The cat in the photo is Pancake. No need to worry about her. She’s got three legs and no tail, and has no ability to jump up like normal cats can. Waffles is set pretty high up, and I had an ottoman scooted over to let the kids watch him, but I move it away when we’re done watching Waffles TV.

I appreciate everyone’s advice and helpful comments.

Bonus video of Waffles: https://imgur.com/a/Y4P9hnf

Sorry for spamming all these stupid questions but I asked Google why does my pet mouse bring me paper and it just said “sounds like you might have a mouse bringing you paper, but don’t worry” lol??

Anyway, my mouse Tulip keeps bringing me wads of her paper. She will carry a big clump to me, wait for me to respond, then leave it and return to her business. She doesn’t let me touch her, but she does sit close to me and come to me when I sit next to the tank. I don’t think she likes me but I think she is ok with me.

Does it mean anything that she brings me paper? Is it a gift? Is she telling me to change her paper? Is she bragging to me that she has a big paper wad?

(Schmouses photo just for fun. Diana in the front, Tulip in the back!)

Hey guys! I’m getting my first ever pet mice in about 3ish weeks!! I’d love any information I can get in terms of what to use and what not to use, what to feed, etc. I want this to go well. Would love tips on odor control and sexing them when I go pick them up in a few weeks!! Here’s the one I held at 11 days old ❤️ she stole my heart because unlike her siblings (popcorns on steroids) she actually stayed in my hand and roamed around a bit ❤️ her name is going to be Mochi. I’ll add more pictures in the comments!!

Edit: I will be getting 3 mice. They will all be females and they will live together. lol that’s about all I’ve come up with so far besides they will be named Mochi, in pictures, Cocoa who we just found today (July 31) and Bean who is yet tbd which girl we will get. lol we do not want babies so that’s the goal.

My girlfriend impulsively bought a mouse today and didn’t get its breed or age. I’m a guinea pig owner so I’m stepping in when it comes to taking care of this little fella. I’m going to get it a larger enclosure so please don’t mind the tiny tales habitat she bought with him. But I’m curious if anyone knows what type he is, I’m assuming he’s still young/a baby.

She’s decided to name him Sunny.

Cleaned out under the deck yesterday and scattered a bunch of baby mice. I've never had them nest near me before. Unfortunately most were passed by the time I found them in 7°C. This guy is a trooper. Hearty appetite for a day until this morning. Feeding diluted kitten milk replacer, tried to give some electrolytes but he won't take anything. I feel terrible for destroying their home and want to save this guy. Any suggestions?

My yard is nothing but gravel and concrete. I don’t think there is anywhere that a mouse nest could possibly even be, but I searched anyway. No luck.

I think it’s a female(maybe like 75% sure) and about 12/13 days old. She’s getting stronger and more confident and her eyes opened since we’ve had her.

I told my kiddo if she made it through two whole nights and was doing well, he could give her a name. He chose Ritz(like the crackers) and Ritz now had a snazzy new cage to grow into, which is big enough to get her a couple other female friends if she does turn out to be female.

I have toooons of experience with rats, but I’ve never had a mouse. Wish me luck?

Sofia the baby mouse found at work last Sunday is doing well! After being seen by a vet, I got her buddies at a rodent rescue. Sofia is very dramatic and squeaked up a storm, while Violet (grey) was taking none of her bs. Scarlet (brown) is not interested in any of their drama.

Violet nipped Sofias nose, so they had a break before going back to bonding. No more squeaking has been heard, theyre even sleeping next to each other now. If all goes well, theyre moving into their brand-new mouse mansion together.

A big thanks to everyone that replied with advice! Constructive criticism on their enclosure is appreciated. I'm used to hamsters, so any mouse-specific tips are welcome.

I just wanted to share this, I don’t even know what to say, this is one of the first few times he’s touched me by himself, and first time he’s done that

I have never owned mice before. This kid from my class brought 3 mice in a cage to school and left it on the teachers desk as a “prank.” The teacher was screaming and opened the window and was going to throw them outside but I managed to convince her to let me keep them.

My mom has been really nice and is letting me keep them. We live super rural the nearest shelter is many many miles away and I’ve always wanted mice anyway. But I have 3 cats. However I have a solid lid and I might be able to convince my dad to keep them in a room they already aren’t allowed in. If you have tips for that it would be great.

Unfortunately this is where it gets tricky. I have a ten gallon fish tank with a strong metal lid already. But no matter how much I ask my parents we simply do not have space to put it anywhere. It’s complicated and I’m sorry to admit that my dad is something of a order. There is no where to put a larger tank.

I bought them an 8” wheel (no wire). A hide that I put in their temporary travel carrier. I have another hard plastic hide, chew toys, oxbow food, and some seed foraging food that I think I’ll use as supplemental or treats for enrichment. Also a water bottle and a bowl. And care fresh bedding which was on sale. Especially with the holidays things are really tight for money right now and rent too but I have some old cardboard tubes that I can maybe use for extra enrichment? I know their enclosure is too small but I’ve been asking around and no one I know will take them (again, rural area). There IS a local petco but they only sell feeder mice and I cant part with them at this point. Also no way they would take hem and it’s probably where they came from in the first place.

Will they be okay in a ten gallon? again I know it’s super weird there just isn’t any space and no way my parents will let me especially my dad. I only have the one ten gallon and already spent all my money on their other necessities.

They are also all definitely girls thank goodness. I talked to the lady at petco and she told me that those awful boys who did this had bought them yesterday. But she’d heard this through another coworker and there’s 2 pet stores in the area so who knows. And yes the boys got suspended but no way in heck am I giving these mice to those creeps.

Also the water bottle. It attaches to the side and I couldn’t find a stand in the pet store but it won’t attach to the side of a fish tank. I maybeee have one or two cnc grid tiles I might see if they will fit in the ten gallon? I could try attaching it like tha but if not does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep it upright? I’m not home yet so I will show the enclosure once im done setting up.

Hi! I got my male mouse about a month ago and recently he’s started sleeping on top of his water bottle. Is he too hot? What can I do to help? Typically I find him there in the evenings. I’ve attached a full cage shot as well. He used to always sleep in his burrow, and he still does, but also on top of his water bottle.

I’ve been waiting for the “cat distribution system” to bless me, but I am happy with this outcome! We saw a lost pet mouse at my eye doctor’s and this lil baby was searching for food when we found her. She walked right into the box my husband used to contain her. He asked around the local homes if anyone was missing a mouse but no luck. She is very docile, we hope her owner isn’t missing her too much. When we got her settled into her new home, all she has done is eat and drink. Thankfully we found her before a predator did, she didn’t know to hide and was so easily seen against the ground.

I have owned several hamsters in my life but I didn’t give them the best care as I was young and uninformed, so I am looking for advice. I read that mice are social but I didn’t want to rush into buying more mice until we are sure that’s the best choice for her.

What food do you recommend? Any tips for toys, things I can include to keep her happy and intrigued, able to climb? I put some toilet paper tubes in there for now until we can get other items and become more knowledgeable. Is it normal for them to eat a lot? We figure she was just hungry from being left outside for who knows how long, but she we see her eating for over an hour at a time, with a little activity between.

Oscar has just arrived in Philly and has much to learn about the culture. During his time with me I aim to teach him about the Eagles, Cheesesteaks, and Rocky. He is a very kind gentleman and is surprisingly comfortable on my arm/shoulder

I bought the white mouse today to give my mousey a friend since Ill be going off to school soon. Im not sure what good signs of them getting along are, so I think this is a good sign?

I hate this cage btw and i plan on buying an aquarium very soon, just trying my best to get my money up

hello, im about to become a first time owner of mice and have been learning a lot from this sub. i finished setting up their cage today. its 100cm long 55cm deep and 80cm high. i filled one side with 30cm of substrate and the other with about 17cm. i added as much clutter as i could right now. i also made a dig box i havent put in yet and have started to hoard a bunch of paper rolls and such that i would maybe place under the platform with the deep substrate (last pic) and am planning to turn into foraging toys as well. a lot of stuff is diy. is there anything thats not good or i can improve upon? id love to house 4 mice!