New Mouse House

I finally got brave enough to purchase a large cage for the mice.  They have been in a 20 gallon
aquarium since December while I waited for Pip to get big enough to not be able to squeeze through any size cage bar spacing.    I ended up going with a bird cage and converting it a bit to accommodate three bouncy mice (well, two bouncy mice, Hazel practically rolls where ever she needs to go). Yesterday the cage was all ready and we plopped in the mice.  They hid in the igloo for the first several hours, of course, and still weren't out much before I went to bed.  With the exception of Moo - she lives in her wheel (you can barely see her nose poking out of the wheel in the photo).  I half expected Pip to be long gone by the time I got up this morning, but she was snuggled up in a piece of fleece on the second level of her new abode.  So it looks like it's gonna work out great. The new cage will be extremely helpful in cleaning the litter, feeding them and giving them proper ventilation.  However I did forget about the curtains behind the cage, so they now have some new custom mice lacing.  It's been a while since I've had rodents and I've forgot how much they love to pull fabric and other items into their cage through the bars.  Oh well - at least I have happy mice now! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For information on choosing housing for mice and rats, visit our "Habitats for Rats and Mice" blog post at PetResearch.net.

Pip Peeps

Sweet baby!  I'll have a Pip update once things calm down around here.

Mouse Times Three!

After talking to rodent friends who have successfully kept wild mice (thanks Kate, Linda & Cal!), I took their advice and got Pip two roomies. They are probably a little older than is ideal, but it was my only choice. I did choose the smallest two of the group of five. They don't have names yet, but I'm pondering on Hazel and Moo.

Pip is still holed up in his corner and the girls are showing some interest in him but not antagonizing him. Though the larger of the two girls keeps trying to bury him in the bedding. He doesn't seem too freaked out by them. They both seem perfectly content and have been exploring and wheel running for the better part of an hour. I have them in a 20 gallon aquarium for the time being. Once Pip is big enough I plan to get a cage topper for the tank as an expansion. And the cool thing is they are on a table right by my desk in the office so I see them all the time!

I took a few photos - didn't want to freak anyone out too bad. Stay tuned for more mousie adventures!

Moo


Hazel


Pip in Hiding

Meet Pip Squeak *squeee!*

Two blogs in one day - who'da thunk?

So last night Portia and her friend were in the basement working on a school project when we hear a bunch of girly screaming.  A phone call soon follows (from the basement) from Portia saying "We have mice!".  Jason went down to investigate.  Knowing my rodent infatuation, he came back up with a container hidden from me and said "I don't even want to show you this or you'll fall in love".  Given that, I had to see.  In a fish specimen container was this teeny, tiny baby mouse, full fur and eyes open and bouncing all around.

Given that it is December in Kentucky we really weren't sure if he would survive if let out into the elements - afterall, it is hitting the single digits at night and barely above freezing during the day on some days.  After doing some research on wild mice in captivity and after the "sucker" stamp reappearing on my forehead, we decided to keep the little guy.  Being the rodent lover that I am, I am happy to announce that I now have a new fur-baby, aptly named Pip Squeak.  We believe that Pip is a white-footed mouse, based on the descriptions I've read during research.  He's quite agitated right now, and understandably, seeing as he's moved houses three times today.  But we finally have him (I'll call him "him" until I find out otherwise) in a nice, cozy 5 gallon aquarium until he gets big enough to move into a larger, wired cage.  He escaped from a wired cage earlier today and Jason had to retrieve him from the top of the office curtain rod.  Oops.

So....meet Pip!  Isn't he adorable!  :D