AY Honors/Small Mammal Pets/Answer Key

Fancy mice ("fancy", in this context, means "hobby") are domesticated breeds of the common or house mouse (Mus musculus). The terms fancy and "feeder mice" are used interchangeably, and are in fact the same variety of mouse.

Physical description

Fancy mice is a term to describe mice that have been selectively bred for pet or for show. They can vary greatly in size, from small pet mice that are approximately 16-18 cm (6 inches or so) long from nose to the tip of the tail, to show mice that measure 30cm (12 inches) nose to tail. Pet mice weigh about 25-40 g but large show mice can weigh up to 100g. As fancy mice have a different process of natural selection than their wild cousins, they come in a variety of colors and patterns. These include black, chocolate, blue, white, cream, lilac, red, fawn, champagne, cinnamon, golden agouti, silver agouti, silver and dove. All mouse standards fall into one of five categories: Selfs (one solid color all over), Tans (mice of one solid color on the top with a tan belly), Marked either in Even or Broken patterns (spotting of a standard color on a base of white) and a miscellaneous category.

Mice as pets

Fancy mice come in a wide variety of colors not found in nature, such as this Even-Broken Agouti.

The first written reference to mice kept as pets occurs in the Erya, the oldest extant Chinese dictionary, from a mention in an 1100 B.C. version. In Europe the breeding of fancy mice became popular though the introduction of Japanese stock in the early 17th century. By 1895 Walter Maxey founded the National Mouse Club in Victorian England, with its first official show held in Lincoln that year. Since that time, mouse clubs have formed world-wide. Shows are held so competitive breeders can display their mice, where they are judged on color and behavior.

Mice are kept as pets in many countries for a number of reasons: Fancy mice are relatively small, inexpensive, clean, and can learn to enjoy regular handling. Mice are generally nocturnal, but do not have the proclivity towards biting when disturbed like hamsters. Female mice are popular with many owners since they tend to cohabitate with other mice better than males. Additionally, the urine of female fancy mice does not contain as strong of an odor as that of the male mice. Bucks can fight with each other, unless they are introduced at a very young age, and they produce urine with a strong, musky smell. Some people, however, prefer the personality and curiosity of male mice. It is a good idea to keep fancy mice in groups of at least two if possible, as mice are sociable animals. However, if a buck and a doe of breeding age are put in the same cage they will produce a new litter every three weeks until separated.

Caging

Mice enjoy group housing and require nesting areas such as this wooden hide.

Glass aquariums or cages with wire bars and plastic flooring, are the most common types of housing. A span between cage bars of less than 9mm prevents young mice from attempting to escape by forcing themselves through the bars, where they may get stuck. This can also help prevent predatory pets such as cats from killing and eating the mice. Mice are afraid of rats, which often kill and consume them. This rat behavior is known as muricide (Tattersall, Smith and Nowell 1997). In the wild, mice are able to co-exist with other small rodent species (Moro and Morris 2000). Compared to larger mammals, the mouse's small body makes it difficult to regulate body temperature effectively. Thus, drafts and large fluctuations in temperature can adversely affect the health of mice.

The best products for in-cage bedding are aspen wood shavings or a commercial paper-based material. Despite popular belief, mice can be given newspaper for nesting, as the ink is soy based and nontoxic. They should not be given cedar shavings, as the oils in the wood are unhealthy. Small hide-aways and toys (such as a cardboard tube) are good to have in the cage. Commercial toys are also available.

Feeding

Hand-feeding 10 day old mice

Food for fancy mice can range from specially formulated feed blocks to kitchen scraps, and is usually very inexpensive. Labratories keeping mice as experimental subjects almost uniformly use a product called lab block, a scientifically-formulated blend originally designed for mice in laboratories. Dry dog food is another good option when lab block is unavailable, as it offers balanced nutrition for a mouse and helps keep their teeth conditioned.Template:Fact In order to keep variety in their diets, mice can also eat oats, oily seeds, clean egg shell, breakfast cereal, and stale bread. Fruit and vegetables can be offered occasionally. Mice generally chew wood in order to keep their teeth from growing too long.

House mice primarily feed on plant matter, but they will also accept meat and dairy products. They will need to drink water, which should be changed everyday.

Breeding

A female mouse with her litter

Mice have a rapid reproduction rate; the gestation period is approximately 18 to 21 days. The typical litter size is 4 to 12 young. Males can mate with the female as soon as the litter is born. Female mice should not be bred before 12 weeks or after 8 months; doing so can be very dangerous, and some mice can die while giving birth. Does come into heat around every five days, so the pair can be kept together for up to ten days.

Baby mice, also called pups, are born blind, naked, and deaf. Their eyes are closed and their ears are stuck to the sides of their heads. Mothers may eat any dead or sickly offspring. Pups begin to grow hair at two to four days. Ears open at three to five days, and the pups will start vocalizing. Eyes open at 14 days, and the babies will start exploring the world around them. At three weeks old they look like miniature versions of adult mice. At four to five weeks the pups will be able to breed.

See also

• Mouse racing

References

• Moro, D. and Morris, K. (2000) Movements and refugia of Lakeland Downs short-tailed mice, Leggadina lakedownensis, and house mice, Mus domesticus, on Thevenard Island, Western Australia. Wildlife Research 27, 11-20.
• Tattersall F. H., Smith, R. H. & Nowell, F. (1997). Experimental colonization of contrasting habitats by house mice. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde. 62: 350-358.

External links

• Fancy Mice
• Rat & Mouse Club of America
• Mice as Pets
• Varieties of Fancy Mice
• National Mouse Club
• Mouse Club of Germany
• Swedish Mouse Club
• Swedish Mouse Community
• Midwest Mouse Club (US)
• Polish Mouse Club