When choosing pet mice, you need to make sure you are getting not only a healthy animal, but the right pet for your situation. Some things you need to consider include how many mice you want to have, whether you plan to breed them, the gender of animal you prefer, and the appearance of the mice. First and foremost, though, you need to decide whether or not choosing pet mice are the right pets for you. Once you have decided on these factors, choosing pet mice that are healthy is the last important step.
While mice are relatively low-maintenance pets, choosing pet mice should never be done on a whim. Before choosing pet mice, sure you know what you are getting into. Research the amount of care and size of habitat they require and consider your situation and home environment when choosing pet mice. One important consideration is that pet mice have a relatively short lifespan; most live only about one and a half to two years, although some may live as long as three years.
Mice are very social animals and usually do best when kept in small groups. You need to decide if you are planning to breed mice; if you are not, do not mix sexes or you soon will! You may wish to keep as few as just a pair of females; if you have enough space you can expand to a small group of female mice. Male mice, unless they are from the same litter and have never been separated, do not get along well. Even those from a single litter that have always been together should be kept in a fairly large enclosure, to avoid territorial fighting.
For some pet owners, appearance is very important. When choosing pet mice, you need to decide whether or not the way the animal looks matters to you. If color or coat pattern are important to you, decide before looking at any animals whether or not this is important enough to pass on entire litters of mice, or whether this is simply a preference you are willing to give up for the right mice.
Of course, selecting healthy animals is important when choosing pet mice. The skin on their ears and tail should look pink and healthy, without scaly or red patches. Their eyes should be clean and clear, with no cloudiness or discharge. Listen to the mice as they breathe to be sure there is no rasping or wheezing. Watch the mice as they interact with one another, and note any dominance or submissiveness. Observe them moving to be sure there are no signs of lameness or unusual movements that could indicate muscular or skeletal problems. Pick up any potential pets to test how they respond to being handled.
Finally, when choosing pet mice be sure to note their personalities. Although mice can be very skittish at first, many will soon adjust to the presence of humans close by and will begin to act curious and investigate.
