0
Care of Mice and Rats
Pet mice and rats are small rodents that take up little space and are fun to watch. Raising and training them is entertaining and educational. For types that make great pets, their habits and needs, and more, ask and answer questions here.
3,224 Questions
Not all mice are wild. You can buy domestic mice from a pet shop, they have been bred to be tame. Though most mice are wild, they are the kind that live outside and sometimes in people's houses. Wild mice are pests because they can endanger native animals and invade people's houses. Pet mice are actually really good though.
awell depending on the sise of the rat a pet rat mite beable to peirce your skin a giant rat can somtimes rip off alot of skin :)
How do you build a mouses home?
if u really want to make a mouse a home do it out of wood and make it nice and put a wheel in it (no axle ) and paint it and do what ever u feel like doing with it
When can you start feeding baby mice dry mouse food or oatmeal?
My baby mice started eating seeds and popcorn at 3 weeks old. When they start exploring and trying to eat food they can probably be separated from their mom as well.
How can you keep your pet rats from fighting with each other?
How long have you had the rats? If you've just got both of them, or had one and just got a new one they'll "fight" to establish dominance no matter what. Very rarely will new rat acquaintances get along right off the bat. If there are just meeting each other the best thing to do is to keep them in separate cages near each other for about a week. Then let them together on neutral ground, like your bed, where neither of them has marked and made it "theirs". There is the possibility that they just don't like each other. Some rat people would say, and argue their point, that rat's never "just don't get along" , but it happens. Try what I suggested..don't expect them to get along right away, give them time together on neutral ground, and let them have their minor scuffles(break them up if it gets serious) to establish dominance, it's important. I have two rat boys who are brothers and have been together their whole life, even they "wrestle" occasionally. Keep them away from female rats too..hormones and all ;) .
What exactly is "fighting"? Do they stand on their hind legs and "box" each other? Is there a lot of indignant squeals? Does the loser get groomed? If so then this isn't truly fighting, it's squabbling. There's a difference. All rats will always squabble, but still remain friends. Now, if there's absolute shrieking, fur flying, a submissive rat cowering in in the corner or taking cover, then you have a bully..or two bullies. What's usually done is one rat (usually the bully) is castrated, but even if it wasn't the aggressor the actual aggressor will accept the castrated rat. If that doesn't work, you probably have a "sick" rat..mentally ill that is. And he needs to separated, but still have your companionship, if he's not aggressive to humans.
In Addition...There has been a lot of great advice offered here, but as a long time rat owner I have some of my own tips to share. Male rats, without a doubt, fight more often and more violently than females. This has to do mainly with the hierarchies they establish among themselves which can be very delicate and easily disturbed by the introduction of a new member. Rats recognize each other (and their owners) through smell, and they associate these smells with ranks in the hierarchy. When introducing new rats, take great care to ensure the environment is neutral. Rats form bonds in two major ways: through traumatic experiences and through sharing food. Normally, I run a warm bath for them in the tub. They are excellent swimmers but don't really enjoy water, but sharing a bath should be traumatic enough to allow them to put hierarchy aside. I also give them a snack once the water has drained, like peas or hot dogs, to give them something else to bond over. In addition to creating an experience they can bond over, the bath provides an opportunity to neutralize their scents. I wash them with baby shampoo, and (a little trick of the trade) I put a tiny dab of vanilla extract right between their shoulders so as to ensure that they all smell the same to each other. Once they are dry, I distribute equal amounts of love and eventually place them back inside their cage which should be freshly cleaned and free of any items (hammocks, toys, etc) that smell strongly of the previous rats. It is for sure a laborious process, but it will be worth it if you're concerned about your rats living together in peace. There have also been times when none of these tricks have worked, and in those cases I opted to neuter the most aggressive males. It's an expensive option, but everyone (including the patient) is happier in the end. Rats are social animals and need to live with other rats, so make sure you've exhausted all your options before you separate them for good!Put them in separate cages
How do you play hide and seek?
When you have a friend that is "hiding" on Club Penguin, it normally means that they are somewhere that you can't go. For example, if you just started, but you aren't a member or old enough to be a secret agent, it means that that they could be playing Card-Jitsu fire, or they're in the HQ. If you're both of these, then they're most likely in the EPF, (Elite Penguin Force) which a lot of people can't go into. So, if you're trying to hide from one of your non-member friends, I recommend going to the Card-Jitsu Fire place. Or if you have it, go to the EPF.
You can teach your pet rats many, so many I can only think of a few like I taught my rat Jackie to drink out of a sterilized acorn cap like a human, to walk across a scarf like it was a rickety old rope bridge and to jump off a stool five feet away and onto my lap. I trained her to do these things with love and treats. Here is some advice, its easier to do it when they're younger.
yep! they consume (eat) things, but don't decompose them or produce their own food! i hope that helps!
What is The difference between a rat and human uterus?
In a rat, the uterus is shaped like two horns, extending up into the abdominal cavity. this way the rat can support multiple fetuses.
How many mice should you put in a cage?
A mouse can have a litter of 8 to 10 babies; some more, and some less.
Actually it is good to make a weak brew of parsley water, give it to the rats, that tend to have the constant sniffles and meds are not working anymore. It's suppose to help them get rid of fluid as well as boost their immune systems. younger ones love to eat fresh parsley. growing your own to keep up with demand and will keep costs down.
How long does it take for a rat to get used to you?
It depends on how long each day you talk to it and how often you hand feed it.
and if you show care and concern towards it.
Rats are very social animals, therefore are very playful, but it depends on the rat. They do have different personalities just like humans. But males tend to be calmer than the females.
Why is your rat not eating or drinking?
im 12 years old so i dont know if you`ll listen to me but... i hate to have to tell you this... but i had a pet rat just like that, we never knew why but one day we found out it had diabeties and died in a week :-( but this was because we never asked a vet about this and didnt take him too a vet soon enough but yours will be fine if you do this.. so what you need to do is take him to the vet before it gets worse and the vet will do something to make it better, ours only died because we never took it until a week before it died and we just went for a mite check,then he told us, but im really sure yours will get better.im really sure it wont die. it only will if you dont take him,
What food is poisonous to rats?
___________________________________
Forbidden Foods: What not to feed your rats
The following should never be given to rats: Never give:Why not? blue cheese contains toxic mold licorice contains a suspected neurotoxin raw dry beans or peanuts contain antinutrients, cause red blood cell clumping (note: the peanuts that you buy in stores are almost always roasted so are okay.... frozen beans from veggie mixes are okay because they've been pre-cooked) raw sweet potato contains cyanide-forming compounds raw red cabbage and brussel sprouts contain an antinutrient that destroys thiamin raw artichokes inhibit protein digestion green bananas inhibit starch digestion green potato skin and eyes contain solanine (toxin) wild insects could carry parasites rhubarb high levels of oxalates which bind up calcium raw bulk tofu can contain bacteria (packaged tofu is safe) orange juice contains d-limonene which can cause kidney cancer in male rats raw onion can lead to anemia and an upset stomach
Foods that should be fed with caution: If you want to let your rat try these, be careful: Why? carbonated drinks rats can't burp! chocolate It contains stimulants that can lead to heart failure or neurological poisoning in high quantities. A bit of chocolate is okay and can actually temporarily alleviate respiratory distress Peanut Butter This can cause choking in rats. If you want to give your rats some, mix it with jam or something liquid to make it less sticky. Avocados These are high in fat and are a good treat to feed rats that are in need of "beefing up" (make sure the fruit is ripe). However, the pit, rind, skin and leaves of avocados are toxic. The part of the fruit in contact with the pit has a higher concentration of toxins. dried corn It can have high levels of fungal contaminates which can lead to liver cancer. A little fresh corn is fine.
Other things to watch out for: Why? Mold This can be toxic. You wouldn't eat a moldy piece of food so of course you'd never give it to your rat. Remember grains can go moldy too. Chlorinated Tap Water Chlorine isn't good for us or our rats. Household Plants Here's a list of toxic plants: Plants that are poisonous to small pets. Be sure your poinsettia and holly are out of reach over the holidays. Note: in some cases, some parts of a particular plant are poisonous (eg. foliage) whereas other parts of the fruit are safe (eg. fruit).
That would depend on the size of the trap used to catch it. Not much if the trap is large enough.
i don't know if it's correct but i did see my rooster eat a small/mid sized rat that went into his cage so maybe they do
Yes they do its been happening to me lately they crawl in my bed i dont know why :(
How do you train a mouse to walk a tightrope?
The best ways to train them to do simple tricks is to reward them with a treat every time they do something right.
Start out with them taking food from your fingers. Once they are comfortable with you go onto another trick such as retrieving food from your pocket. With lots of patience, you can teach them even more things, like climbing ladders, walking a tight rope, traveling through mazes. Some tricks that I tought my mouse to do are:eat peanut butter off my nose! its not that hard to do... Another thing to teach your mouse is to sit on your shoulder without moveing around. To do that place him/her up there and feed him/her treats along the way!
Be inventive and have fun with them.
Almost. Rats are both omnivorous, and scavengers. This means they not only eat a variety of plants and animal matter, but they also eat non-living matter. They eat vegetation, grains, meats, sugary foods, fruits and nuts, but they also gnaw through soap, leather, cardboard and wood, althpugh they do not necessarily digest these sorts of materials. They will attack live birds and other rodents, and feed on dead carcasses. They will also eat foods which are not good for them, which is why they are so easy to poison.
