Care of Mice and Rats

it just barely steps on the trap and flinches right before it snaps.

some do. see a male can be scruffier than females,but most males are born looking scruffy.so now u have your answer. Have Fun!

Some mice will eat a range of substances. Common species such as the wood mice can find nutrition in vegetation such as seeds and fruits, as well as flower buds, mushrooms and other edible fungi.

People perceive rats as being bad because there are too many of them and they carry diseases. However, not all rats are bad. Pet rats are okay and some sewer rats don't carry diseases.

Saying rats are bad is like saying sharks (their predatory behavior controls fish population in the ocean) or mosquitoes (male mosquitoes are key factors in flower pollination) are bad. They don't do anything wrong or immoral, it's just certain unfortunate interactions with human society that cause people to not want to be around them.

True, some wild rats carry diseases but there are also many other animals that do so. For example, armadillos carry diseases that cause leprosy but very few people kill them on sight in disgust as they do with rats.

Rats are strongly linked to the plague (I bring this up because that's what most people ask me about when they see my rats). In reality, it wasn't the rats that brought the plague but the fleas that the rats had on them.

As far as pets go, rats are amazing. Rats have been domesticated for hundreds of years and there is no risk of getting a disease from your pet (however you can share respiratory illnesses with your furry babies). They are highly intelligent and can learn tricks better than most other small rodent-type pet. Rats are also more friendly. Everyone I know that's ever had, worked with, or held a hamster, for example, has been bitten. Certainly rats have bitten people but as long as you're dealing with a properly socialized rat, you'll have no problem.

In short, rats are not bad but misunderstood.

Rats are primary consumers. This means they will eat almost everything. In the wild, primary consumers provide nutrition for secondary consumers.

No. Field mice are brown and live in medows and feilds. Field mice also get rabies more often than house mice. House mice can be different colors (fancy mice). They live in atics and stuff like that. If they don't have places like that to live in they just make a nest in the ground just like any other mouse would.

yes, rats do lick. My rat climbs up on my shoulder and likes to lick me. There are 2 reasons why rats lick. 1.They want to know the taste 2.They like you, and they want to be your friend

Fancy mice are the most common type of pet mice. They come in the smaller 'pet' variety most commonly found in pet shops, and also the larger 'show' type that are bred for showing as the name suggests.

Multimmamate mice are the next common - these are also known as natel rats, or african soft-furs. They are larger than pet mice and sometimes have a reputation for being more aggressive although this is usually down to poor upbringing and lack of handling whilst young. They are sometimes referred to as the link between rats and mice.

More exotic tyes of mice include African striped grass mice (Zebra Mice), African Pygmy Mice and Harvest mice. The availability of these may depend on the laws in your country, and they require more specialised care than fancy mice. They are not often handleable so are pets more to observe than interact with.

well what i did was i had to wait for a week and a half then i caught the mouse and put it in an under the bed box and put my hand in every day until she was use to me. then i picked her up every day gave her food and played wrestling with her -now she loves me !

They should be at earliest 4 weeks (28 days) old when they leave, unless their mother has another litter due soon, in which case she will need to leave a bit earlier (at about 23 days)

they live in arid, open prairie land; marshes; and on stream banks

Yes. Even if there is another food source, and even if you have the correct mix from the store or are feeding them your own natural forage mix that you would have researched upon of course, they will eat bodies and live mice.
It stops other predators from coming to scavenge the dead mouse and also provides protein for the livings.
sad but true.
i actually cleaned a breeding mice tank out intended for a snake terrarium, theyd been forgotten for 2-3 months by my friend. there WERE 4. now there is 2. One little bit fat male/female, still a bit skinny to see testes, the other a bit skinny, not too sure if its a surviving litter mouse or not, but there were NO CARCASSES in the smelly 2 month old bedding paper and shavings.
so.
no.

A male rat has testicles and a female does not! Take a peek under the tail! They are rather noticeable!

If the male is neutered it may be more difficult. In that case compare the rat to another rat you are sure of the gender of. Male rats are a lot larger than females. Also you may be able to feel nipples on a female rat's stomach.

mice can reproduce at a very young age of 6 weeks old (but it is unhealthy for them when they are that young) and they can give birth about every 21 days, but they should never have more than 4 litters a year because it is very stressful for them, even though they could give birth about once a month

Rats very much enjoy the company of other rats. Putting males and females together however will quickly result in over population.

To introduce two rats take them to a neutral area away from their cages. Say a table or a bed or the floor. Let them sniff and touch for awhile and then after a bit put them away into the same cage. Rats do tend to play fight and wrestle alot..there can be squealing, as long as they are not injuring each other it is all normal.

Mice like small spaces and comfortable living. Their houses are more like nests, they will use almost anything to make it, wood shavings, cotton, paper, ect. The nests are small, usually with just enough room for the mice residing in it. it is made bigger and more comfortable when the female has young.

It sounds like the mouse may have an infection in or around its eyes. Trying dabbing the affected places with a tiny bit of Neosporin. You may have to hold the mouse by the scruff to get it to hold still for that--be careful not to hurt it, and don't do that for long. A vet would be able to give you better advice.

There are 64 different species of rat. These range from rats that can be kept as pets to rats that live in the wild in sewers and wharves.

they have short hair at about 10 days old, but when they are big enough and have fur, they will probly be about 3 weeks (21 days)

It could be tumors, if it's a girl she could be pregnant, or nursing.

Basically, breeding with rats is the same as breeding with mice. You just get a male and female rat and put them together. Leave them together for a while. After the mating takes place, separate them if you wish. But, you MUST remove the male before the babies are born or he may cannibalise (eat) them. If you would like to, you can put another female (who recently had babies) with the mother to be a foster mother if the real mother needs to sleep or something like that. When the babies are about 4 months old, separate them according to their gender or you might end up with unexpected litters of rats. Good luck with your breeding!!!

A gerbil is the best pet for a 12 year old girl. You have to buy two of them though because they DO NOT like to be alone. They are very friendly pets, loving, and loyal. They usually do not bite, but if you hurt them they probably will.

I am 12 year old and i got 2 dog and soon 1 cat

Avoid cedar and pine shavings as these can cause health issues with eyes and nose.

I usually buy organic Natural Critter Care made from reclaimed cellulose fiber.

it depends if your gerbil or mouse is active or lazy if your mouse is lazy and your gerbil is active then the gerbil is probably faster but if your gerbil is lazy and your mouse is more active then your mouse will be faster so it depends!!!!!