Monaro's Mouse Pages
Mousey links
Mouse links and advice:
I found this site FANTASTIC:
http://www.das-maeuseasyl.de/doku.php/en/index
(It is translated to English although it is a German site).
This section explains about neutering (important if you want boy mice) :
http://www.das-maeuseasyl.de/doku.php/en/health/castration
This section explains why it is important to neuter if you intend to keep male
mice together:
http://www.das-maeuseasyl.de/doku.php/en/behavior/male_mice
This one is good for behaviour:
http://www.fancymice.info/behaviour.htm
This page is where I did most of my research before getting my mice:
http://www.2ndchance.info/miceaspets.htm
This one is good too about handling:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/careofmice/a/mousetame.htm
For feeding I highly recommend rat rations:
www.ratrations.com
For play mats, hammocks,
cubes, pouches and other fabric things for your mice, visit:
www.thereleaxedrat.co.uk
My cute little glass mice
were made by Paul Jones at Phoenix Glass, he even made Monza's with his white
belly spot and crinkly ears!
https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixGlass
For an adorable pet portrait (specialising in rodents but she can do any
animal), contact Holly Wells at Sweet Rattery Illustrations:
http://www.facebook.com/SweetRatteryIllustrations
For some wonderfully
entertaining and sweet videos, as well as fantastic observations on mouse
behaviour, take a look at Creek Valley Critters on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CreekValleyCritters
For inspiration on training, and amazing videos of clever mice, take a look at
the "trickmousing" mouse agility YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MouseAgility
Getting a mouse:
www.primrosemouserescue.co.uk is where I adopted a lovely group of 7 mice from
www.farplace.co.uk is where I adopted Monaro and Monza from (although as a multi-species rescue they do not always have mice available)
Don't forget that there are usually plenty of pets in rescue centres
needing adoption, and I would far rather rescue one than encourage over
breeding.
When I wanted pet mice I did all my research like you are, then googled for
animal rescues in my area.
I then emailed them all asking about their home check requirements and sent what
information about myself which may be useful, and asked if they had any mice for
adoption. Two didn't buy offered to let me know if any came in, the third had
lots of mice from a 300+ ex snakefood breeder rescue the year before. 9 boys
were left to chose from.
I adopted one, then a few months later went back and adopted another (they live
in separate cages as at a year old they were too old to risk neutering to live
together).
I have had so much fun and smiles from my meece, I even trained them to do some
mouse agility (my YouTube channel with videos of them is
www.youtube.com/farnfieldkirsty but also search YouTube for "mouse agility" to
see far better examples from other people too!)
Information that helps rescues with screening suitable homes includes:
• Your pet owning experience
• how much you are at/away from home (eg if you work full time etc, although
unlike dogs, mice don't mind!)
• proof that you have permission to keep pets from your landlord if you rent
• if there are children in the home, and their pet owning experience (children
should be supervised handling pets)
• what other pets are in the home
• what arrangements you will have in place for your pet when you go on holiday
• the day(s) you are free for a home check visit.
Even if buying from a breeder this information will help to show them that you
are a responsible pet owner.
Best of luck. :)