How to Raise White Mice

White mice are both curious and quiet.

People have been raising white mice for centuries. White, or albino, mice are the most common and are 3-1/2 inches long, not including the tail. They weigh less than 1 oz. They are fragile because of their small size and should be handled gently. Small children should only be allowed to handle mice under the supervision of an adult. If the white mouse is well cared for, it can live one to three years.

Things You'll Need

• Twenty-gallon aquarium with wire cover
• Shavings
• Paper towel rolls
• Shredded paper
• Exercise wheel
• Mouse food
• Antler or deer bone
• Water bottle

Instructions

Housing

1. Purchase one 20 gallon aquarium minimum or two if you want to keep males and females. An aquarium of this size will comfortably house two to three mice. You should choose one with a wire cover because mice are excellent escape artists.

2. Fill the bottom of the aquarium with aspen or hardwood shavings. Reprocessed paper products can also be used, but avoid cedar and pine shavings. Though fine for other small animals they can cause respiratory problems in white mice.

3. Pick up mouse droppings daily and replace the shavings whenever the aquarium begins to smell like ammonia from the urine. The ammonia smell will irritate the mice's lungs and can damage them. Replacing the shavings once a week should be sufficient. Clean more thoroughly with soap and water as needed.

4. Separate males and females. They breed frequently and have large litters so housing them together can cause a population explosion. Females cohabit well together. Males will generally live well together as long as they are introduced to one another at a young age.

5. Place the aquarium in an area that's heated to 65 to 85 degrees F. White mice also do not care for bright light so do not place the aquarium in the sun or under a lamp.

6. Furnish the aquarium with plenty of places for them to hide. Old flower pots, empty soup cans and toilet paper or paper towel rolls work just as well as store bought houses. They like to make nests in their hiding spots so also provide them with string, yarn, scraps of old clothing or shredded paper.

7. Place an exercise wheel with a solid surface in the aquarium for exercise. Do not purchase the type with wire rungs because their tails can get caught in them and they can be injured.

Diet

1. Make their diet a mix of approximately 16 percent protein and 8 percent fiber, with no more than 4 percent fat. Watch their weight and adjust food amounts accordingly. Don't let your mice get pudgy.

2. Attach a water bottle with a drinking tube on the side of the cage. Have fresh water available at all times.

3. Offer your white mice small amounts of peas, broccoli, carrots, apples and bananas as treats. Only give them small amounts because they have tiny stomachs. This is a supplement to their food, not a replacement for it.

4. Prohibit anyone from feeding them cabbage, chocolate, corn, candy, junk food, peanuts, uncooked beans or onions. These can cause digestive problems in white mice.

5. Add a piece of antler or deer bone to the aquarium. This provides them with calcium and gives them something to gnaw on to keep their incisors worn down. The incisors of white mice continue to grow throughout their lives and they need something to wear them down or they can cause dental problems.

General Care

1. Supervise your mice closely when out of the aquarium. Because of they are small, they fit easily into heating vents and under furniture and cushions, where they can be lost, injured or killed.

2. Pick up your mouse by grasping the base of its tail gently and sliding it into your cupped hand. Do not let go of the mouse until you are sure it will not jump from your hand.

3. Check your mice periodically for lice and external parasites. Buy over-the-counter medication as soon as you notice an infestation and clean the aquarium and bedding thoroughly.

4. Take your mouse to the veterinarian if you notice signs of illness. These can include sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, weight loss and lethargy. Mice can dehydrate and die quickly.

References

• ASPCA: Mouse Care
• 2ndChance: Pet Mice