Petco Mice: A Pocket-Friendly Pet Option

Mice are social, alert, and active small animals. They are available at Petco for $50 and above. The price may vary depending on whether you buy online or pick up in-store.

Mice are nocturnal but can adjust to your schedule. They are curious, playful, and easily frightened by loud noises. They are great at jumping and should be held in the palm of a hand. They can be trained to sit in a hand or on a shoulder by repeatedly feeding them treats.

Mice have continuously growing incisor teeth, so they need to chew on wooden objects. They can be kept in same-sex pairs that have been raised together. They can live up to 3 years with proper care and are typically 3 inches long, not including the tail.

A well-balanced mouse diet consists of high-quality mouse food or lab blocks and limited amounts of grain, vegetables, fruits, and Timothy hay. Vegetables and fruits not eaten within 24 hours should be discarded.

Mice as pets

Mice are social, alert, and active small animals. They are skittish at first but can become docile and sweet companions with daily gentle handling. They are smaller than rats, gerbils, and some hamsters, and their fur comes in a variety of colors, including white, gray, and brown. They have long hairless tails and round ears.

Mice are social animals that enjoy living with other mice. Pairs or small groups of females typically live well together as long as they have enough space. Males generally do not do well living together unless they are littermates and have been together from the start. Do not house males and females together unless you want many baby mice. They will start breeding at 6 to 8 weeks of age.

Mice are tiny and can squeeze into and through very tight spaces. They are nocturnal but can adjust to your schedule. They can become obese if not given exercise opportunities inside and outside their habitat. They are very curious, like to burrow, hide in objects, and play, and are easily frightened by loud noises. They will learn to recognize the sight and sounds of their owners.

Mice chew on wooden objects to wear down their continuously growing incisor teeth. They are great at jumping, so they should be held in the palm of a hand and never grabbed by the tail to transport. They should always be held over a soft surface so they don't injure themselves if they jump or fall. They can be trained to sit in a hand or on a shoulder by repeatedly feeding them treats when they are sitting there.

Mice like to build nests out of shredded paper and straw and can be good pets for families with older children who can participate in their care and handling under supervision. With proper care, they can live up to 3 years.

Habitat and Diet

Mice need an appropriately sized, escape-proof glass or wire mesh cage with a solid floor and a securely fitting top. Paper-based bedding is preferred over wood shavings, as it is digestible if eaten and less dusty. Mice also need hideaways, wheels, and wooden chew toys.

A well-balanced mouse diet consists of high-quality rodent lab blocks or other commercially available, nutritionally complete pelleted food, along with smaller amounts of grains, vegetables, fruits, and Timothy or other grass hay. Pellets and other foods should be fed in separate dishes. Vegetables and fruits should be offered in tiny, bite-size pieces, and clean, fresh water should be available daily.

Common Health Issues

Mice are prone to diarrhea, dental problems, and skin infections. They may also develop tumors, so it is important to consult a veterinarian for any health concerns.

Mice appearance and behavior

Mice are social, alert, and active small animals. They are nocturnal, playing at night and resting during the day, but they can adjust to your schedule. They are curious, enjoy burrowing, hiding, and playing, but are easily frightened by loud noises. They are also great jumpers, so they should be held in the palm of a hand and never by the tail. They can be trained to sit in a hand or on a shoulder by repeatedly feeding them treats.

Typical appearance and behavior

Mice are smaller than rats, gerbils, and some hamsters. Their fur comes in a variety of colors, including white, gray, and brown. They have long hairless tails and round ears. They are social animals that enjoy living with other mice, typically in same-sex pairs or small groups of females. Males generally do not do well living together unless they are littermates. They will breed at 6 to 8 weeks of age, so males and females should not be housed together unless you want many baby mice.

Mice are tiny, so they can squeeze into and through very tight spaces. They can become obese if not given exercise opportunities inside and outside their habitat. They are great at jumping and can be trained to sit in a hand or on a shoulder. They should always be held over a soft surface in case they jump or fall. They like to build nests out of shredded paper and straw.

Mice do not have great eyesight, but they have long whiskers that help them navigate their environment, especially in the dark. They are nocturnal, so they will have a different sleep schedule than you. They are deep sleepers and can be found sleeping in a variety of positions, such as curled up in a ball or on their back or side.

Mice are natural excavators and can build complex tunnels. They will gather bedding and carry it to a corner of the cage to make a nest, which will likely be their favorite place to rest. They continuously grow long teeth, so they need to chew on wooden objects to wear them down. They usually grind their teeth when they are relaxed, and their eyeballs may move in and out of their sockets!

The position of a mouse's ears can indicate its mood. When a mouse is curious, its ears are inclined to perk up or forward. If its ears are down and pointed back, the mouse is showing a defensive posture, especially if this is accompanied by stiff body language.

Mouse habitat

Mice are small, social, alert, and active animals. They are nocturnal but can adjust to your schedule. They are curious, enjoy playing, and like to burrow and hide in objects. They can be easily frightened by loud noises. Mice are great jumpers, so they should be held in the palm of your hand and never by the tail.

Mice should be provided with the largest possible habitat, with plenty of space to hide, burrow, exercise, and play. The habitat should be made of wire mesh or glass, with a solid floor to prevent toes and feet from getting caught, and a securely attached top to prevent escape. The habitat should be inaccessible to other pets, and never be placed in direct sunlight or a drafty area.

Building Your Habitat

When building your mouse habitat, use paper-based bedding or crumbled paper, as this is less dusty and less likely to irritate your mouse's respiratory tract. You should also provide hideaways, such as wood- or hay-based habitats, and a running wheel for exercise.

Décor & Habitat Accessories

A well-balanced mouse diet consists of high-quality rodent lab blocks or pelleted food, with small amounts of grains, vegetables, fruits, and Timothy or other grass hay. Vegetables and fruits should be offered in small, bite-size pieces, and clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Mouse diet

A well-balanced mouse diet consists of high-quality mouse food or lab blocks and limited amounts of grain, vegetables, fruits and Timothy or other grass hay.

Mice are omnivores, so they eat both plant and animal-based food. A good-quality, balanced diet will help prevent nutrition-related problems in your mice.

Commercial mouse food is recommended, with nuggets being a good option as they will give mice a complete and balanced diet. Small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables can be given as part of their daily allowance, but these should not be more than 10% of their total diet.

Mice are coprophagic rodents, meaning they eat their faeces from the floor of their cage to enable them to absorb essential nutrients such as vitamin B12 and folic acid. They also need constant access to clean drinking water, as they can die if they don't have water for even short periods of time.

Mice have continuously growing incisor teeth, so they should always be provided with wooden objects to chew on.

Common mouse health issues

Mice are tiny, fragile creatures with a fast metabolism and a less-than-robust immune system. As such, they are susceptible to a range of health issues, including:

• Tumours: These are a serious problem for mice, especially those over one year old. Unlike rats, tumours in mice are more likely to be malignant and can turn within 2-3 weeks.
• Abscesses: These are often caused by bites and can become swollen and infected.
• Mites, Fleas and Ticks: These are a common problem, especially for mice kept with other pets. They can cause excessive scratching, skin irritation, baldness and even skin infections.
• Wet Tail: This is a serious intestinal disease caused by stress. It can be fatal within hours and requires immediate veterinary attention.
• UTIs: Urinary tract infections are more common in older mice, especially females. They can spread to the kidneys or turn to pneumonia if left untreated.
• Allergies: Allergies are usually caused by poor-quality or scented bedding. They can cause sneezing, coughing, and breathing problems.
• Blindness: Blindness can occur through infection, trauma, or old age.
• Respiratory Infections: These can be caused by dirty living conditions or a dusty environment. They can become fatal within hours and require immediate veterinary attention.
• Other common issues include injuries from fighting, being dropped, or poor handling; conjunctivitis; and bar-biting or cage-chewing due to being kept in a cage that is too small.

Frequently asked questions