Nutrition mice and rats should be fed a pellet mix high in protein. The diet can be supplemented with foods, such as: Fruits and vegetables Hay
In its wild state the house
mouse is slightly less than
17 cm (less than 6.5 in)
long including the tail,
which is slightly more than
8 cm (more than 3 in)
long; domestic mice,
because of better
nutrition, are often
considerably larger. The
house mouse is
yellowish-gray above,
sometimes streaked with
black, and lighter gray
beneath. It breeds every
10 to 17 weeks

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"Mouse (rodent)," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

By MSN Staff

Housing

Line the bottom of the cage with wood or paper shavings. Sawdust or shavings from softwoods, such as cedar, can cause respiratory problems for your pet. Aquariums can be used for gerbils, hamsters, mice and rats, but often these enclosures are not well ventilated and can lead to health problems. If you do use a wire cage for your rodent, make sure it has a solid bottom to prevent foot injuries.

Nutrition

Gerbils, hamsters, mice and rats should be fed a pellet mix high in protein. The diet can be supplemented with foods, such as:

Fruits and vegetables Yogurt drops (for hamsters)

TIP: Orange juice has been shown to cause cancer in male rats. To maintain health, rabbits and guinea pigs need a balanced diet of the following:
Grass hay
Pellets (fine as a staple)
Dark, leafy vegetables
Fruit or carrots (small amounts as treats)

Article 7 from more pets.

Eight of the 16 subspecies currently described, occur in beach dune habitat along the Gulf Coast of Alabama / Florida and the Atlantic Coast of Florida. Mice from these areas are collectively known as "beach mice". Beach mice have small bodies, haired tails, large ears, protuberant eyes, and pelage colors that blend with the soil types found in their respective habitat. These mice are habitat specialists in the scrub dunes bordering the ocean and apparently do not tolerate a wide variety of habitats or conditions.Beach mice are nocturnal animals and, thus, spend most of the daylight hours in burrows. These burrows normally consist of an entrance tube, a nest cavity, and an escape tube.

One of the primary foods for beach mice is sea oats, the tall, picturesque plant that is so often associated with Gulf Coast scenery.

Mouse3: (beach mouse)Oldfield Mouse
beach mice
mwooten at Auburn University

Mouse HTML

Beach Mice are nocturnal animals which means that they spend most of the daylight hours in burrows. These burrows are generally about 3 feet deep in sandy soils and are often located at the base of a shrub, clump of grass or near some other vegetational cover. Burrows consist of an entrance tube, a nest cavity, and an escape tube. The entrance tube may be either open or plugged. An escape tube is usually present but not open to the surface. Along coastal dunes, burrows are not easily distinguished from those of ghost crabs (Ocypode albicans). In some cases the burrows may be occupied interchangeably by both animals.

The life span of all mice is relatively short in the wild. Beach mice average about nine months but we have records of individuals surviving over two years. In our captive colony, one male survived for almost five years. Mouse.html

If one accepts the concept of subspecies then many of the inland populations are likely to be as unique as the beach forms. Several biologists with extensive research experience with Peromyscus polionotus have argued in favor of this very point. In fact, the basic population biology of this species would seem to enhance the probability of widespread differentiation and variation. Oldfield mice exhibit 'boom and bust' population dynamics in that they are often the first occupants of disturbed sandy areas The obese, yellow mice, on the other hand, start developing a diabetes-like condition and obesity when they are just out of adolescence--at about 4 to 5 weeks old. These animals still produce insulin. In fact, to maintain normal blood sugar, they produce a lot more than normal mice--but they can't use it as efficiently."

ORNL Review

Overgrown teeth: hasn't happened to me as of yet, but I would imagine it could be as common as in hamsters and rats if they're not given something to chew. Bites, missing tails,etc: in males this is extremely common in groups of 5 after being together a month. Best thing to do is separate the injured mouse from the others and let him heal. Definitely keep an eye on the mouse and treat him with hydrogen peroxide or just water to prevent infection. If he can't lick where the bite is, put neosporin on it. Eaten babies: Happens in mice as it does in hamsters, but to a lesser extent although mice will leave half eaten bodies around (sick but true), so if you don't want to deal with this, don't breed them. Some do it in response to stress and others just do it for no apparent reason. Other than that, they're shouldn't be any as long as the cage is kept clean and you're not using cedar shavings for bedding. negnog

Mice are definitely interesting little creatures. They are quite active, but when considering buying one, take into account that they can smell and they go to the bathroom a lot. They have quite a distinct odor to them that is hard to get rid of even with baking soda in a tea ball. They are very social creatures(some may be shy depending on the line of mice) and like to play. They are also very smart and can be trained to do certain behavioral tasks (usually done in research). One thing though; it is always a good idea to hold them with a kleenex so they don't go to the bathroom all over you. Mice tend to live a little over a year, but can live more or less depending on what all happens with the mouse(various diseases Negnog's Mice.html

The remarkable genetic similarity of mice to humans, combined with great convenience, perhaps accounts for mice so often being the experimental model of choice in research. Mice also are used to test new procedures and drugs for safety, as required by an array of federal regulations. Another primary use of mice is for the production of biological reagents, such as monoclonal antibodies and vaccines.

Why Mice from UC Davis