Mice

Post by **wodesorel** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 4:00 pm

They're sort of children's books? They're rather violent, but at the same time without any other adult content. Full written novels, following the generations of anthropomorphic English woodland creatures who make their home and protect Redwall Abby. (Not really religious themed, either.) They were... unique. I found them when I was around 10 and I've got a maybe 12 books of the series in our home library. I know he's written some past that, too, I think? It's a cute read.

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 4:21 pm

Hmmm, so maybe not yet for my 8 year old? I wonder if my 13 year old is "too old".

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 5:07 pm

It's prob as mature as Harry Potter, but not as long per book.
Someone owns the rights to produce it into a movie. One day I'm gonna hunt them down and make them make it happen! Then EVERYONEEE will read the books!!!

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CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 6:18 pm

Oh good. I may have to read with him.

Sunndannce · Post by **Sunndannce** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:17 pm

Those things are SO DANG CUTE!!

How have they acclimated to you, less nervous yet?

I just brought home a huge hermit tank, and two kittens will be coming home next week... my son (whom turns 9 soon) was asking for a hamster.. maybe he wants some mice instead...

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:43 am

Cheeseburger and Bacon are really getting used to me. I've been taking it really slow but I'm told if I pushed it a little they would tame faster. I think I just have hermit crabs on the brain and have been worried about stressing them. But even with my slow approach, they're very used to my hands being in the tank and sniff at me. Sometimes they'll grab hold of my finger tip with their little hands. That will melt you heart!! They're not yet hopping into my hands to be held but they never try to bite (they have tasted fingers though, but not an actual bite) and tubing them is easy for a less stressful move. (just put a tube in and curious meece cannot resist going in!). If you do get mice, girls do best in groups of at least 3. Boys need to be housed alone. I just picked Hashbrown and Twix up last night so they're still nervous about me. But even so they are great fun to watch. They love when you change their tank up! And toys are simple and cheap, made from anything cardboard, paper towel tubes, TP tubes, popsicle sticks, egg cartons, etc. Llana Bram (I think is the name) on YouTube has several videos on toys and foraging walls, great inspiration.

Now the hamster. She's a Syrian and an absolute sweetheart. Whenever she hears my voice she comes out and straight over to me, knowing I'll have something for her. She's my middle son's pet. One day I want to get 1-2 Robo Hamsters. They're so so cute but I hear a little more skittish when it comes to taming. It'll have to wait though as I have a full house atm.

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:54 am

I looooove rodents

they're so cute in their timid ways. And they way they all eat is the cutest!

i love the lil hunched over, hands in the face thing

hermits' eating is just as cute but in a diff way

Good luck taming and have fun enjoying your endless supply of cuteness!!!

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Post by **wodesorel** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:24 pm

Calla's were feeder mice, so they started off not being acclimated to humans, which means she has to do all that work herself. If you can find a local breeder, they'll have been handling the pups since the day they were born and they will be comfortable around humans. My local pet shop lady loves mice and rats, and she specializes in the Dumbo breeds. When I need a fix (like when Calla first posted this topic!) I go in and ask if I can visit with some of hers, since my allergies prevent me from owning any. Doesn't matter that the babies and adults just met me, they can be picked up and petted and cuddled without any hesitation or fear on their part.

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:33 pm

I didn't know mice were so chill like that! Growing up my mom was rodent-phobic (even rabbits

) so i never got to explore. The closest i ever got was ferrets, but they're totally different.
Maybe I need to find a pet shop lady to get a good fix!!!!

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CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:26 pm

wodesorel wrote:Calla's were feeder mice, so they started off not being acclimated to humans, which means she has to do all that work herself. If you can find a local breeder, they'll have been handling the pups since the day they were born and they will be comfortable around humans. My local pet shop lady loves mice and rats, and she specializes in the Dumbo breeds. When I need a fix (like when Calla first posted this topic!) I go in and ask if I can visit with some of hers, since my allergies prevent me from owning any. Doesn't matter that the babies and adults just met me, they can be picked up and petted and cuddled without any hesitation or fear on their part.

Yes! That is a good point. Mine were sold as feeders at Petco. The closest breeder I can find is all the way in Baltimore, MD.

Post by **aussieJJDude** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:05 am

YYWW wrote:Growing up my mom was rodent-phobic....

Yep, I have the same thing, my mum hates the idea of rodents or "similar" animals including ferrets.

She also hates the idea of a reptile as a pet - especially in the house.

The most exotic I can go is hermies, and even then it took a lot of lying and convincing.
Always wanted to keep a business of ferrets or a group of mice, they sound really cute. Calla, the one thing I have read is that mice really like to climb and do very well with a lot of levels and climbing toys - maybe they are the mammalian version of a hermit crab?

Anyway, with that over and done with I really love your mouses?, they all very cute.

FeedingMoloch · Post by **FeedingMoloch** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:33 am

I have native mice. Not sure if you can get them where you are from. They are like mini kangaroos- Mitchells Hopping mice.

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 7:15 am

They're so cute!

The "Fancy Mice" or "Feeder Mice" that I have are domesticated Mus musculus. I'm not sure if any other species are sold as pets here.

FeedingMoloch · Post by **FeedingMoloch** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 7:29 am

CallaLily wrote:They're so cute!

The "Fancy Mice" or "Feeder Mice" that I have are domesticated Mus musculus. I'm not sure if any other species are sold as pets here.

We have the domesticated kind too.
These mice usually inhabit arid areas. So their urine is generally a solid form to reduce loss of fluid. They don't smell like the domesticated ones do.

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 7:51 am

quote="aussieJJDude"] Calla, the one thing I have read is that mice really like to climb and do very well with a lot of levels and climbing toys - maybe they are the mammalian version of a hermit crab?

Anyway, with that over and done with I really love your mouses?, they all very cute.[/quote]

Thank you. Yes, they do love to climb and explore! They get bored with the same set up so changing it up is very welcome. I love creating different toys out of popsicle sticks (I'm planning to make a pirate ship next!) and different hides and platforms out of cardboard boxes. Also foraging walls! Just fit a piece of cardboard to the back and/or side of the tank, hot glue a bunch of tubes, boxes, climbing surfaces, etc. You can make it maze like or more simple. They love it! It's also fun to hide treats in various places for them to find. And they benefit from having "tub time" everyday, where you can set up little playgrounds for them in a bin or tub and allow them to run around in it. This is a good time to work on taming and it works even better if you try to do it around the same time everyday. They'll come to expect and look forward to it.

EDIT: Bit of a breakthrough today! I tubed Cheeseburger and Bacon to transport them into the play bin while I cleaned their tank. On the way back to the tank when I was finished, I also tube them to transport, Bacon hopped right out of the tube and into my hand! I went ahead and slowly lowered my hand into the tank and waited for her to choose to step off. I might have held her longer but honestly I was so surprised by it I just followed through with the motion of putting her back. This made me think to give Cheeseburger a chance to step onto my hand from the tube and she did too, though she was quicker to hop off.
Watching them explore the slightly changed up tank is so much fun for me. Cheeseburger zips around and checks out ever inch of every box, tube, toy, wall, etc immediately. Bacon takes her time, cautiously sniffs every inch, and doubles back a lot - I think to be sure of her exits. I <3 them so much.

I know the popsicle thing attached to the egg carton looks odd. It was leftover scrap from an old build and I thought they might appreciate the cover near the food dish. It is secured with hot glue. They can go under it, on the 2nd floor platform, and they climb the roof too (where they can get to the foraging wall from or the hanging drink holder).

Just to show the tubes attached under the egg carton. They're all interconnected and two lead into the egg carton.

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

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