About Fancy Mice - What Should I Know?

Introduction

The domestic mouse (Mus musculus) is a small mammal belonging to the Muridae family. Mice have been companions to humans for a long time, and humans have directly benefited from their presence. The focus of this article is on fancy mice, which are significantly larger than typical laboratory mice. They typically weigh between 40 to 60 grams, but smaller and larger individuals can be found. Weights below 40 grams are not a concern as long as the mouse is not emaciated, doesn't have sunken sides, protruding bones, and has a symmetrical and proportional silhouette. Weights above 60 grams are also not a problem if they don't indicate obesity. Just like lighter mice, larger mice should have a symmetrical and proportional appearance.

In breeding, triangular heads, large wrinkle-free ears spread widely to the sides, large and expressive eyes, a long, straight, relatively thick, and well-set tail are preferred characteristics in mice. A broken tail disqualifies a mouse from breeding and shows.

Mice typically live for an average of 1.5 to 2 years. It is much rarer for them to live less than 1.5 years or exceed 2 years. Mice that reach 3 years of age are exceptional.

Smell is the most important sense for mice. Without it, they have difficulty finding food and communicating with other mice. Mice don't have very developed vision, and if they lose it, they can still function successfully. In breeding conditions, hearing mainly serves mice for communication within the herd.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mice

Mice are very curious and usually friendly companion animals, especially when they have the company of their own kind. They are largely nocturnal, typically sleeping during the day, so it's not a problem for them if their owner is absent during the day. However, they can adjust to the human's daily cycle, for example, if they are fed at a fixed time every day, they will expect their food at the same time daily. If mice are strongly bonded with their owner, they may expect attention from them at a specific time, such as their return home from work.

The social behaviors of mice in a larger group are fascinating to observe. Many caretakers spend long hours watching their interactions, which can often be entertaining, surprising, and even moving.

Since mice are not very large, they also don't require a lot of space. Of course, a cage that is too small is unacceptable, but usually, even a cage with minimum dimensions of 60x40 is small enough for anyone to find space for.

The smell of mice can be problematic, especially for unneutered males, and for some, it can be unbearable. However, it can be managed with suitable and high-quality bedding, regular cleaning, especially in the corners of the cage where mice tend to create a toilet area, and with the use of air fresheners and odor neutralizers. People sensitive to odors should avoid wooden accessories for mice, and plastic ones should be cleaned frequently.

Usually, mice do not require significant financial investments, but when they get sick, the cost of necessary vet visits can be overwhelming. The average cost of a visit and medications ranges from 30 to 100 PLN for respiratory or gastrointestinal infections. The cost of surgical procedures, such as tumor removal, can be several hundred PLN.

Where to Acquire Mice?

Generally, there are two acceptable ways to acquire mice: a registered and recommended breeder or adoption from foundations or private individuals.

Since this article focuses on fancy mice, we will concentrate on the characteristics of good breeders.

A breeder should provide their rodents with suitable living conditions, including an adequately sized breeding cage, clean and high-quality bedding, nutritious food, and cage furnishings that ensure the inhabitants' psychological well-being. It's also important for the breeder to have an ongoing relationship with a veterinarian.

There is no need to hesitate to ask the breeder to show the conditions in which your future pet was born. These conditions significantly affect the animal's mental and physical health.

It's also a good idea to ask other people for their opinions about the chosen breeder, whether their mice are healthy, how often they get sick, and how common tumors are. Occasional cases of tumors in mice from a breeder are not unusual because mice are living organisms and, like humans, can get sick. However, if tumors frequently occur in mice from a specific breeder, especially in mice under 1 year of age, and if the mice do not live beyond a year, one should consider whether the breeder is responsibly managing their breeding lines. In addition to a beautiful appearance, a breeder should also strive to improve the health of their animals.

Many breeders can be found at fancy mouse shows. It's worth approaching them, talking to them, and looking at the mice they brought with them. While show successes are appreciated, their absence does not necessarily indicate poor breeding. Some breeders do not attend shows and prefer to breed in their own homes.

Transport

Ideally, the breeder should be located near your place of residence. In that case, it's best to go to the breeder's place in person and pick up your new pet. However, if your ideal breeder is far away, and you are unable to pick up the mouse yourself, you will need to rely on transportation by third parties. It's worthwhile to look for transportation on special Facebook groups, where people often offer courteous transportation, often free of charge or for a small fee. Another option is the BlaBlaCar portal, where you can arrange a ride with a driver to pick up your mouse. Some breeders also have trusted acquaintances who provide regular transportation between cities, which you can take advantage of. Occasionally, there may be a mouse show in your city, and if a breeder is participating in it, you can arrange for a personal pickup at the show location.

Sending mice as registered mail or with a courier is an absolutely unacceptable method of transportation. Animals are not toys, and they should not be exposed to such risks and stress!

In general, if a caretaker is truly committed to acquiring a mouse, finding transportation should not be a significant issue. Personally, I have traveled to the Netherlands twice to obtain new mice for breeding, and I have even received new imports from the United Kingdom through animal transporters from a city 300 kilometers away from my place of residence. If finding transportation poses too great a challenge for a prospective caretaker, they should reconsider whether they genuinely want to become the guardian of living beings.

Text authored by Anna Kaźmierczyk, "z Gryzakowa" breeding, May 5, 2021