A tame black fancy mouse

Fancy mice ("fancy", in this context, means "hobby") are domesticated breeds of the common or house mouse (Mus musculus). The terms fancy and "feeder mice" are often used interchangeably by retailers, and are in fact the same variety of mouse.^[1] Image File history File links Fancy_Mouse. ... Image File history File links Fancy_Mouse. ... Domesticated animals, plants, and other organisms are those whose collective behavior, life cycle, or physiology has been altered as a result of their breeding and living conditions being under human control for multiple generations. ... Binomial name Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 Mus musculus is the common house mouse. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 The common House Mouse (Mus musculus) is one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus equivalent to the common term mouse. ...

Physical description

Fancy mice is a term to describe mice that have been selectively bred for pet or for show. They can vary greatly in size, from small pet mice that are approximately 16-18 cm (6 inches or so) long from nose to the tip of the tail, to show mice that measure 30cm (12 inches) nose to tail. Pet mice weigh about 25-40 g but large show mice can weigh up to 100g. As fancy mice have a different process of natural selection than their wild cousins, they come in a variety of colors and patterns. These include black, chocolate, blue, white, cream, lilac, red, fawn, champagne, cinnamon, golden agouti, silver agouti, silver and dove.^[2] All mouse standards fall into one of five categories: Selfs (one solid color all over), Tans (mice of one solid color on the top with a tan belly), Marked either in Even or Broken patterns (spotting of a standard color on a base of white) and a miscellaneous category.^[3] For other uses, see Natural selection (disambiguation). ...

Mice as pets

Fancy mice come in a wide variety of colors not found in nature, such as this Even-Broken Agouti.

The first written reference to mice kept as pets occurs in the Erya, the oldest extant Chinese dictionary, from a mention in an 1100 B.C. version.^[4] In Europe the breeding of fancy mice became popular though the introduction of Japanese stock in the early 17th century. By 1895 Walter Maxey founded the National Mouse Club in Victorian England, with its first official show held in Lincoln that year. Since that time, mouse clubs have formed world-wide. Shows are held so competitive breeders can display their mice, where they are judged on color and behavior.^[5] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Erya (爾雅) is a Chinese dictionary from before the first century. ... Chinese dictionaries date back over two millennia to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, which is a significantly longer lexicographical history than any other language. ... (Redirected from 1100 B.C.) Centuries: 13th century BC - 12th century BC - 11th century BC Decades: 1150s BC 1140s BC 1130s BC 1120s BC 1110s BC - 1100s BC - 1090s BC 1080s BC 1070s BC 1060s BC 1050s BC Events and Trends 1100 BC - Tiglath-Pileser I of Assyria conquers the... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Lincoln (pronounced //) is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England. ... Animal fancy is a hobby that includes pet and exotic pet ownership, showing and other competitions, breeding and judging. ...

Mice are kept as pets in many countries for a number of reasons: Fancy mice are relatively small, inexpensive, clean, and can learn to enjoy regular handling.^[6] Mice are generally nocturnal, but do not have the proclivity towards biting when disturbed like hamsters.^[7] Female mice are popular with many owners since they tend to cohabitate with other mice better than males. Additionally, the urine of female fancy mice does not contain as strong of an odor as that of the male mice. Bucks can fight with each other, unless they are introduced at a very young age, and they produce urine with a strong, musky smell.^[8] Some people, however, prefer the personality and curiosity of male mice. It is a good idea to keep fancy mice in groups of at least two if possible, as mice are sociable animals. However, if a buck and a doe of breeding age are put in the same cage they will produce a new litter every three weeks until separated. A nocturnal animal is one that sleeps during the day and is active at night - the opposite of the human (diurnal) schedule. ... Genera see text This article is about the animal. ...

Caging

Mice enjoy group housing and require nesting areas such as this wooden hide.

Glass aquariums or cages with wire bars and plastic flooring, are the most common types of housing.^[9] A span between cage bars of less than 9mm prevents young mice from attempting to escape by forcing themselves through the bars, where they may get stuck. This can also help prevent predatory pets such as cats from killing and eating the mice. Mice are afraid of rats, which often kill and consume them. This rat behavior is known as muricide (Tattersall, Smith and Nowell 1997). In the wild, mice are able to co-exist with other small rodent species (Moro and Morris 2000). Compared to larger mammals, the mouse's small body makes it difficult to regulate body temperature effectively.^[10] Thus, drafts and large fluctuations in temperature can adversely affect the health of mice.^[11] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2516x1396, 648 KB) Summary Pet Mice Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2516x1396, 648 KB) Summary Pet Mice Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... “Aquaria” redirects here. ... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... Species 50 species; see text *Several subfamilies of Muroids include animals called rats. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including those that produce milk, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex...

The best products for in-cage bedding are aspen wood shavings or a commercial paper-based material. Despite popular belief, mice can be given newspaper for nesting, as the ink is soy based and nontoxic^{[citation needed]}. They should not be given cedar shavings, as the oils in the wood are unhealthy. Similarly pine shavings can cause respiratory problems. If odor is a serious concern, ask your pet retailer for essential oil-free scented bedding. Recent research suggests that these oils are likely the source of bedding allergies and respiratory conditions, and suggests that oil-free pine or cedar may be used without health risk. (Vanderlip 2001, ISBN 978-0-7641-1812-8). Small hide-aways and toys (such as a cardboard tube) are good to have in the cage. Commercial toys are also available.^[12] Mice love to run on a wheel, which provides stimulation as well as exercise. For other uses, see Cedar (disambiguation). ... An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aromatic compounds from plants. ... Cardboard is a generic non-specific term for a heavy duty paper based product. ...

Feeding

Hand-feeding 10 day old mice

Food for fancy mice can range from specially formulated feed mix to kitchen scraps, and is usually very inexpensive, although the latter should be avoided as it may not provide a balanced diet. Laboratories keeping mice as experimental subjects almost uniformly use a product called lab block, a scientifically-formulated blend originally designed for mice in laboratories.^[13] Dry dog food is another good option when lab block is unavailable, as it offers balanced nutrition for a mouse and helps keep their teeth conditioned.^{[citation needed]} In order to keep variety in their diets, mice can also eat oats, oily seeds, clean egg shell, breakfast cereal, and stale bread. Fruit and vegetables can be offered occasionally.^[14] Mice generally chew wood and other hard substances in order to keep their teeth from growing too long. As mice and rats have very similar diets, some pet mouse owners choose to feed rat food, as many other mixes are too high in protein, and try to re-create home-made rat foods, adding more seeds, grains and oats, which, it has been said, are far better for mice than the traditional hamster food that is often bought with the intentions of feeding to mice. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 689 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,296 × 1,128 pixels, file size: 281 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Mice (* 15 Nov 2004) - 10 days old, being hand-fed. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 689 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,296 × 1,128 pixels, file size: 281 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Mice (* 15 Nov 2004) - 10 days old, being hand-fed. ... Lab block is the specially formulated food fed to mice and rats kept in a laboratory. ... For the computer jargon, see eating ones own dog food. ... The term eggshell is the term for the outer covering of a hard-shelled egg, and some forms of eggs with soft outer coats. ... This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

House mice primarily feed on plant matter, but they will also accept meat and dairy products. They will drink water but require little of it, relying mainly on the moisture present in their food. If a water source is provided, then a gravity bottle feeder is necessary for maintaining the cleanliness of the water supply. They will eat their feces to acquire nutrients produced by bacteria in their intestines in a behavior they share with rabbits and guinea pigs called Coprophagy. House mice, like other rodents, do not vomit. Horse feces Feces, faeces, or fæces (see spelling differences) is a waste product from an animals digestive tract expelled through the anus (or cloaca) during defecation. ... Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ... For other uses, see Rabbit (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guinea pig (disambiguation). ... Coprophagia is the consumption of feces. ... Emesis redirects here. ...

Health

A healthy fancy mouse will live on average 18 to 30 months, depending on genetic predisposition. Like most mammals mice are susceptible to mites, ticks and other skin parasites, as well as intestinal parasites. The cage should be cleaned regularly, and preferably treated with anti-mite spray. Mice are particularly sensitive to drafts and may pick up colds and other flu-like conditions. Mice can also over-groom when stressed, leading to skin irritations and fur loss. Older mice are susceptible to tumours, especially breast cancer in females as the mammary tissue is distributed around much of the body. Persistent problems should be referred to a veterinarian, although finding a vet with expertise on treating mice can be difficult. Families Tetranychidae - Spider mites Eriophyidae - Gall mites Sarcoptidae - Sarcoptic Mange mites The mites and ticks, order Acarina or Acari, belong to the Arachnida and are among the most diverse and successful of all the invertebrate groups, although some way behind the insects. ... This article is about the parasitic arachnid. ... Intestinal parasites are parasites that populate the gastro-intestinal tract. ... Tumor (American English) or tumour (British English) originally means swelling, and is sometimes still used with that meaning. ... Look up veterinarian in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Like people, fancy mice can become obese if they overeat and do not get enough physical activity. This can lead to them developing life-threatening cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. Unfortunately overfeeding is common as they require little food. Activity aids such as tubes and wheels are great for ensuring mice get enough exercise, as well as mental stimulation. Mice also love to climb, and a wire cage with horizontal bars is perfect for this. A mouse set loose for exercise should be carefully observed, as they tend to scurry into a hiding spot and can be difficult to retrieve. Cardiovascular disease refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart and/or blood vessels (arteries and veins). ... This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ...

As rodents, mice must gnaw to keep their incisors from growing too long. Overgrown teeth can cause occlusion (blockage) of the mouth, which in extreme cases can lead to starvation. Hard foodstuffs, small pieces of wood or specially prepared blocks can suit this purpose, although some mice can grind their teeth together ("bruxing") to keep them short. In rare cases a mouse may not be able to gnaw effectively, either from malformed incisors or jaws, and so their teeth must be trimmed by a vet. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Incisors are the first kind of tooth in heterodont mammals. ... A profile of a smile, exhibiting significant wear, especially on the maxillary incisors. ... Human jaw front view Human jaw left view Human jaw top view The jaw is either of the two opposable structures forming, or near the entrance to, the mouth. ...

Mice self-groom and do not need to be bathed, unless they have a skin condition which requires special treatment. A domestic cat grooming itself by licking its fur clean Personal grooming, sometimes called preening, or simply grooming, is the art of cleaning, grooming, and maintaining parts of the body. ...

Handling

It is not natural for a mouse to allow itself to be handled by a human. However with training a mouse can be conditioned to handling, although some are more accommodating than others. The best way to pick up a mouse is on the palm of the hand. Retrieving a skittish mouse from its cage can be frustrating; they frighten easily and often try to hide. One method of retrieval is to coax the mouse into a cardboard tube placed in the cage, then pick up the tube. Picking up a mouse by the tail should be avoided as it can cause stress and injury, especially if it tries to grab at the cage.

Although mice are small animals and care must be taken to avoid injury, they are also surprisingly robust and inquisitive. Once out of the cage many enjoy running along their owners' arms, investigating pockets, or just sitting on the owner's lap and grooming. Some mice also tolerate gentle petting. Care must be taken as mice have poor eyesight and may try to lean too far over an edge and fall. Care must especially be taken when being handled by small children as they may be overly rough. Fancy mice very rarely bite, except when they are hurt or very frightened.

Unfortunately mice cannot be house trained and will often defecate and urinate while being handled, especially if they are nervous. The feces of a healthy mouse consists of a solid pellet a few millimeters long and can be discarded easily. However their urine is quite pungent, particularly with males, and may stain fabric. Defecation or feceation (known colloquially as pooping or shitting) is the act of eliminating solid or semisolid waste material from the digestive tract. ... Urination, also called micturition, is the process of disposing urine from the urinary bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ...

Breeding

A female mouse with her litter

Mice have a rapid reproduction rate; the gestation period is approximately 18 to 21 days. The typical litter size is 4 to 12 young. Males can mate with the female as soon as the litter is born. Female mice should not be bred before 12 weeks or after 8 months; doing so can be very dangerous,^[15] and some mice can die while giving birth. Does come into heat around every five days, so the pair can be kept together for up to ten days. Baby mice, also called pups, are born blind, naked, and deaf.^[16] Their eyes are closed and their ears are stuck to the sides of their heads. Mothers may eat any dead or sickly offspring.^[17] Pups begin to grow hair at two to four days. Ears open at three to five days, and the pups will start vocalizing. Eyes open at 14 days, and the babies will start exploring the world around them. At three weeks old they look like miniature versions of adult mice. At four to five weeks the pups will be able to breed. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 542 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,000 × 1,354 pixels, file size: 491 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo by Seweryn Olkowicz File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 542 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,000 × 1,354 pixels, file size: 491 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo by Seweryn Olkowicz File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. ... A litter of pigs A litter is a group of newly born, young animals from the same mother and usually from one set of parents. ... Estrus (also spelled œstrus) or heat in female mammals is the period of greatest female sexual responsiveness usually coinciding with ovulation. ... PUP is a TLA that can stand for: PARC Universal Packet, one of the two earliest internetworking communications protocols Potentially unwanted programs, a term used for software you probably dont want installed, but isnt as annoying as adware, one example of PUP is spyware. ... This article is about the visual condition. ... The word deaf can have very different meanings depending on the background of the person speaking or the context in which the word is used. ... Look up dead in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In animals, vocalization is a means of communication generated in many cases by their primitive versions of vocal chords. ...

See also

• Mouse racing

Mouse racing is an activity in which live rodents are coaxed to travel through a miniature racecourse at fast speeds. ...

References

is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

• Fancy Mice
• Rat & Mouse Club of America
• Mice as Pets
• Varieties of Fancy Mice
• National Mouse Club
• Mouse Club of Germany
• Swedish Mouse Club
• Swedish Mouse Community
• Midwest Mouse Club (US)
• Polish Mouse Club