Decorative Mouse: Maintenance and Care

Despite the diversity of colors of decorative mice, all of them are representatives of the same species - the mouse is a house. Yes, the same house mouse that sometimesgets into our apartments and prevents us from living. Of course, houses are not kept "wild" rodents. Decorative mice were bred specifically for house maintenance and participation in exhibitions, and they began to breed long enough - back in the early 17th century.

Now, thanks to the efforts of breeders, there are many colors of decorative mice. They include, for example, black, chocolate,white, beige, lilac, red, faun, cinnamon, golden agouti, silver agouti, blue and others. In addition to the color of wool, decorative mice may differ pattern and type of wool. For example, mice can be not only monochrome, but spotty or with tan. A wool can be short and long, smooth and curly.

So, you decided to buy yourself a funnydecorative mouse. What should I look for when choosing a pet? Buy decorative mice is only for breeders with a good reputation or in trustworthy pet stores. Be sure to make sure that in the pet store the males and females are in different cages. The fact is that decorative rats are capable ofTo become pregnant at an early age, but for a female it is harmful. If the store males and females live in the same cage, there is a high risk of acquiring a pregnant female, which may not survive after delivery.

In a healthy decorative mouse, the wool is bright, smooth and clean, and the skin on the tail and ears is also clean and pink. Make sure that your nose and eyes are clean, andarea under the tail and mouth - clean and dry. Decorative mice breathe relatively often, but breathing should not be noisy or difficult. It is better to give preference to an active animal.

Decorative mice are kept in metal cages or special containers-aquaria from plexiglas (the container is preferable if there is a cat at home). The cell should have frequent rods, because the mice are able to penetrate even into narrow holes. And the container should have a wide bottom and low sides, and its top is best covered with a metal mesh. Decorative mice need a spacious dwelling, because they are very active and almost constantly in motion.

It is best to choose a cage or container with a pull-out bottom (pallet) so that it is easier to clean the dwelling. As a filler, it is best to use clean soft napkins (not painted). But to use newspapers and other coloredpaper can not. Decorative mice - animals are timid, so in one part of the dwelling it is better to pour more litter so that the mouse can hide in it. And you can just put a wooden house.

In the mouse cage, there should be a feeder, a drinking bowl, as well as a variety of toys (logs, ladder, running wheel, etc.). On wooden toys there should be no varnish and paint. Put the cage away from drafts, batteries and direct sunlight: decorative mice are afraid of subcooling and overheating. Once a day, you need to wash the food trough, the drinking bowl, remove the debris and excess food, and once a week - change the litter.

Than to feed ornamental mice? Decorative mice are rodents, so the basis of their diet is cereals and cereals (oats, wheat, millet, corn, barley, you canto buy ready food). Nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds can be given, but rarely, because they are very fatty. You also need to give them vegetables and greens (cucumbers, cabbage, beets, carrots, dandelion and grass leaves), non-acidic and non-exotic berries and fruits. It is desirable to grow grass independently or to collect away from roads.

In the diet of decorative rats there must be source of animal protein, it can be low-fat cottage cheese, unsalted boiled chicken, hard-boiled egg. For stitching constantly growing incisors it is useful to give chalk, croutons, and twigstrees (fruit, birch, willow). It is forbidden to give branches of lilac and resinous tree species! Also forbidden food from your table - fatty, fried, smoked, spicy, sweet.

Decorative mice are active mainly in the evening and at night, during the day they sleep. These are social animals that require a lot of attention. So if you can not often play witha pet, it makes sense to have two mice of the same sex (better than females). Taming your pet is gradual - decorative mice are afraid of loud sounds and sudden movements. Take the mouse in your hand you need to be careful, you can not grab her by the tail.

Decorative mice - cute and funny pets, which quickly become attached to a person. The main thing is to observe all the rules of the content so that your pet is healthy and cheerful.