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The house mouse belongs to the rodents of the mouse family (Muridae), of the subfamily (Murinae). This family includes about 127 genera and 520 species. The best known are, among others: forest mouse, brush mouse, field mouse, dwarf mouse, Cypriot mouse, Indochinese mouse, southern mouse and the house mouse. The latter contributed to the development of the popularity of mice as farm animals. Read what a house mouse eats, how long it lives, and learn how to care for it.

Contents:

  1. House mouse: what does it look like?
  2. House mouse: how many lives?
  3. House mouse vs wild boar
  4. House mouse: how to care?
  5. House mouse: what's eating?
  6. House mouse: diseases
  7. House mouse: pest or useful?

House mouseis an animal that Poles quite often choose in pet stores to look after it later. That is why it is worth knowing how the mice were domesticated, how the house mouse differs from the wild one, what the house mice look like, how long they live, and how to care for the mouse, what the rodent eats and what it suffers from.

House mouse: what does it look like?

Rodents that are raised indoors are the domesticated form of the domestic mouse (laboratory form). As the name implies, before mice were considered pets, they were bred in laboratories for research.

Wild mice are usually grayish-yellowish in color with a lighter belly. The domesticated form, however, occurs in almost all colors due to the mutation. The most common colors are: albino, white, black, gray, cream, chocolate, blue and even spotted.

Spotted mice in pet shops are often signed with the name "Japanese mouse", however, this is not a separate breed, but only a characteristic, spotted color.

There are even purebred mice. They are bred in special home farms. They can differ not only in color, but also in the length and structure of the fur. There are also naked individuals. The fur of a purebred mouse can be: short-haired, long-haired, astrex (curly), Abyssinian and satin (smooth, shiny).

The body length of a domestic mouse ranges from 7 to 12 cm, with the tail averaging 5.5-11 cm long. They are very light - they weigh 15-25 g.

House mouse: how many lives?

Mice live quite a short time.In natural conditions, they usually live up to 1.5-2 years, while breeding mice live a little longer - up to 4 years.

See the gallery of 8 photos

House mouse vs wild boar

The house mouse probably comes from Africa. It has now spread almost all over the world. House mice have always accompanied people - they can be found in the fields, villages, cities, farms, cultivated fields, factories, and even houses or apartments.

House mouse lives in areas close to humans due to favorable development conditions, access to food and shelter. Although she is usually an uninvited guest at home, her domestic form, which is a domestic pet, can be purchased at pet stores. It differs from its wild cousin mainly in appearance - it comes in many color versions.

House mice are easy to get used to and are not difficult to breed. They are also cheap to maintain.

House mouse: how to care?

Mice are very mobile animals, therefore, despite their small size, they need a large and spacious cage. It is also worth paying attention to the gaps between the floors, they cannot be more than half a cm, because the mouse can easily squeeze between them.

Mice can also be kept in aquariums, but remember that the glass walls significantly limit the air flow, which is not recommended especially in hot weather. Mice love to bite, so their cage is equipped with wooden toys.

It is best to place a house, various kinds of sticks, branches and tunnels in it. Plastic accessories should not be used, as they can be damaged very quickly.

Mice will surely be delighted with the floors and ladders, which will provide them with additional entertainment. The lining of the cage can consist of sawdust or special granules that absorb unpleasant odors. Mice love to dig in the ground, so they should be provided with a thick layer of padding.

Remember to change the surface regularly so that the mouse's place of living is comfortable for them. It is worth choosing a glass or ceramic drinker and bowls, as mice can chew on plastic accessories.

Worth knowing

Mice are very social, so they should be bred in groups. If we want to avoid offspring, we should buy individuals of one sex. However, it is recommended to keep females together, as males can fight with each other.

House mouse: what's eating?

The house mouse belongs to the omnivorous species. The basis of their diet is usually a grain mixture. You can also diversify your meals with fruit,vegetables, herbs, sprouts and greens. Mice can also be given whole grain bread. From time to time, the mouse can be fed cheese or boiled meat. It is also worth giving the mice hard butts that will allow them to rub the teeth.

House mouse: diseases

Sometimes mice get sick. The most common ailments in mice are: allergies, colds, fungi, tumors, coccidiosis, mycoplasmosis, and tooth growth. Mice are also carriers of parasites such as tapeworms or nematodes.

Mice can also transmit diseases such as salmonella, toxocarosis and gardiosis.

The faeces of domestic mice may contain pathogens that are hazardous to human he alth. The mouse can also carry spores of harmful fungi on its feet and paws, which contribute to the decomposition of food products.

House mouse - pest or useful?

The wild house mouse is classified as a pest. It causes great losses in fields, eats food supplies and destroys various materials by chewing. They also pose a fire hazard to buildings as I can gnaw the cables inside them. However, the domesticated form of the domestic mouse, i.e. the breeding (laboratory) mouse, is considered a useful rodent.

Source:

1. "Great Encyclopedia of Nature. Mammals", ed. B. Zasieczna, Warsaw 1997.

About the authorWeronika RumińskaA graduate of Polish philology with an editorial and publishing specialization at the University of Warsaw. She developed her interests related to the editor's work already during her master's studies, actively cooperating with Poradnikzdrowie.pl on the editorial path and social media. Privately, a lover of good crime fiction and horse riding.

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