Bringing Your Mouse Home
The best thing to do upon bringing your mouse home is to let him or her settle themselves in their cage--temporary or permanant--disturbing them as little as possible. It isn't advisable if you have other mice to simply plop your new baby in with them--it could turn very ugly much faster than you think, and differing viruses could transfer mouse-to-mouse. Quarantine your new baby at least two weeks from your other mice (the same goes for any new mouse you get anywhere. If you didn't get it from a breeder who tracks their lines a quarantine of 3-4 weeks is advisable.) Ideally keep the unknown mouse in a completely different location than the house where your current mice are kept. However if this is impossible then keep them in a room on the opposite end of the house and wash your hands thoroughly switching between them for feeding, cleaning etc.
After your baby has gone through quarantine you can introduce them to your resident micies. A bath tub or LARGE bin is perfect for this. Change the bedding and wash the toys in the cage your older mice live in so that when they are returned to it after meeting your new mouse "their" place doesn't contain so many scent markers. Some squeaking is normal between mice, as is moderate dominance mounting and chasing. There should not be blood. I do have one doe (the cage "boss" that bites every single new mouse she is introduced to--usually on a hind leg. It's never serious however and she doesn't pursue them after this. However none of my other does do this. If you feel like the arguing is getting out of hand clap or make another loud sound. Often this will stop a fight before it begins between does.
Your baby will likely be eating different food than they were eating before--if they don't seem willing to nibble the food you provide then mix it with the small bag provided by M&TM for just this purpose so they have something familiar.
After your baby has settled in for a couple days you can start handling them more, taking them for shoulder rides and showering them with affection
After your baby has gone through quarantine you can introduce them to your resident micies. A bath tub or LARGE bin is perfect for this. Change the bedding and wash the toys in the cage your older mice live in so that when they are returned to it after meeting your new mouse "their" place doesn't contain so many scent markers. Some squeaking is normal between mice, as is moderate dominance mounting and chasing. There should not be blood. I do have one doe (the cage "boss" that bites every single new mouse she is introduced to--usually on a hind leg. It's never serious however and she doesn't pursue them after this. However none of my other does do this. If you feel like the arguing is getting out of hand clap or make another loud sound. Often this will stop a fight before it begins between does.
Your baby will likely be eating different food than they were eating before--if they don't seem willing to nibble the food you provide then mix it with the small bag provided by M&TM for just this purpose so they have something familiar.
After your baby has settled in for a couple days you can start handling them more, taking them for shoulder rides and showering them with affection
General Mouse Care
Coming Soon