Well, that's one way to end up with a pet mouse

I sucked it up and bought a live mouse for our IJ today - she has only eaten twice in the two months we've had her. :/ In hindsight I was overly optimistic in trying to feed her tonight. It was probably too soon to offer after moving her to a smaller enclosure, and the large fuzzy (small hopper?) mouse was maybe a bit too big for her.

I was hoping hunger and the allure of a live meal would win out, but Bridget didn't go for it. She looked interested at first but then seemed to get a bit scared as the mouse approached her. I left it in her tub for about 40 minutes before removing. Maybe I should have left it in longer?

BUUUT... I made the mistake of giving the mouse a few pets after taking it out and it promptly fell asleep in my hand and looked very cute. So now we might have a pet mouse, whoops. I even ran to the store to get some KMR, just in case, because I'm not sure if it's completely weaned yet.

I'll try again with Bridget in a week with a smaller mouse. Hopefully she eats, but if not maybe Lucky will get a friend. [emoji1787]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...76dfd7702d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a53982d9f5.jpg

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Go buy some Gerber rice cereal to mix up for it to offer also

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

Go buy some Gerber rice cereal to mix up for it to offer also

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I'll go grab some tomorrow, thanks! It currently has water, some KMR in a dish (will change frequently), some plain pumpkin puree, and gerbil/hamster Oxbow pellets, both dry and softened. I've also offered KMR on a syringe tip and it's lapped it right up.

The size looks fine for the snake but, if the prey startles them it can definitely jolt them out of feeding mode.

On the plus side you can offer it again if you have the heart after taking care of it for a little while. :cool:

When feeding live you kind of have to have the supplies on hand to feed/ water any refused prey items - it's just part of the deal.

On another point a second hot side hide might be an idea to consider so the snake doesn't have to decide between security and temperature as they generally choose security. :rolleyes:

Awwwwe your doin great!

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

I'll go grab some tomorrow, thanks! It currently has water, some KMR in a dish (will change frequently), some plain pumpkin puree, and gerbil/hamster Oxbow pellets, both dry and softened. I've also offered KMR on a syringe tip and it's lapped it right up.

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As a breeder of mice- since the eyes are open it should be able to eat OK, but it does look small for a hopper too, so it probably wasn't fully weaned yet.
It should make it OK though...:D Don't forget, we need to know it's name?

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Originally Posted by dr del

On another point a second hot side hide might be an idea to consider so the snake doesn't have to decide between security and temperature as they generally choose security. :rolleyes:

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Oh yes, Bridget (the IJ) does have two hides. I should have clarified that the tub photo is for the mouse now, lol. Temporary digs until it's bigger.

Thanks for tips on feeding live! It seems a lot more complicated to me after only doing F/T. With any future live feedings I need to do for her I'll be sure to NOT pet the mouse lol.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

As a breeder of mice- since the eyes are open it should be able to eat OK, but it does look small for a hopper too, so it probably wasn't fully weaned yet.
It should make it OK though...:D Don't forget, we need to know it's name?

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I named the mouse Lucky! Figured it was fitting. ;) Pretty sure it's a girl after some Googling.

Thanks for the reassurance on food. She is very tiny but pretty plump. Doesn't seem to have the length of the F/T hoppers we have.

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You can tell if it's a girl girls have nipples boys have none

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

I named the mouse Lucky! Figured it was fitting. ;) Pretty sure it's a girl after some Googling.

Thanks for the reassurance on food. She is very tiny but pretty plump. Doesn't seem to have the length of the F/T hoppers we have.

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I HOPE it's a girl if you keep it as a pet. The males have more mouse odor to mark their territory & impress the ladies.
She should be able to take small seeds & grains ok too.

To me the females are stinkier when I had rats as pets their cage was always worse than the males

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

To me the females are stinkier when I had rats as pets their cage was always worse than the males

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Rats are not the same as mice...

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Rats are not the same as mice...

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Wow so it's the opposite on the mice huh?

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

Wow so it's the opposite on the mice huh?

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Rats are good mice are bad

Haha, I am partial to the rats

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

Rats are good mice are bad

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To me, both gender of rats are smelly, but as pets, they are personable, even affectionate & make good pets, even if not nature's prettiest creatures.

Mice don't usually make good pets...they're nowhere near as smart, trusting or personable as rats, & while they LOOK cute, the males reek. But don't
let my comments stop you from trying...maybe some have "evolved" by now? :rolleyes:

This is exactly why i’m so happy my new BEL took f/t! I would end up with too many mice and rats lol. sounds like that little baby has got a good new parent haha :)


-Jason

Yeah it's kind of hard to get attached to the frozen ones
Lol

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Originally Posted by gdawgs56

This is exactly why i’m so happy my new BEL took f/t! I would end up with too many mice and rats lol. sounds like that little baby has got a good new parent haha :)


-Jason

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Aww she (or he?) looks so cute! She really is Lucky indeed. Hope this all works out for you and her!

This is one of the reasons I don’t ever want to feed live prey :oops:
I’d end up falling in love with the mice.. especially since I have had pet mice before. They are extremely smart and live a good 6-8 years if cared for well!

We need a full video of when you feed her to your snake.:O:O:O

Just go get a male mouse at the store...
Add it to lucky...
And boom! might just get you a mouse breeding project!

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Originally Posted by Shadowy

This is one of the reasons I don’t ever want to feed live prey :oops:
I’d end up falling in love with the mice.. especially since I have had pet mice before. They are extremely smart and live a good 6-8 years if cared for well!

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No, actually, they can't lol. The oldest mouse ever recorded died at four, and the average pet mouse usually only makes it to two with good care. It's really sad rats & mice have such short lifespans, they're truly amazing, personable animals that can leave real impacts on people (though I've never personally kept mice, I love my rats to the moon and back :P)

And I totally agree, I could never feed live consistently, I'd be overrun with mice within a few weeks!

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

Yeah it's kind of hard to get attached to the frozen ones
Lol

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I seriously lol’d on that one!

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

Yeah it's kind of hard to get attached to the frozen ones
Lol

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For some of us poor reptile keepers....its not :crying::crying::crying::crying:

I agree!!

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Ha Ha .....

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

I seriously lol’d on that one!

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Originally Posted by Treeman

Just go get a male mouse at the store...
Add it to lucky...
And boom! might just get you a mouse breeding project!

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So would the Male get lucky with Lucky or would you have to name him Lucky? :confusd:

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Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

So would the Male get lucky with Lucky or would you have to name him Lucky? :confusd:

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Luckily, mice are easily found at most pet stores. Add the male in with Lucky. Hopefully he will get lucky. Luckily, mice breed fairly easy from what I've been lucky enough to hear. If your lucky, Lucky will give birth and you'll have some some tiny Luckys!
:D:D:D:D:D:D

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Originally Posted by Ditto

No, actually, they can't lol. The oldest mouse ever recorded died at four, and the average pet mouse usually only makes it to two with good care. It's really sad rats & mice have such short lifespans, they're truly amazing, personable animals that can leave real impacts on people (though I've never personally kept mice, I love my rats to the moon and back :P)

And I totally agree, I could never feed live consistently, I'd be overrun with mice within a few weeks!

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This is why I have Degu live longer than rats and mice and just as intelligent https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fae069fd25.jpg


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Originally Posted by Jamiekerk

This is why I have Degu live longer than rats and mice and just as intelligent https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fae069fd25.jpg


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It looks like a vampire bat !!

Be careful :)


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Originally Posted by Jamiekerk

This is why I have Degu live longer than rats and mice and just as intelligent https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...fae069fd25.jpg


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So cute!! I briefly considered degus before I got my rats but ended up not getting them because they're hard to find

CUTE!
Resembles a squirrel

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Originally Posted by Ditto

So cute!! I briefly considered degus before I got my rats but ended up not getting them because they're hard to find

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

CUTE!
Resembles a squirrel

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...923703dfa1.jpg He eats his treats like this

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...47067bad11.jpg

He sits on my shoulder as I walk around and do things or gets under my shirt collar and rests there.

Sorry for hijack thread but get a Degu there great


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Originally Posted by Jamiekerk

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...923703dfa1.jpg He eats his treats like this

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...47067bad11.jpg

He sits on my shoulder as I walk around and do things or gets under my shirt collar and rests there.

Sorry for hijack thread but get a Degu there great


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.....something to think about, thanks!

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I've been away for a few days and missed some replies! We still have Lucky the mouse, and she(?) is super sweet. Definitely hopper sized now and no longer a fuzzy, lol. She's set up in a 10 gallon and is taken out to play daily. My husband and I joke that she has adjusted well to the good life.

I'd get a second female for her to have a mouse friend, but I'm not completely 100% sure that she's actually a "she" and definitely do not want a mouse breeding project. :)

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