Keeping a Pet Rodent?

[Kamille Kirkendoll]

I think Mice are as cute as can be, but I'm slightly concerned about my snakes if I keep a pet rodent.

Most users I've seen that keep rodents have had no problem with their snakes, but my question is: have they always been around rodents? Both of my snakes are f/t fed. All my pets are kept in my bedroom (Ball, Corn, Cat (named Mouse), and Bearded Dragon), so if I keep a pet mouse or rat, they will be in close proximity.

I'm getting a Crestie for Valentine's, but may consider getting a Mouse instead (A rodent has a cheaper starting cost). Although I may go with a Crestie.

Thanks!

[youbeyouibei]

I'm not quite sure what you're asking with your question but I'll do my best to answer it as many ways as possible. I feed my snakes f/t or live, depending. I also house mice in the same room with them at times, when my feeder-breeder rats aren't producing and my snakes eat fine every time with no issues. Are you worried that your snakes won't eat from being able to "smell" a mouse/rodent all the time and that will desensitize them to being offered food or are you asking something else altogether?

I have some rats that were raised as feeders that I have held back as pets but otherwise I'd personally steer you towards a crestie. Mice stink, BAD! and I've not found much of anything that helps with the smell. If you keep all of your pets/animals in your room, you might get tired of a mouse pretty quick once you've smelled them. If you have the time/energy/money to clean the tank/cage every day, you might be okay. Obviously the choice is yours, that's just my experience with mice. They and rats both can make great pets but mice reek with their urine and it doesn't take long if you have more than one for them to stink up a place. Good luck, whatever you decide and hope that helps.

[satomi325]

I too have rodents and snakes in the same room. Neither group of animals are affected by each other.
But like the previous post said, mice STINK!. I'd go with the crestie or a pet rat(s). Rat's don't come even close to smelling as horrible as mice. And mice tend to be a little more nippy in my experiences.

[luvmyballs]

You should have no problems at all. My tanks of asf are in very close proximity to my snakes and have had no problems at all. We had a pet mouse once but that booger bit me more than the asf lol.

[RobNJ]

Mice stink, BAD!

mice STINK!

Male mice tend to smell, not all mice. I've also found that males kept together and raised together do not smell bad at all. IMO, it's when males become sexually mature and are housed with, or in close proximity to females, that's when they will start to scent their enclosures. Also, if you clean their enclosures often, the smell is never that bad anyway.

Kamille, mice can be great pets. I'd suggest, if you are to go that route, to get a same sex pair from the same litter when(or very shortly after) they are weaned from their mothers. They are, by nature, communal animals, so do better in pairs or trios depending on the size of their home. And handle them often. As far as keeping them is the same room as snakes, no problem.

[Cendalla]

I have all my snakes and Ts in my bedroom. I also have a pet rat in there. My snakes are all fed F/T and I haven't has any issues. I just have to make sure I wash my hands after holding the rat because my BP female strikes first and asks questions later (seriously- She is a major pig and eats every three days!). I'm not exactly sure what you're asking but it hasn't screwed up my schedule or feeding responses. On the down side Case (as in Charity Case) the rat is noisy at night!

[Tereghan]

Check out The Fun Mouse (and the forums).* Just be careful to wash your hands between animals, if the mice smell the snake on your hands they may be more prone to bite. I've heard some mouse keepers say they prefer to keep theirs in a different room from their reptiles since the mice may still be able to smell the snake and have heightened levels of stress.

I've had both rats and mice as pets, and while rats are definitely more outgoing mice still make great pets. With regular handling you'll have more of a chance of being bitten by your snakes. Just do your research beforehand, like with any animal. BTW, most people who keep/breed mice seriously keep them in glass tanks (or a rack system) since those little wire cages you get at the pet store are hardly escape-proof.

Oh, and just for fun and cool pictures: The AFRMA website





*There are a few people on there who are hysterically anti-snake and anti-cat. Just ignore them, and never mention feeding live.

[Kamille Kirkendoll]

THANK YOU, all of you. I appreciate the thorough, honest answers.

After researching more thoroughly, I'm dying to get a Dumbo Rat. Obviously, I would get a same-sex pair. The only issue is space, and because of this, I may still go with mice, but it all really depends on how I feel once I'm at the store. If the mice are aggressive, I'll probably go with some rats, but if nothing else works out I'll go with the Crestie.

The only reason I proposed mice was because I had a 10 gallon tank that is empty, and won't be filled by a reptile any time soon. I saw the mice a month or so ago at Petco, and for the first time ever, I wasn't terrified (maybe having reptiles had that effect on me).

Thanks again, y'all, your advice was invaluable. Especially about the mice smelling. You'd think a rat would smell more with all the extra body mass. Huh.

[Kamille Kirkendoll]

I have all my snakes and Ts in my bedroom. I also have a pet rat in there. My snakes are all fed F/T and I haven't has any issues. I just have to make sure I wash my hands after holding the rat because my BP female strikes first and asks questions later (seriously- She is a major pig and eats every three days!). I'm not exactly sure what you're asking but it hasn't screwed up my schedule or feeding responses. On the down side Case (as in Charity Case) the rat is noisy at night!

This was exactly what I wanted to know! I'm good about washing my hands, so this shouldn't be a problem. My boys are hearty feeders, but it usually takes some bumping with the f/t rat/mouse to get them to realize it's food. I can deal with a noisy rat, my cat is usually put in a kennel (she's a devious one, she is) at night, and she'll meow and paw at the grate sometimes.

Thanks again!

[Skittles1101]

Mine were all on f/t before I got my rats too, it doesn't affect them in the least. I suggest getting a rat over a mouse, they are so much more social and not as fragile lol. My rats are awesome