Will I have trouble with a mouse as a pet?

[SecurityStacey]

I'm getting a mouse as a pet (just a pet - not to feed or for breeding - I'm just getting the one) because I think they are pretty cute.

However, even though he will be in another room my apartment isn't all that big and I'm worried if Stan (my bp) always smells the mouse it might make a feeding response tag more likely. They will be kept in different rooms - but if I take the mouse in the living room and let him roll around in his ball I'm worried Stan will go into hunting mode (he's in the living room) or when I let Stan crawl around the living room (with the mouse back in its cage, obviously) he will smell mouse on the floor and go into hunting mode.

What do you guys think? I really like the little mouse - I just don't want to make handling Stan more difficult.

Thanks!

[Inknsteel]

I think as long as you wash your hands between handling the mouse and handling the snake, you should be fine...

Oh, and don't introduce them to each other to see if they wanna snuggle... LOL

[icygirl]

I don't think it should be a problem. There are people on this site who keep snake racks and rodent racks in the same room.

[stangs13]

You will be fine, so will the snakes, but the mouse wont! Get him a buddy, unlike snakes they are very social.

[Debbienflorida]

Mice are not as social as Rats. Some mice are perfectly happy and better off alone.

[halfwaynowhere]

female mice are very social, and if they are used to being kept with others, can go into depression if kept alone (I've had it happen several tmes). Male mice prefer to be alone (or with females, but you say you don't plan on breeding).

Your snakes should be fine. I had pet rats and a mouse when I got my first snake, and was worried because people suggest the whole prescenting thing, and i was concerned that my snakes would always be in hunting mode because they'd always smell the rodents. this was not the case. They all did just fine.

[littleindiangirl]

I would recommend keeping them in pairs. Mice and rats really need partners for their physical and mental (social) well being.

[Debbienflorida]

I guess my female mouse is just a brat !! I do always keep my rats in pairs at least.

[SecurityStacey]

I would recommend keeping them in pairs. Mice and rats really need partners for their physical and mental (social) well being.

I did buy a pair. I typed that out without really thinking - I bought a pair of females because I read that they don't like to be by themselves.

And thanks for the input. I hope that as long as I don't let them snuggle with Stan they will be just fine!