Mouse bite?

by kait765 Sat 06 Jan 2018, 2:29 am

Hello! I've had my little man for over a year now. I've never had a problem with him. He seemed to love me and I loved him. Still do. His name is Calvin. He's orange with a little white tummy. Well, I had bought him a friend named Jimmy but they fought. Constantly. So I removed them from the same cage and separated them and the two cages. I had picked Calvin up before, even when he fought and after he fought Jimmy as I separated them. Jimmy was a little torn up (hurt my heart but he's fully okay and healed now). Calvin was the "Bully". Jimmy would not provoke him. Calvin would simply attack him but at the end of the day, they cuddled up and slept together? I was told to wait to remove them unless the fighting did not stop and when I first saw Jimmy get a wound, that's when I removed him instantly. (his wound fully recovered and he's okay now, don't worry) . So. Weeks after I separated them, I had to do my cage cleaning day like I do after about a week or so. And I let Calvin roam my bed like he normally does when I clean his cage. So, as I picked him up to put him back in like I normally do, I pet him with my thumb, he grabbed my thumb and dug his teeth in my skin. His whole front teeth sunk into my thumb completely. Before this, I softly grazed my thumb over his eye and he closed it like normal but it looked like his eye was wet (which is why I grazed over it to see) but wasn't. He was squinting for some reason. (He wasn't squinting a few minutes after the bite) So, that's when he bit me. I yelled and I had to pick him up off my hand and quickly set him down before realizing blood was covering my hand, bed and clothes. It was a very deep bite. I quickly picked Calvin back up with my hand (clean from blood) and put him in his cage before rushing to my bathroom to clean up the bite. It hurt terrible bad. The healing hurt too. It was very swollen and sore. It still hurts and it's been over a week. I still try to pet him and let him sniff me. Baby steps. I'm terrified of holding him again. I give him treats still and let him know I still love him very much. And here's the thing. I don't blame him. When a mouse bites, there's a reason they bite. I had done something. But my question is? What did I do wrong? I separated the mice. I fed him treats. I cleaned his cage. I picked him up like I normally do. I tell him how cute he is and how I love him. I pet him like normal and he instantly bit me. Full force. I've always bonded with him ever since I got him. I'm just wondering why he bit me and how I can get over the fear if holding him again. Help?

by CallaLily Sat 06 Jan 2018, 7:19 am

Is there any chance your hands smelled like your other boy mouse? That could certainly cause that reaction from him. Or maybe he's feeling extra territorial, if meeting the other male was fairly recent or he can smell him nearby?

It is very very common for male mice to fight. They're very territorial and wouldn't naturally live together. In the wild Mus musculus live one male to a group of females. Mature males are fought and chased away, though in the wild this doesn't usually end as horribly because the losing male can get away. In captivity they have no where to go. I know our pet mice are domesticated but this behavior still shows in most pet bucks, so we house them alone with a lot of play time with us or some neuter their bucks so they can live with a group of girls (though many feel the risks that come with surgery aren't usually worth it).

I understand the fear of being bitten. Just go slowly with him until your confidence is built back up. Make sure your hands are free of any smells. Try using a tube or box to get him out of or move him back into the cage for a while, if that makes both of you more comfortable right now. Others with more experience on chompy mice will hopefully come by with more advice.

by CinnamonPearl Sat 06 Jan 2018, 8:04 am

Ooh, I totally getcha. Mouse bites hurt. Way more than people give them credit for! I used to have a bitey boy Monster who would bite me constantly. My fingers were always bruised! I say until you get your confidence back with Calvin, there's no shame in handling him while wearing gloves. Mice can bite skin hard, but they aren't gonna do anything through a glove. And I agree with Calla that it could've been the other boy's scent on your hand that got him. So I say wear gloves with him, wash your hands before handling him, and see if the behavior continues or not. Even if it does, often if mice try to bite gloves, they'll realize after a while that it ain't doing nothing, and the behavior will peter out.

by kait765 Sat 06 Jan 2018, 12:05 pm

My hands could've smelled like a lot of things. I have a cage clean day because I have two female rats (who love each other), Two male Guinea pigs (They love each other) two male mice (Calvin and Jimmy) and one female mouse (planning to get her a roommate) and three Betta fish (all separated).In order, I cleaned the Fish, Guineas, rats, Jimmy and then Calvin before I went to Molly. (Female one) but had soapy water and individual rags to clean with so, I assumed that would take the scent off my hands? And I hear that chemicals can easily kill my babies, stuff like perfume. Does the same go with hand sanitizer and I should just stick to washing my hands normally with soap or is hand sanitizer okay?

by Asherjon23 Sat 06 Jan 2018, 1:09 pm

I would just use soap and water. If you are worried about scents on your hands wet your hands and rub salt before you wash with soap. Salt is know to get rid of smells from our hands.

by kait765 Sat 06 Jan 2018, 1:13 pm

Okay! I'll keep ya'll posted in my progress! Little man's sleeping right now so, I'll post later! Maybe after work if I get the chance to bond with him after work

by kait765 Fri 12 Jan 2018, 10:14 pm

Hey, guys, I've been extremely busy with work. I never see Calvin out and about. He's always sleeping. He's over a year old and he seems to be excited to see my, I just still haven't worked up the courage to hold him. Do regular gloves block off their bites? And since he's over a year old and always sleeping..should I prepare myself for what might happen next..? Thank you!

by CinnamonPearl Fri 12 Jan 2018, 10:18 pm

Regular gloves will block mouse bites completely, yes, so long as they're at least somewhat thick. And no, if he's only a year old, I wouldn't grow overly concerned with him dying.

by kait765 Fri 12 Jan 2018, 10:30 pm

Thank God. Even though he's a little spoiled brat, he's still my baby. Thank you very much, I'll keep you guys posted still!

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