Bathtub session pooping help!!

by Etane Tue 08 Jan 2019, 7:00 pm

Hi I just got my first mouse Chip 5 days ago. He’a been settling quite well in his tank within the last few days. He plays on the wheel as per normal when i’m sitting beside him but everytime I put my hand in he seems to hide in a corner. I started putting my hand in two days ago and he would just sniff it and try to bury it in bedding

Today I figured maybe taking him out on a playtime session would help so I got a bin tub and transported him over with a paper towel roll tube. The moment he got in there is was trying to figure out a way to climb out and literally pooping all over constantly. He didn’t mind walking over my hand in there but he didn’t care for it. What should I do? i’m so confused right now

by Sparrow Thu 10 Jan 2019, 3:12 pm

I am fairly new to owning mice, having only gotten my first mice just after summer. I quickly grew very fond of them and what were four rescue baby mice at first, quickly turned into what now is 11 bundles of joy! (And possibly more to come in the future!)

Bathtub bonding sessions don't seem to work for mice too well, unlike hamsters. The only time my mice were okay with being in the bathtub was during introductions of my females.

A while back I got two males (kept separately). I decide to give bathtub bonding another shot, throughout 3 days span, about 45 minutes per male. Both of them seemed more stressed than happy in there. I then tried to bond with them the same way I bond with my females.

I let them have a run around on my desk while I'm working on the computer. I put their wheel and saucer on the desk, a few cardboard boxes filled with shredded tissue paper and some toilet roll tubes. I put on my special male hoodie, as they are the only ones that pee on me and Spencer even marks me Shake head

. I scatter some food around on the desk, and leave a shallow water bowl dish where the mouse can access it easily. I also like to keep some cheerios in my pocket for when they do something good, like get the courage to climb up my sleeve. After consistently letting them have a run around my desk for about 4-5 days, they were as tame as my most friendly mouse, Foxy! Who is a ridiculous attention seeker who doesn't even like to run around on the desk with her friends... Oh no, she prefers to just cuddle into my hand or arm and sleep there while others are having a blast on the desk, playing with all the toys.

Maybe this would work for your mouse too? As to mice pooping... It happens all the time, its perfectly normal. You should see my mouse hoodie or my desk after a playtime session! Laughing

I just keep a small bin nearby and fling the poops into it, as gross as that may sound.

by Etane Fri 11 Jan 2019, 1:45 pm

Sparrow wrote:I am fairly new to owning mice, having only gotten my first mice just after summer. I quickly grew very fond of them and what were four rescue baby mice at first, quickly turned into what now is 11 bundles of joy! (And possibly more to come in the future!)

Bathtub bonding sessions don't seem to work for mice too well, unlike hamsters. The only time my mice were okay with being in the bathtub was during introductions of my females.

A while back I got two males (kept separately). I decide to give bathtub bonding another shot, throughout 3 days span, about 45 minutes per male. Both of them seemed more stressed than happy in there. I then tried to bond with them the same way I bond with my females.

I let them have a run around on my desk while I'm working on the computer. I put their wheel and saucer on the desk, a few cardboard boxes filled with shredded tissue paper and some toilet roll tubes. I put on my special male hoodie, as they are the only ones that pee on me and Spencer even marks me . I scatter some food around on the desk, and leave a shallow water bowl dish where the mouse can access it easily. I also like to keep some cheerios in my pocket for when they do something good, like get the courage to climb up my sleeve. After consistently letting them have a run around my desk for about 4-5 days, they were as tame as my most friendly mouse, Foxy! Who is a ridiculous attention seeker who doesn't even like to run around on the desk with her friends... Oh no, she prefers to just cuddle into my hand or arm and sleep there while others are having a blast on the desk, playing with all the toys.

Maybe this would work for your mouse too? As to mice pooping... It happens all the time, its perfectly normal. You should see my mouse hoodie or my desk after a playtime session! I just keep a small bin nearby and fling the poops into it, as gross as that may sound.

Thanks so much for the suggestion! Yeah, everytime i puthim in the bin it seems like all he cares for is trying to get out. He’s skittish in nature at the moment so I don’t know how safe it is to have him roam around my desk freely. How comfortabe were you mice with you when you starting bonding sessions on the desk? I have trouble even getting him near my hand in the cage so I always have tous a paper roll/linen bag.

by Sparrow Fri 11 Jan 2019, 6:51 pm

When I started the bonding sessions on the desk, most of them were not comfortable at all with me. I was starting the taming from scratch, aside from my two males and my first pair of females. In fact, I have one female who is half wild, I've had her for about 3 months now and she is the only one who I have had any trouble taming. Even she is far more willing to interact with me when she plays on the desk.

From what I've picked up that even the most skittish of the mice were fine on the desk, probably because its not so hands-on as with the bathtub where the mouse is basically forced to interact with the person. The mice approach you when they feel ready, the desk is a neutral territory and a place to explore so they usually feel more open to interact with you. As long as you leave plenty of stuff for them to do on the desk, they are happy.

I was scared at first over them possibly jumping off, but I found out from research that they have really good depth perception so they wouldn't jump unless they had no other choice. Obviously supervision is still crucial, but nothing should happen.

I give at least 1 hour per session, but when I still only had a few mice, I spent 2 or more hours with them. They usually just go to sleep in one of the cardboard boxes with tissue paper in it when they are done playing.

This is Sammy, one of my female babies that I rescued last month. This is her just 3 days after trying the desk bonding sessions.

by Etane Fri 11 Jan 2019, 9:39 pm

Oh my, she's so tiny and cute. I tried a 45 minute desk session today and he was definitely more calm by the end of it. Gonna give it a few days and see how it goes! Now I gotta find a hoodie to use it for this haha.

I hope it goes well!~

This is my little guy Smile

by Sparrow Sat 12 Jan 2019, 3:42 am

He's got such precious little face! I love it Smile

I'm glad that your bonding session was working out. Looking forward to hearing about the taming process over the upcoming days!

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