My new mouse is so scared that he secondhand terrifies me

by satelliren Tue 08 Jun 2021, 12:26 am

I got my male mouse yesterday and he was fine exploring the tank with me around! and then I made the mistake of sticking my hand in the cage and now when he sees me he either runs away or he just.. STANDS THERE. dead frozen in fear. like. Frozen, not even a blink. He doesn’t move or try to run or anything, sometimes he’s shaking. It looks so bad I feel like if I make any advances he’s just going to drop dead

This is so stupid but I’m wondering if anyone has had mice like this? or mice that have just been terrified in general? Does it get better at all? Because now I don’t even want to ever pick him up or anything because he looks so horrified it makes me feel so bad for him haha. Any advice? Or even just reassurance that he’s not going to die if I try anything

by :) Fri 18 Jun 2021, 9:53 am

Well, I don’t think you did anything wrong, it’s possible that your mouse hasn’t had human contact before and also has a more fearful personality. I would recommend you to take this with a lot of patience. If he is already adapted to his new home I would begin by putting my hand everyday for a long time so he gets used to your presence (putting some tasty food in your palm will help). Eventually he will understand there’s no threat and will approach to investigate. Don’t move your hand. With the days, maybe he will sit in your palm and then you could slowly begin to lift it a little. This doesn’t guarantee you will have a social friend, maybe he’s not like that but you can improve the bond and try to calm that fear.
If you ever want to take him out of the tank I would use a tunnel to get him out or by scooping from below (never grab him by the tail or from above).
You could also try to make the tub thing by placing him in a bath tub with you inside for a while. I’ve never tried that one but I’ve read good opinions about that method.

Pd: I would also recommend you to have the tank in your room, so he gets used to the sound of your voice.

by River Sat 19 Jun 2021, 7:37 pm

I agree, you didn't do anything wrong. Just putting your hand in the tank is what I do all the time. Some mice are just less trusting than others (much like people), and he's a completely new environment. He's not acting aggressively so I wouldn't fret too much -- eventually he'll get comfortable and the natural curiosity will get the better of him.

by Molly_mouse Wed 23 Jun 2021, 3:06 am

I definitely have a mouse that was like this (the past tense is generous, but she has gotten better). Just to reiterate what River and Smile

said, the key is patience. I got my shy mouse, Clover, around November and she used to be REALLY afraid of people. Now, she definitely still is not a social butterfly, but she can tolerate having me around. I think it's really important to let them dictate how fast they want the bonding process to go. In the case of your mouse, I probably wouldn't bring my hand anywhere near him if I could help it, just as to not stress him out more. Instead, let him come to you. In the meantime, there are a lot of things you can do to get him more comfortable with your presence. You can sit outside his cage and talk to him. It's important not to tower over his cage because that'll scare him more. But the more you do it, the better he'll feel being out and about while you're there. I'd also recommend that any time you have to go into his cage, you leave him a small treat. Hopefully, he'll start to associate you with food, and I don't think there's a better association for a mouse. It can also help to make tissues smell like you and leave them in his cage. That will help him familiarize himself with your smell. You can do this by rubbing them on you or letting them sit on you for a period of time. It's kind of weird and definitely awkward, but it works. When he's ready, again, let him come to you. I wish you good luck!

by Sponsored content

My new mouse is so scared that he secondhand terrifies me

My new mouse is so scared that he secondhand terrifies me

Re: My new mouse is so scared that he secondhand terrifies me

Re: My new mouse is so scared that he secondhand terrifies me

Re: My new mouse is so scared that he secondhand terrifies me

Re: My new mouse is so scared that he secondhand terrifies me