Re: How did you end up with mice as pets?

by maygins Mon 10 Oct 2016, 3:41 pm

Well, I wasn't supposed to have mice. I started off being a cat lover, looking down on mice and when my cats would catch an unfortunate wild rodent, I usually wouldn't give It much thought. Of course I would always be sad and bury it, because I love all animals. (You should understand, it's sort of hard to describe?) Then, I was lizard crazy! I wanted a bearded dragon-(Which... adults eat mice....) And when my parents mentioned I would have to feed them mice, I wasn't too keen but still accepted to get a lizard. At last minute, I didn't want a lizard or another cat. I was in the right place and the right time when I saw the two sweet PEWS in a cage. This really creepy looking lady came up and was requesting one of them for her snake, and for some reason I was devastated. Thinking about those cuties I'd never given a second thought being eaten tore me apart. So, I bribed my dad (who hates rodents) to get me the last white mouse. She was so timid at first, but now she knows me well. The second time I went to the pet store, I questioned about mice depression. I bribed my dad (agaaaain) that we needed another mouse for my white one. We ended up getting a cute brown baby Smile

So.... THIRD time, (all in the same week...) My pet squirrel died and we were going to ace to purchase a pet urn. My grandma felt so sad for me, she secretly requested the pet manager to go to the back rooms to fetch me a uniquely colored mouse. The man came back with two, (he said these were the only ones that were not white) One of them was white with brown, and another was black. Long story short, I went from not caring at all to being a mouse loving mom with 4 sweetums.

by Artistwolf Mon 10 Oct 2016, 5:27 pm

These stories are all so sweet Love

by EverythingAnimal Mon 10 Oct 2016, 9:26 pm

Andorrici wrote: My pet squirrel died and we were going to ace to purchase a pet urn.

Wait. You had a pet SQUIRREL? What kind?

by Peachy Tue 11 Oct 2016, 12:42 am

I wondered about the pet squirrel too! Maybe it was that rescued one that Andorrici shared in Members Lounge? Pardon

Love reading everyone's stories. Smile

by AnonymousMouseOwner Tue 11 Oct 2016, 12:48 am

Bearded Dragons don't eat mice. They live on meal worms, crickets, and commercial food. Confused

My dad has several reptiles including a bearded dragon, a blue tongue skink, a uromastyx, and a leopard gecko, none of which need to eat mice.

Cute story though! Sorry about your squirrel Sad

.

by maygins Tue 11 Oct 2016, 6:37 am

EverythingAnimal wrote:
Andorrici wrote: My pet squirrel died and we were going to ace to purchase a pet urn.

Wait. You had a pet SQUIRREL? What kind?

He was the sweetest little grey squirrel Love

I'm still puzzled on the COD but I'm sure he wasn't suffering too much when he passed.
He was such a lively little thing you'd think he had a running start!

by maygins Tue 11 Oct 2016, 6:39 am

AnonymousMouseOwner wrote:Bearded Dragons don't eat mice. They live on meal worms, crickets, and commercial food.

My dad has several reptiles including a bearded dragon, a blue tongue skink, a uromastyx, and a leopard gecko, none of which need to eat mice.

Cute story though! Sorry about your squirrel .

That's strange. Everywhere I looked up research told me I'd have unhealthy and unhappy bearded dergs if they didn't eat mice. I'm definitely not getting one any more, nor do I want one, but that's just what I was thinking.
It could be my parents just lied to me.
They really are experts when it comes to being cold.

by AnonONIagent Tue 11 Oct 2016, 12:38 pm

Andorrici wrote:
AnonymousMouseOwner wrote:Bearded Dragons don't eat mice. They live on meal worms, crickets, and commercial food.

My dad has several reptiles including a bearded dragon, a blue tongue skink, a uromastyx, and a leopard gecko, none of which need to eat mice.

Cute story though! Sorry about your squirrel .

That's strange. Everywhere I looked up research told me I'd have unhealthy and unhappy bearded dergs if they didn't eat mice. I'm definitely not getting one any more, nor do I want one, but that's just what I was thinking.
It could be my parents just lied to me.
They really are experts when it comes to being cold.

As someone who used to look after his teacher's beardies, bearded dragons aren't supposed to eat anything larger than the space between their eyes, otherwise they're at risk of choking, regurgitating, or being unable to fully digest the food. This means that as far as mice go they can only eat pinkies, and those are supposed to be given as treats, rather than as a staple of their diet.

by despereaux Tue 11 Oct 2016, 3:35 pm

I've owned hamsters since I was about 8, so I'm no stranger to rodents but I never expected to end up with mice. I think it was the tails, I wasn't a fan of them being so naked. Fast forward to my 20's: I'm still keeping hamsters and am in school to be a veterinary technician. As part of the program, there's a required class on handling lab animals (i.e., mice, rats, and rabbits). They spend a couple weeks on each species and each student gets an animal to practice on and take care of. At the end of the lab, they either get adopted out, sent back to whoever they were acquired from, or euthanized depending on the animals and the situation.

Last April, one of my classes met in the same room that was being used to house these little critters so I would get to see them a few times a week. I ended up thinking the mice were pretty cute and since I knew they'd eventually be up for adoption, I got to thinking about bringing one home. Since I already had a lot of hamster supplies I could use, I figured it would be pretty easy.

I spent a few days doing some mouse research and found out mice are A LOT different than hamsters, but was still interested in trying them out. I went back and forth with myself whether or not I should take on any more animals, all the way up until the day the mice came up for adoption. At the end of the day, I asked the teacher what she had left for mice. Four females. They came home with me. Smile

by scaredymouse Wed 12 Oct 2016, 1:05 am

some on my fondest memories of childhood was of my mice. we lived in an apartment and were limited on the pets we could have. I loved them so much... but I try not to think too much about it because of how poorly I cared for them. Of course, I didn't know any better. Everything I do now for animals honors their memory, in a 'pay it forward' sort of way. I was very young when I had mice, probably about 10 or 11. Then when I was in my 30's, I went looking for a little critter to keep me company during the night and found myself a little hamster and a few mice. And the rest is history.

So, when I talk to young people about proper mouse care and veterinary care and talking to your parents... I speak from experience... experience as a child and experience as an adult.

by AnonymousMouseOwner Wed 12 Oct 2016, 1:19 am

despereaux wrote:I've owned hamsters since I was about 8, so I'm no stranger to rodents but I never expected to end up with mice. I think it was the tails, I wasn't a fan of them being so naked. Fast forward to my 20's: I'm still keeping hamsters and am in school to be a veterinary technician. As part of the program, there's a required class on handling lab animals (i.e., mice, rats, and rabbits). They spend a couple weeks on each species and each student gets an animal to practice on and take care of. At the end of the lab, they either get adopted out, sent back to whoever they were acquired from, or euthanized depending on the animals and the situation.

Last April, one of my classes met in the same room that was being used to house these little critters so I would get to see them a few times a week. I ended up thinking the mice were pretty cute and since I knew they'd eventually be up for adoption, I got to thinking about bringing one home. Since I already had a lot of hamster supplies I could use, I figured it would be pretty easy.

I spent a few days doing some mouse research and found out mice are A LOT different than hamsters, but was still interested in trying them out. I went back and forth with myself whether or not I should take on any more animals, all the way up until the day the mice came up for adoption. At the end of the day, I asked the teacher what she had left for mice. Four females. They came home with me.

What a neat story, this was interesting to read! Glad they got a good home and were not sent back to where they came from. Good luck with your schooling, how exciting! It must be so fun Smile

.

by CallaLily Wed 12 Oct 2016, 10:05 am

scaredymouse wrote: of how poorly I cared for them. Of course, I didn't know any better. Everything I do now for animals honors their memory, in a 'pay it forward' sort of way. I was very young when I had mice, probably about 10 or 11.

I don't remember much in the details about how I cared for those mice I had at 9-10 years old. I know I had a critter-trail type of cage. I know I was grabby and got bit a time or two. I can guess that the rest wasn't the best either. Shake head

by CanadianExport Wed 12 Oct 2016, 10:08 am

I think in a lot of cases we all cared for animals poorly. We had guinea pigs and a gerbil growing up and I know we didn't do right by them, the best we knew how but not like they should be. It was what put me off small animals for so long. I knew I didn't like the tiny pet store cages but didn't know how to do better so I avoided owning them. I am really glad information is so readily available now days and we can learn from each other even though we are often times a world away from each other!

by dragonmyst Sun 25 Dec 2016, 1:43 am

I had just moved into my first apartment, and I left my previous pets at home with my family where they would be happier, with familiar people and surroundings, instead of in a tiny apartment where they would be alone while I worked. but I really really missed having pets. I wanted a rodent pet. I wasn't sure witch one to get though, until I watched the green mile and was charmed by Mr. Jingles. I initially thought that I would have to buy a feeder mouse and keep it as a pet. I tried to look up information on how to take care of them, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that mice were common pets, and there was a lot of info out there. So I got my little pet, and we lived together for two years. I think that I will probably always have mice. They are very rewarding pets.

by CinnamonPearl Sun 25 Dec 2016, 7:39 am

Same, Dragon. The one time I tried to switch, the mouse bug came back for me with a vengeance. Whether it's for the best or not, I know not!

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