Mice Food and Gender

Question
Hi! I was just wondering what brand of mouse food you feed you mice or if you make your own, the "recipe". Also I was wondering if its possible to keep to male mice together, thanks! :)

Answer
Hi Alexis,

I personally feed my mice Mazuri lab blocks, supplemented with healthy treats.  I recommend (and have used) any commercial mouse diet, whether mix or block, which is specifically labeled for mice or "mice and rats" - these have the most beneficial combination of nutrients and vitamins that other small rodent mixes (such as those for hamsters, gerbils, etc.) do not necessarily contain.  If you are interested in making your own recipe it is certainly possible, but will take a great deal of research and care to be sure you are providing them with everything they need.  Let me know if you are interested in doing so and I can point you toward some great references.

I do not recommend keeping male mice together.  In very rare cases, such as siblings with particularly calm temperaments or excellent breeding, males MAY get along.  However, in the vast majority of cases they do not, and simply being around another male's hormones and urine can be enough to stimulate a strong, prolonged stress response.  Even if males do seem to get along at first, it can literally change overnight, and males who begin fighting will typically fight to the death.  That sort of risk just isn't worth it in my personal opinion, but males will be very happy living alone with just you to play with!

If I can help with anything else, let me know!
-Tam