How do I know if my mouse is depressed?

Question
QUESTION: Hello again :D

Oh about the question i asked you earlier! me and my four cousins will help me to tame the baby mice. Well i have another question i have a problem with my lizzy she seems so bossy even the male mouse was scared of her sometimes in her behavior she loves to run around the cage while jumping and sometimes chirping or it was a cough?. My question, is it normal for a mice to run so fast and jump while running i heard it was a sign of a sickness in their respiratory?

ANSWER: Dear Divine,

The jumping is called sparking, and they do it when they are very happy! Bossiness is OK as long as the others don't get depressed; and she doesn't block them from the nest, food, water bottle, or wheel; and as long as she doesn't bite anyone.

Chirping can very well be a sign of illness. Does she only chirp when she jumps, or other times as well? If it is other times as well, then she is probably sick, and should go to the vet. It is always best to bring the cage, if it is small enough, with the other mice; or at least bring a friend with her. You have to find a vet who is experienced in "pocket pets" or "exotics."  

Best of luck,

Natasha

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


eating mouse ^^   QUESTION: Well my lizzy is just over energetic she just chirp when she jumps happily miss natasha though it was really hard to tame her >3<!!! and also last night she and my albino mouse fight over those paper toilet rolls that i put in cages for them. But last question ^^" sorry to many question what are some sign of depression?

Answer
Dear Divine,

A depressed mouse doesn't move very much. She might not eat very much. She doesn't run in the wheel. She just sits/lies around or in the nest.

Of course the time that mice are most active is at night, so a mouse who stays in the nest in the daytime is normal.

Congratulations for taming a difficult to tame mouse! Sounds like she is a real sweetie. Sparking is actually very unusual!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha