scared mice in smaller cage; mouse flies out of wheel

Question
QUESTION: Thank you so much for your quick response.

Mouse two is doing alright, she is as perky and inquisitive as ever. She is also eating and drinking fluids. Mouse two didn't show any symptoms all week and then suddenly she was ill Thursday morning and died in my hands on friday morning. I also did get a mouse three and four (Oogie and Boogie) because I didn't want mouse two living alone. Currently all three mice are quarantined from each other. I am suspecting though that the two new mice were not socialized properly because the fully black one with white markings (Boogie) practically leaps away from my hand when I go to gently scoop her up and has even bitten me but didn't break skin. I also believe she is the youngest because she is smaller.

The white with black spots one (Oogie) on the other hand cowers in a corner and squeaks when I touch her sometimes or if the little black touches/burrows under her. I was wondering if I should be concerned about this and was wondering if this could be in direct correlation with the fact she got a minor cut on her tail when the person I was buying her from accidentally nicked it on something. (They also treated it before I left.

Another thing I find odd about Oogie is that when she runs on the wheel her tail curls way over her back to the point that it almost almost touches the wheel at her side. Should I be worried about this or is it only a quirky behavior for her?

ANSWER: Dear Lynnsey,

Unless these are rescue mice, don't get mice from the same place again. These two obviously haven't had the gentle handling they needed.

You say Oogie's tail got cut. Are you sure that was the only injury? While a mouse might squeak when a cut is new, it would probably not squeak later on for just a minor tail wound, unless the cut became infected, which would take at least a day. On the other hand if it is due to fear, it is unlikely that a previously well-treated mouse would get that upset over one small cut. So she either already has psychological fears, or more than her tail was cut. Treat her gently. Boogie too. You will need a lot of patience for the two of them.  

Some mice hold their tails over their shoulder in the wheel; others sort of let them fly behind them. Smaller wheels make Oogie's behavior more common. When a mouse ends up holding her tail like this even out of the wheel, it is called "wheel tail."  It disqualifies a show mouse : )). The small wheels sold for mice are not the best size. Mice should have a hamster size wheel. If you get another wheel, let them have both.

Best of luck to al of them.

squeaks,

Natasha



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

QUESTION: Thank you for yet another quick response.

Oogie must have wheel tail because they have a hamster sized wheel and I have caught her doing it outside the wheel at least once. Her squeaking has also diminished a little and I am pretty sure that it must be caused by fear because Boogie does it as well when I do manage to touch her as well. Not every time though. Both mice also came from a reputable pet shop, maybe they arrived there like they are? Also I don't know if this is important or not but they were also housed in separate tanks all alone.

Both females had not been rescued mice but had come from a reputable pet shop. Is it possible they could of arrived at the pet shop like this?

Also would housing Oogie and Boogie in a slightly smaller cage that allows for easier and safer handling, access to the mice, and taking care of them in general be a good idea? I actually did this with my first two mice and it seemed to help them get used to me faster and we also seemed to bond a little faster as well. The whole top of the cage pops off easily and is easier to reassemble in the end as well compared to the larger cage.

I am also handling the new mice very gently and allowing them to take their time to learn to trust me. When handling them I hold them over the opened smaller cage so if say the jumpy one, boogie decides to take one of her leaps she would land unharmed in the cage.

One more question, recently Oogie and Boogie were in the wheel together and Oogie started running which sent the smaller Boogie flying out of the wheel. She landed safely though on one of their hanging hidey toys. I am just worried that next time she wont be as lucky ad will get hurt. Should I remove the wheel for the time being to prevent this from happening until Boogie is bigger?

Answer
Dear Lynnsey,

I think the smaller cage may work better partly because when a cage is smaller, the mice have less of a sense of territory, so if part of the problem is an invader in their territory, this might help. Also, they are of necessity closer to your hand when you put it in the cage. Of course they want the bigger one asap.

The best way to pick up a scared mouse is to guide her gently into the empty toilet paper roll that she keeps in her cage (a mouse without a toilet paper roll is like a fish without a bowl ; ))  ), and pick it up with both hands on the sides. She will probably  not come out onto your hand of her own accord but if you set it down on a surface with your hands nearby she may come out. Otherwise you gently put your fingers under as much of her tummy as you can and gently ease her out.

One way to get her to feel a little safer with you is to lie on your back and put her into the rolled up bottom of your Tshirt. When she pushes at the sides where you are making a barrier with your hands, try to be a little flexible but don't let her out until she is calm. Then put your hand in with her and gently pull her out.

With a jumpy mouse, you hold the mouse on your (probably) right hand palm, hand closed over the mouse, with the fingers of your other hand holding gently but firmly onto the very base of its tail by its rump. Then you open your hand slowly but you don't let go of the tail till you are sure she won't jump. Be ready to close your hand around her if she seems jumpy.  

It sounds like you are using an open, plastic wheel. You should get a closed wire (grid is best) one. When a small mouse is overpowered by a faster big mouse in a closed wire wheel, she just holds on and goes around in circles. They don't seem to mind this in the least. But you definitely don't want her being flung around in the cage. A hamster wheel is a better size than a tiny mouse wheel.

Best of luck to Oogie and Boogie!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha