Too young mouse?

Question
Hello Natasha,
Happy New Year (soon) and happy holidays!!

I got four mice in total yesterday for a birthday present (my birthday's on the 31st), and they are all ADORABLE. We got one male we named Plumpy (he really IS a plump), and three very young girls. Two are slightly over two months. We've only named one so far, and the one we named is the problem child...

The other two are very... well, meecie. Experimenting with the wheels I gave them, eating all the cereal and crackers and seeds and nuts I threw in, but then there's... Bella Vita.
She's not THAT much smaller than them, but I truly believe she's not over two months like they said, to me, compared to my babies who were huge, I can still judge this one is only a month and change. Past weaning but still pretty... weak?

She had already been at the pet shop for a week with the other two, she acts fairly normal. Her tail is only slightly pale/gray, but Sparkles, another mouse I have who is a year old, has the same coloring. But Bella Vita's tail is slightly grayer. Bella Vita is also only eating small, soft seeds in the mix, and I immediately noticed this, thinking her teeth might still be growing. So I threw in Cheerios and Kix and wheat Chex. She wouldn't eat them. Her body is a good temp, but she's just very pale. She drinks well. And since I first noticed her size I took the wheels back out, even though they're the safe grid ones.

I have the cage at about 76 degrees F, maybe a little lower, since they're all small anyway. I tried seperating her for an hour to make her cage specially warm, but she did worse, and when I put her back into the other cage she went back to being more active.

I tried the foster mom approach with a few of my (one year old) babies since they're so sweet, and she did sit with them like a baby would. She went under their tummies, I think looking for milk. But I think they were too nervous because they squeaked at Bella Vita and ran away, but did not bite her. Then about 15 minutes later I realized Bell could be sick and that's why she's acting weird and I may have just infected my babies. (The new ones only have that new-mouse sneeze that passes)

So I'm not sure how to help her. She seems like a picky eater and I'm so confused because if she was at a pet store being randomly handled, no mom, etc, for a week before we bought her, and made it this far--is she going to be okay if I keep the cage warm/quiet? Is it fine she's sleeping so much?

Thanks:))) so much

~Lyd & the Meeciesss

P.S.: THANK YOUUU for telling me about that 8-in-1 bird mite formula, my mice aren't even my mice anymore! It pretty much saved Sparkles' life!

Answer
Dear Lydia,

I'm very glad to hear about Sparkles! And congrats on the new mice : )). Keep the wheels in, regardless of size. I have seen practically microscopic baby mice run in the large gerbil wheels.

Bella Vita might be sick. She also might be depressed.  If these two are not the case then she may have a mouth problem. Lok at her teeth carefully to see that they look completely normal.

In case she is having trouble eating, try some soft cheese; some crackers or rye crisp soaked in rice or soy milk; some soft bread, and see how she does. To tempt her with the bread, spread a little butter on it. To tempt her to eat, try either watering down some commercial (i.e., Skippy) peanut butter, or spread it very thin on a smooth cracker, to avoid choking. Try nuts of any kind; shelled sunflower seeds; pumpkin seeds ("pepitas" in my store); buttered popcorn; cooked bacon.

A mouse usually likes being at around 70 degrees. My mice complain when it gets over 75. A sick mouse, however, may like it warmer.   But if her temp is good, it shouldn't be high.

It is possible that she just has a different personality than the other mice. But as an experienced mouse owner, you may have a good sense for what doesn't look right. Watch her very carefully for signs of illness- hunched posture, rough fur, lethargy, sleeping outside the nest. Also watch the others if they were in the same cage.

The safest bet is of course to bring her to the vet for a checkup. I probably should have written that first, but this is an ipad and I can't really edit!  

With these ideas in mind, reassess the situation. Write to me with more details if you notice anything else or if she doesn't seem better in about two days- if she gets worse, she should go to the vet.

Best of luck to Bella Vita. I hope she has a long bella vita ahead of her.

Squeaks,

Natasha