Pet mice die/ finding a breeder?

Question
Hi, Natasha,
Thank you for being on Ask Experts. My daughter has had pet mice for several years and she's had very good luck with the ones she bred. Unfortunately, the last of her last litter died of old age a few months ago and since then we haven't been able to keep a mouse from pet shops alive for more than two weeks. We've gone through at least a dozen mice from the only three available sources we have. We've bleached things, we've bought an entire new set-up and we're sure we've got the right bedding, food, etc.
I'm to the point of trying to find a reliable fancy mouse breeder. Could you advise me on how to find healthy mice to buy?
--Karen

Answer
Dear Karen,

Holy moly. A dozen mice died. Something is radically wrong. And the mice were from three different sources? That is really weird. If it was one, one could think they had a disease and they didn't know it because all the other mice were feeders. But with three sources we really have to try to find the problem before you get a new, healthy-bred mouse.

I wish I could be there to examine your set-up. But it's hard to imagine something that could kill so many mice. Does the cage get hot, or cold? Is it near a draft? Do you use any air fresheners or furniture polishes or hairsprays nearby? Is the food all from the same supply? Is it possible that you have wild mice who can infect the tame ones (if they are in a wire cage)? I'm rather at a loss. You've really done all the right things.


Well, on to the question of a well-bred mouse, which is the best answer anyway. There are several fancy mouse and rat sites that you can contact to look for a list. Unfortunately it seems like every time I try, I get a lot of dead ends. But maybe I haven't been thorough enough; and you are obviously very dedicated. You can also find emails on these sites:

American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association:
http://www.afrma.org/

Rat and Mouse Club of America:
http://www.rmca.org/

North American rat and Mouse Club, Inc
http://narmci.8k.com/index.html

The Ratster-A Rat and Mouse Directory
http://www.ratster.com/

The Fun Mouse
http://thefunmouse.com/

Forums to ask on:

Mouse Lovers.com (tell these people you got the link from me; they know me)
http://www.mouselovers.com/

Fancy Mice Breeders.com
http://www.fancymicebreeders.com/mousefancierforum/phpBB3/

Also, if you tell me where you are, I can put out feelers on my list of rodent lover friends on Facebook. By the way, if you want to "friend" me, I am the only Natasha Millikan; just tell me who you are. In that case you will be able to see directly if anyone answers my call for breeders.

If you find a useful list of breeders, please let me know here.

Hope I have helped.. write back about any of this. I'm very concerned!

squeaks,

Natasha
<:3  )--~