Fancy mouse bites

Question
i just got a fancy mouse from the pet store. and my brother got a regular mouse, mine is a little bit bigger than his is. i tired to pick him (as in my mouse) up today because i heard they are a lot of fun to play with but he bit me and drew blood. i don't want to take him back but i also don't want to have to use gloves all the time. i thought it might be because he is scared but my brothers is also a boy and loves to be held. is there anything i can do to wean him off of the bitting?


Answer
Dear Caroline,

Did he bite you because he was suddenly scared, possibly hurt, or because you had food on your hand?  If so, give him another chance.

If it was an unprovoked bite, my advice is to return the mouse to the pet store.  Although it is not impossible to tame a biter-- after all, some people have success taming wild mice-- it isn't easy and it does involve a lot of glove-wearing.  When mice nip-- not drawing blood-- I suggest a light tap on the top of the nose, not to hurt but to insult.  Biting is more serious.  

If you have your heart set on this mouse, I describe how to tame a naughty or wild mouse in the following post:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2008/8/Taming-mouse.htm

If you return the mouse to the pet store, I would suggest also not purchasing your next mouse at that store.  A pet store should never sell a mouse that bites.  All the mice should come pre-tamed.  It's not necessarily the workers' fault-- it is simply a bad choice of breeder.  If there is no other option then make them show you that it is a sweet, tame mouse.

Just so you know, boy mice generally can't live together.  You are going to need a second cage.

Have fun in the world of mice : )

squeaks,

Natasha