Feeder mice as pets?

Question
Hi I want to get a mouse. I had my heart set on a cute little white girl from petsmart. She seemed like the perfect little fancy mouse so cute and easy to hold!! Then I decided to look around before brining her home. As I walked toword the snake  isle I saw a huge boa constrictor then under it was a bunch of mommy mice with seventy babies! The next to them was juvenile mice the same age as the one I wanted!! It looked at me for help I almost cried so I decided to ask the man about them if they were the same but he said "Oh there a totally different mice these are meant to day in a week" I came back and asked people on other webs 1/2 said they are unlucky pet mice the same as the one you want the other 1/2 said they are inbred and unhealthy stay away! I feel bad and feel that no body cares about them and want to get one from the pet and one from the feeder isle as pets like a rescue but I don't know if they will be good pets and if they will live long like pet mice can you help me please I am heart broken!!!!

Answer
Dear Julia,

Whether feeder mice are different than pet-intended or fancy mice depends on the pet store and its breeders.  Unfortunately if the store keeps them separately, it means there is a difference.  Feeders will probably be less tame than pets; they may be badly inbred, causing genetic defects; and they may be in poor health, since a snake doesn't care if its dinner is sick or has mites.   

The term 'fancy' mouse has been used for a lot of things lately, including plain, white mice,  so it's hard to know the extent of the difference between pets or fancies and feeders in a particular store.  Petco, for instance, does not differentiate between feeders and pets.  In this case all the mice should be equally healthy.  

This doesn't mean that a poor little feeder mouse isn't deserving of love.  It makes their mousiness no less special.  However, when you choose a pet, you do want to choose the healthiest, happiest specimen you can find.  Bringing together a fancy mouse and a possibly unhealthy or parasite-ridden feeder is a sure way to make the fancy mouse sick.  

I hate the whole concept of feeding mice to animals.  I love all mice.  I'm sure you feel the same.

squeaks,

Natasha