hand-training mice/ yellow teeth

Question
Hi Natasha
I've got two mice honey and Choc-Chip(girls)
There both about 7 months old (I got them when they were 5 and a half weeks old)
Do you know how to make mice come to you when you put your hand in the cage because they always run away?
And do you know if its healthy for them to have yellow teeth if not what can I do to make them healthy?
I hope you can answer my question
good luck
Annalee

Answer
Dear Annalee,

Mouse teeth can be naturally yellow.  No problem.

It takes a lot of patience to hand-train an adult mouse.  This also depends on the temperament of the mouse.

Food is a good incentive for the mouse.  Using a very special mouse treat such as buttered popcorn, cheese, or commercial peanut butter (i.e., Skippy, Jif...) on a Triscuit or other cracker, you can tempt the mouse slowly onto your hand.  First, give them no extra treats except when you are training them, though you can train them any time.  Start by setting the food down on the cage floor and putting it about an inch or two away from your hand, palm up, on the bottom of the cage.  Make yourself comfortable, this will take patience!  

When the mice come to check out the food, don't move.  When they are comfortable taking the treat from near your hand, you can put it just on your fingertips.  Slowly over time you will bring it up to high enough on your palm that the mice have to walk completely on your hand to get the food.  You still haven't been moving even when they have been in contact with you.  Once they are used to walking on you a bit, you can gently pet them with the fingers of the other hand, or start to cup them in your hand, or lift your hand up just a bit with the mouse in it.  Slowly you will gain their trust and they will like to come to you because you give them treats.

In the meantime, of course you still want to hold them, but you don't want to undo the training you are doing.  Don't try to grab them while you are training.  Before or after training, be as gentle as possible when getting them out, trying to avoid chasing them around the cage with your hand.  Keep toilet paper tubes in the cage because they will rush into these and you can put one hand on either side to capture them when they try to hide.  Training them after they have already enjoyed a good half hour on you can be good because they remember that they like to be near you.  

Have fun!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha

PS MY mouse Little Honey squeaks hello to YOUR mouse Honey!