square acreage per mouse

Question
QUESTION: i recently bought two male mice from a petstore. i had never owned any before, and i think the man who helped us sold us a (tank, cage...whatever you want to call it. plastic container) to keep the mice in. he said it was big enough for two, but i don't even think it's the right size for one.
anyway, the two got along very well and had no problems. then i added a wheel yesterday to give them more exercise until i can find a bigger tank..thing. they love the wheel, but have been fighting a little ever since. a little sqeaking, and some biting. i don't know if it's serious. one mouse seems to always start it, so i suppose he's the dominant one? my question is, does the wheel have anything to do with it, is it serious, and will getting the larger enclosure possibly solve the situation? i love my new mice and want them to be happy and get a long but i'm a little concerned. i'm doing the best i can to re-home them. so any help would be appreciated. i hope it's not too serious...

ANSWER: Dear Laura,

Although chasing and squeaking can sometimes be a lot of noise and show, males will usually eventually bite and draw blood, necessitating a separation.  The pet store was negligent in selling you two males to house together.  Male mice almost never get along- only littermates who have never been separated can sometimes cohabit.  Putting them in a too-small space is also very negligent and I would suggest you not return to that pet store-- they are either ignorant or don't care about the welfare of their animals.

A larger cage will probably not ameliorate the situation.  In fact, my girls fight more in the big cage than in the little one.  Because you will have a second tank, one male can live in each.  At least a wheel fits in-- that makes it ok for one mouse (you could even trade off).  The other must have a wheel too of course.  Keep the cages close together so the two can still communicate-- they do squeak all the time in voices too high for us to hear-- because mice are very social and need friends.  The friend they will really need is you.  You should try to take each (you can probably take both together) out of the cage for an hour a day for at least passive 'people-time' (on your shoulder or in your sleeve).

It's an ironic thing about male mice-- though mice want companionship, males do not get along.  I'm sorry that your pet dealer misled you about your pets.  If you have any other questions, please write back.  

Have fun with your new boys!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you so much for all the info!
could you also please tell me about how much room is needed per mouse? for future reference so i won't have to depend on the pet store people who don't seem to know? i'd rather know for myself anyway.

they haven't been fighting as much right now. and i still haven't been able to get the second cage. i've notice that out of the two (one is white, the other brown) the brown one is the only one that ever tries to bite. the white never starts anything...and the brown only bites when the white one tries to get on the wheel when the brown one is running on it. other than that, they get along. they sleep together and everything and seem just fine. do you think the brown is just dominant and maybe thinks of that wheel as his territory? i wouldn't know, i'm just guessing.

but anyway, what i would really like is the size recommended per mouse. so please let me know!
thanks!

Answer
Dear Laura,

A mouse should have at least something like 12x15 inches.  Two mice don't need twice that, but something a little bigger, like a medium aquarium.  If there are places to climb, the base can be less.  

Your two boys might be littermates (don't let vastly different colors fool you), in which case they have a decent chance of getting along.  Try giving them two wheels.  Sometimes they don't like sharing the car.

Have fun : )

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha