raising a wild mouse as a pet

Question
we have been having a mouse issue for quite some time and my brother caught one. it's really tiny and i'm keeping it in a box for the meanwhile until i can find info. on it. i wanted to know what i would have to do to keep it as a pet, it's absolutely adorable and i really like it. What do they eat, what kind of bedding do i use, etc. or is this wrong and should i let it go?

any help would be wonderful.  

Answer
Dear Jessica,

I do not know how old your baby is, from your mail.  If it is a tiny one still needing to be nursed, this previous post of mine should help:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2008/8/Orphaned-Wild-Mouse.htm

If your baby is hopping around and eating seeds, etc, then it needs a little cage with a secure lid.  I would recommend an aquarium, because you'd be surprised at how little babies can slide through bars on a wire cage!  The cage must have a wheel, a water bottle (although at first you will have to also give it a very small bowl of water), a food dish, litter and bedding.

The safest and easiest way to feed a mouse is with a special 'mouse and rat' mix you can find at a pet store.  If they don't have one for mice and rats, hamster/gerbil mix is fine.  In the interim, give it seeds such as sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, oatmeal, and bits of crackers or dried bread.  Cheese is nice too, but only in moderation!  For an occasional real treat and to watch an excited mouse, a piece of salted and buttered popcorn is a real favorite!  

There are many litters to choose from at the pet store.  There are different kinds of wood chips, paper pellets or pieces, corncob litter, etc.  I use wood chips sometimes and ssometimes the paper litter such as the finer version of Carefresh or similar brand.  There is a brand called Yesterday's News that is recommended as well.The advantage of the Carefresh type is that it is great for burrowing.  However, a wild mouse might very much prefer the wood.  Many people shy away from cedar chips because they can cause allergies; however, they are great at hiding odors.  Your little wild mouse might like a few Fall leaves to chew on as well.  

You can make bedding out of almost anything, so there is no need to buy anything special.  Cloth such as those socks the dryer spits out with no mates are great; cut them both in half and lengthwise and you have two mouse blankets.  You can even wash them and use them again!  Bits of other soft cloth is good as well.  If the litter is comfortable (i.e., not corncob or anything hard), even just paper towels and kleenex will do.  The mouse might well prefer a little house, which you can buy in a pet store or make a disposable one yourself out of cardboard.  If you put the bedding in the house the mouse should figure out what it is for.

The following post has ideas about how to get to know a mouse that you have tamed.  Because I don't know how old your mouse is, I don't know how tame it will be.  Of course you can tame it yourself with some effort.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2008/8/hand-raising-mouse-playing.htm

Good luck and do write back if you have any more questions!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha