Feeder Mouse

Question
Ok well my boyfriend owns a Boa Constrictor Constrictor and I was feeding her last Friday. She was being lazy and this poor feeder mouse stayed in the tank for 2 days dodging the snake. I have to say I've feed Cadence a number of times and usually the mouse has no idea what's going on. It will walk right on the snake's head and everything is over quickly. Well this little albino feeder mouse dodged her first attacked which is usually lethal by jumping straight up in the air. This is after I walked out of the pet store and the box containing the mouse blew off of a box of frozen yogurt for dogs. He was the only mouse that we've feed to Cadence that knew exactly where she was the whole time and wouldn't go anywhere near that corner at all times. My boyfriend said it best "This was the one with personality" of course after that he named him Stuart. We're pretty sure he has a pair of jewels. We have him in a 18x12x20 mesh cage... I guess designed for iguanas or something. Aspen shavings on the bottom. I feed him store bought mouse food and little pieces of apples. He has a wheel that he loves and I got him a ball to run around in. I'm nocturnal too, so he's my new buddy at night. He goes in the ball for 10 to 15 minutes 2 or 3 times a day. Sorry this is so long, I thought it was kind of a cute story. He seems very happy. He gets fresh water and food everyday. I just put the shavings in 2 days ago so I'll change those in 4 or 5 days. But I wanted to ask exactly how much I should be feeding him. It's been hard to find a direct answer. He probably weighs an ounce, or at least he doesn't feel like he could weigh much more than that. And another question was it's been 9 days since I brought him home from the pet store and I don't know if he has any diseases and he doesn't have a buddy. The only thing that he has done that worried me so far was when he woke up one afternoon. He had been asleep for 5 or 6 hours straight. He seemed to be very stiff and was kind of stuttering. His movement was very jerky. I watched him for a few minutes and then picked him up, he didn't run or anything and he just sat there in my hand, then he fell off his box when I put it back, poor little guy. He's been fine ever since then. Exercising, eating and drinking regularly. I made a playground for him. I used cardboard boxes with no ink on them, I did use some acid free tape. I noticed that he doesn't eat the cardboard just chews it so I figured that was ok. Bottom level is one small box with a hole on top and a hole on the side and I filled it with shredded old socks, he sleeps in there. A tiny box on top of that, and a ramp to a small platform with a ramp to another platform that is above his bed. His wheel is up there. There is also a paper towel roll on the floor, along with his food bowl and water. How healthy do you think he is? I didn't notice any lumps, sleek coat, no eye problems. How long do you think he will live? And one last thing do you think I should go back to the pet store and get him a buddy, male or female? If I did would there need to be adjustments to the size of the cage?

Answer
I'm sorry for replying so late, I have not been well.

Feeder mice are generally a lot weaker than pet mice as they are interbred so I expect he won't live very long. Also mice who have had a stressful experience tend to have shorter lives (imagine living with a hungry lion for two days). Dead mice are just as nutritional for the snake and are not put through any unnecessary pain. Try swapping to frozen pinkies, these are even more nutritional then adult mice.

Mice are social creatures and need at least 1 buddy but the more the merrier. Ideally his friend should be from the same litter. Make sure you know what sex he is before you get him a friend. Mature boys will have descended testicles and the distance between the anus and genitals with be greater then in girls. They should only live in same sex groups or else they will reproduce.

The cage you have made for him sounds great I'm sure hes very happy there. Boys need a lot more room than girls as they are more territorial. If they fight try feeding the plain boiled rice and including more hiding places. If this doesn't work you will need to find larger accommodation.

If you can't find mouse, food hamster food is a good alternative. It's also very cheap. This will provide a balanced diet. If you can't get hold of any the following foods are suitable for a mouse. Fruit and vegetables (in small quantities), bread, fromage frias, pasta, rice, small pieces of cooked meat(no bones), nuts, seeds, peanuts butter, crackers (small quantities).

Please feel free to ask any more questions. Good luck!