Mice

Question 1

What is a mice life span?

Answer 1

2-3 years

Question 2

What is an adult mice body weight?

Answer 2

20-40g

Question 3

What is a mice body temperature?

Answer 3

37.5*C

Question 4

What is a mice respiratory rate?

Answer 4

100-250 b/min

Question 5

What is a mice pulse rate?

Answer 5

500-600 b/min

Question 6

What age is a mouse sexually mature?

Answer 6

6-7 weeks

Question 7

What is a mice gestation period?

Answer 7

19-21 days

Question 8

What type of young do mice produce?

Answer 8

Altricial young

Question 9

What type of diet do mice have?

Answer 9

Omnivores

Question 10

Do mice perform caecatrophy?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

Are mice social or solitary animals?

Answer 11

Social - live in groups

Question 12

Describe the attributes of a mice’ tail.

Answer 12

Long, semi-prehensile tail.

Question 13

What is the main difference in the fore and hind limbs in mice?

Answer 13

The fore limbs have 4 toes and the hind have 5.

Question 14

Describe the mammary glands of a female mouse.

Answer 14

Female has 7 pairs of teats (14 total) - compared to a male who has none.

Question 15

Rat and Mice Housing
How should mice be housed in groups and why?

Answer 15

Females may be kept together with a male.
Males cannot be kept together as they will fight.

Question 16

Rat and Mice Housing
How should rats be housed in groups?

Answer 16

Single sex groups or mixed groups if males neutered at 3-4 months.
Breeding colonies house 1 male to 6 females.

Question 17

Rat and Mice Housing
What should the accommodation look like?

Answer 17

Large with plenty enrichment.
Escape and chew proof.
Easily cleaned.
Solid bottom to prevent limb trauma.
Wire mesh top to ventilate and prevent ammonia build up - prevents upper respiratory disease.

Question 18

Rat and Mice Housing
What bedding substrate should be used?

Answer 18

Clean dry bedding deep enough for burrowing.
Pine shavings, shredded paper, paper towel.

Question 19

Rat and Mice Housing
What enrichment can be used and why is it important?

Answer 19

Solid wheel mazes.
Spinning exercise wheels.
Balls.
Cardboard boxes to shred themselves.

Important to keep them active and stimulated.

Question 20

Rat and Mice Housing
What is the optimum enclosure temperature?

Answer 20

Optimum - 15-17*C

Under 10*C can cause hypothermia.

Question 21

Rat and Mice Housing
How often should the bedding be cleaned?

Answer 21

Minimum - twice weekly.

Question 22

Rat and Mice Nutrition
What should they be fed?

Answer 22

Commercial pelleted diet along with small amounts of tit-bits (e.g., biscuit, apple, tomato, dog biscuits, seeds).
Fresh water daily from a water bottle - monitor closely for blockages or leaks.

Question 23

Rat and Mice Housing
What foods should be avoided and why?

Answer 23

Fatty snacks such as sunflower seeds and peanuts.
Causes overfeeding due to domesticated pets being less active than wild ones.