by Jessy Hudson

Created on: September 23, 2009

Choosing your pet mouse can be one of the most important steps toward ensuring a long, happy and healthy life for your pet. The first thing to consider is where you will find your new friend. There tend to be a few different options, each with their own important considerations.

The most common place to find pet mice is a pet store, although some caution needs to be used here. First, find out if the mice at the store are being sold as pets or as food for other animals. This will usually reflect the temperament of the mice being sold. Mice that are sold as food tend to be less social and less carefully looked after. Although this is not always the case and many happy mice are rescued from the feeder tank, it is definitely something to consider.

Purchasing a mouse from a breeder may be a more reliable decision, though there are still some things to look at. It is often assumed that breeders know mice very well and have their best interests at heart. Unfortunately, this is not always true. Some breeders do care for their animals greatly, but others may only be breeding for profit. One way to evaluate the quality of a breeder is to speak with individuals who have adopted animals from them in the past. Ask them what sort of temperament the mice have or if illnesses have developed in them over time. When you speak with the breeder, you will also want to ask them some questions directly. Find out how many animals they currently have, why they decided to start breeding and where or for what purpose they usually sell their animals. Be cautious of any breeder who seems as if they don't want to answer your questions or allow you to visit their facility. These are not usually good candidates for providing you with a happy, healthy pet.

Another option is to rescue a pet mouse from a rescue agency or an individual who, for whatever reason, is no longer able to care for their mice. In these situations, you will want to ask what the animal's history is, if known. At a rescue agency, ask where or under what conditions the animal was found. If adopting from an individual, be sure to ask them why they are no longer able to care for the animal. These can both be important factors in demining exactly what sort of pet you are going to receive.

After deciding where to find your new pet, you should take a look at where he or she is being kept. The cage should be clean and shouldn't have an unpleasant smell. The male and female mice should always be kept separately, since they are

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