How can i earn the trust of my pet mouse?

Question

Ok so here is the deal. I bought a pet mouse about 5 days ago, and i am new to owning a pet mouse all together. Ok so when i reach out to get him on my hand he runs and hides in a corner, and so when i reach out to grab him i have to corner him so then he has no choice but to climb on my hand. But when he is on my hand he doens't run away or jump. but it sometimes looks like he is trying to find a way out or something. He still won't let me give him food by hand, and everytime i try to grab him to come on my hand he just runs away and sometimes when i corner him he climbs the wall and sometimes the ceiling. I don't know if i am rushing things or tips on how to make him trust me and all. Anyway any tips or stuff might work thx

Answer 1

This is my method for taming a mouse in 20 minutes:  I take the mouse out of the cage and hold it in my hands or let it sit on my shoulder for 20 minutes.  By this time the mouse finds out that you are friendly, harmless, and warm.  It doesn't seem to matter if the mouse is hard to catch at first.  Once it gets used to you, it will not be too hard to pick it up.

This will not work with a wild mouse, which has the prey instinct not to let anything pick it up or even get close.  They bite.  Pet store mice might bite once in a while (most of mine haven't though); but they don't automatically bite when you pick them up.

Pet store mice have practically all their fear instincts bred out of them, so they are pretty easy to tame.  Take it out of the cage and handle it.

Answer 2

threaten its life

Answer 3

Give him some time don't grab him just show him you're hand. Let him get used to you slowly if you rush it it may make things take longer. Just remember mice are very timid but cute.

Here is a website you can check out just in case.

My advice comes from when i owned 4 mice 3 girls and a boy separate cages of course.But it takes time and after they get used to you they will be very cuddly.

Answer 4

offer treats

Answer 5

Sounds like the exact problem I'm having with my baby Roborovski (tiny, very skittish hamster) ; just give it time, and it'll adjust, you want to be gentle, but at the same time, you don't want to rush things or be too stern.

I've been able to slowly gain the trust of one of them so far; I played with her in the bath tub (so she couldn't get far if I let her run around; they're really hard to catch once they get away) and I would gently stroke her back; when should would run away from the touch I'd stroke her back in a most gentle fashion, and continued to repeat, until she realized I wasn't a danger to her, and she even climbed into my hand :)

Refrain from using a loud voice, or having loud noises nearby, it can scare the bejesus out of them, and you certainly don't want a scared mouse biting you out of fear, do you?

Also, I've found that the whole treat-training doesn't work very well, or at all for that matter. I've had several different kinds of rodents, but trying to give them treats never really helped when they were timid.

I wouldn't suggest cornering him to pick him up; if there is room, use both hands and cup them together (not like holding him in a ball in your hand, I mean, make a sort of platform with your hands, so he's standing in the middle of both hands) to pick him up; I've found this method alot more productive.

Hope this helps :)

Answer 6

Yes, elf is right. just give it time. a week is not long enough to the mouse. in a couple weeks or so, he'll be better as long as you are really sweet and don't scare him in the meantime.

Answer 7

hold him alot

Answer 8

Sounds like you are doing everything right - you just need to give it time.  Keep trying to give him treats and hold him gently in your hands.  Create a safe cave for him in your hands, using one hand to cover your other hand, giving him room to move around and a peep hole to peek out.  It's fun.  Enjoy.