Mouse Help Urgent!!?

Question

Heya, to cut a long story short, we bought a new rat cage, the seller said we could come and pick it up from his shed, when we got there there was also a mouse in a small cage in the shed, he said he didn't want it and we could have it for £5. Obviously, I rescued the poor thing because I was worried what would happen to him if I didn't and now I've got him home, given him a full clean out am fostering him for a week before one of my more mice-experienced friends is going to adopt him.

I just have a few questions to make sure he is well looked after during this week as I'm really a rat person and I've never had a mouse before.

He's a male mouse, and before we cleaned him he stank. How often will I have to give him a full clean out so that he doesn't get that smelly again?

He's completely unhandleable and it took me 10 minutes and a bite to get him out of the cage to clean it. I was trying to pick him up like I normally pick up mice to support him and make him feel safe, but he wasn't having any of it and it really stressed him out. I know I could get him out much easier and quicker if I picked him up by the base of his tail - can you do this with mice or will it hurt him?

What is the best way to try and start getting him more tame and trusting? I know after mentioning the tail thing, this seems very contradictory but obviously I don't intend to pick him up by the base of his tail all of the time, it's just that I though that would be kinder in stead of chasing him for 10 minutes just to clean out his cage.

Thanks for any help on this!

Answer 1

I'm guessing this mouse is a wild field mouse since you did mention it was in a shed, i don't think your going to get tame this one unless it was a little baby.(if it was that young you couldn't tell the s*x of it)

As for cleaning a cage, i would say once a week would be sufficent. As for picking it up from its tail. this will cause no harm to him what so ever & it will help you from being bit.

Which brings me to my next comment, if this mouse is indeed a wild animal, it could be carrying a disease or mites, etc.

Please be careful. If this is a wild mouse, personally you should find a nice secluded area to set him free because wild animals will sometime die due to stress of not being in their element. It's one thing to try to help an injured or orphaned wild animal/bird & then re-release it.

Think about it, this little guy was born free and he will probibly be alot happier being free.  

Answer 2

Your not supposed to give your mouse a bath because it could catch a cold. You can buy wipes at pet stores to clean them.

If you want to handle him you can put gloves on until he feels safe in your hands. He will bite you but it wont hurt so much. If he only bites when you pick him up, you could gently scoop him into a cup and then hold him.

It takes a while to tame them. Part of taming them is just holding them and giving them treats in your hand. He should learn that your hand is not a bad thing and he gets treats when he's held.