Mice are beautiful, inquisitive little pets to keep and they are perfect for kids of all ages. However, to ensure that your mice are healthy and live the longest life possible, you’ll need to feed them a balanced diet. If you’re not sure about what makes a good diet for mice, here’s everything you need to know to get you started.
The easiest way to feed your pet mice is by using a commercially prepared diet such as rodent pellets or grain and seed based mixes. These are completely balanced diets that give your mice all the nutrients that they need to grow and thrive. Look for pellets that contain at least 16 percent protein and around 5 percent fat. The pellets should also be hard so that the mice can gnaw on them. Be careful when feeding grain and seed mixes as mice tend to pick out their favourite parts, getting some nutrients and missing out on others.
Fresh Foods for Mice
While pellets or grain and seed mixes are a great base for your mouse’s diet, you may wish to supplement these with fresh fruits and veggies for your mouse to nibble on. Some suitable fruits and veggies include apples, pears, bananas, melons, stone fruits, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, leafy greens (not iceberg lettuce however) , parsley, berries, fresh corn, peas and beans. Give small amounts of these and watch for diarrhea. If any of these cause diarrhea in your pet mice, stop feeding it to them.
As well, mice can be given special treats but like treats for any other animal, these should be given in small amounts. Such treats include commercial sweet sticks, cooked pasta and rice, breads, cheese, and cereals.
What Not to Feed Mice
While mice are good eaters and will eat just about anything you put in front of them, there are some foods that you should never feed mice. These include raw onion, peanut butter, and human chocolate. Also try not to feed human junk food such as candy and potato chips.
Like any other pet, mice must have constant access to fresh, clean water. You may be able to use a standard water dish but mice can dirty these easily or knock them over, meaning that you have to fill them up and clean them more often. A better choice may be to use an inverted water bottle that clips to the side of the cage. Mice have to push on the bearing inside to get water out, and thus the water stays cleaner and cannot be spilled out.
The Basic Mouse Diet
The easiest way to feed your pet mice is by using a commercially prepared diet such as rodent pellets or grain and seed based mixes. These are completely balanced diets that give your mice all the nutrients that they need to grow and thrive. Look for pellets that contain at least 16 percent protein and around 5 percent fat. The pellets should also be hard so that the mice can gnaw on them. Be careful when feeding grain and seed mixes as mice tend to pick out their favourite parts, getting some nutrients and missing out on others.
Fresh Foods for Mice
While pellets or grain and seed mixes are a great base for your mouse’s diet, you may wish to supplement these with fresh fruits and veggies for your mouse to nibble on. Some suitable fruits and veggies include apples, pears, bananas, melons, stone fruits, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, leafy greens (not iceberg lettuce however) , parsley, berries, fresh corn, peas and beans. Give small amounts of these and watch for diarrhea. If any of these cause diarrhea in your pet mice, stop feeding it to them.
Treat Foods for Mice
As well, mice can be given special treats but like treats for any other animal, these should be given in small amounts. Such treats include commercial sweet sticks, cooked pasta and rice, breads, cheese, and cereals.
What Not to Feed Mice
While mice are good eaters and will eat just about anything you put in front of them, there are some foods that you should never feed mice. These include raw onion, peanut butter, and human chocolate. Also try not to feed human junk food such as candy and potato chips.
Don’t Forget About the Fresh Water
Like any other pet, mice must have constant access to fresh, clean water. You may be able to use a standard water dish but mice can dirty these easily or knock them over, meaning that you have to fill them up and clean them more often. A better choice may be to use an inverted water bottle that clips to the side of the cage. Mice have to push on the bearing inside to get water out, and thus the water stays cleaner and cannot be spilled out.
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