Subspecies: M. m. molossinus = Japanese dwarf mouse. The Japanese mouse is an unusual dancing rodent. The domestic Japanese mouse can be given fermented baked milk.

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• Class: Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758 = Mammals Subclass: Theria Parker et Haswell, 1879
• = Viviparous mammals, true animals Infraclass: Eutheria, Placentalia Gill, 1872
• = Placental, higher animals
• Order: Rodentia Bowdich, 1821 = Rodents
• Family: Muridae Gray, 1821 = Mouse

Subspecies: Mus musculus molossinus = Japanese dwarf mouse

• Subspecies: Mus musculus molossinus = Japanese dwarf mouse
• Read: Essay on the House Mouse

Go to the section table of contents: Keeping house (white) mice Japanese dwarf mice are a subspecies of the house mouse. Japanese dwarf mice live in Southeast Asia and Japan. In the wild they are smaller in size than normal house mouse

. Initially, in Japan, these mice began to be bred in Japan as food for small snakes, and were also used as laboratory animals. During the selection process in laboratories, even smaller individuals with a black and white spotted color appeared. Japanese dwarf mice not only have an interesting color, but also a very friendly disposition, they are unpretentious in their maintenance, which is very important - Japanese dwarf mice have practically no smell, unlike ordinary decorative mice. All this was the reason that Japanese dwarf mice soon became a favorite species of pets not only in their homeland, but also in many other countries of the world. Thus, Japanese

Japanese dwarf mice, like other rodents, can be kept individually or in groups, which will be better for them. It should be remembered that when forming a group, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of inter-gender interactions. So, usually one male and two females or one female, as well as just two females, or just one male, get along well together. If two males find themselves in the same territory, then sooner or later they will definitely begin to organize regular fights for territory - even until the death of one of them.

The positive aspect of keeping one male is that a lonely animal can be tamed much more easily if desired. Therefore, if you want to get yourself a mouse as a toy, to play with it, and not to observe the behavior of mice from the outside, then this option will be optimal.

To keep Japanese dwarf mice quite suitable plastic terrarium e, covered with a fine metal grate on top. It is advisable to pour medium-fraction sawdust onto the bottom of the terrarium, which will have to be completely or partially changed 1-2 times a week, depending on the number of inhabitants. And since Japanese dwarf mice are very active and mobile, it is necessary to install inside them: a wheel, a snag with ladders and ropes, i.e. everything that will satisfy their need for movement, i.e. with which they could climb, jump and climb somewhere. A house for resting mice is also needed in the terrarium. A piece of a flower pot or a special ceramic or wooden house is suitable as a convenient shelter; you can also take half a coconut.

Japanese dwarf mice do not tolerate both cold and heat, drafts and bright light. When choosing a place for a terrarium in a room, this must be taken into account. Optimal temperature for keeping these mice – 20-22 degrees.

Japanese dwarf mice have an intense metabolism, so they eat quite often, but little by little, so you should not overfeed them. On average, one Japanese mouse eats about one teaspoon of food per day. It is best to feed once a day. And the basis of their diet mainly consists of whole grain cereals. Hard whole grains, in addition to the necessary nutrients and beneficial substances, allow these rodents to grind down their constantly growing incisor teeth. Corn, oats, millet, sorghum, and pumpkin seeds are suitable as feed. Sunflower seeds, due to their high fat content, should be given in small quantities, as they quickly make mice fat. It is also necessary to give mice vegetables (beets, carrots, zucchini), fruits (apples), various green herbs ( green salad, cilantro, green onions, parsley, leaves and shoots of burdock, leaves of dandelions, plantain, yarrow, honey, etc.). Protein food (chopped pieces of boiled meat, liver, boiled egg white, or low-fat cottage cheese) is included in the diet of dwarf mice once a week. A mineral stone should also be present in the cage, and white or black crackers and banana chips can be given as treats.

Japanese dwarf mice belong to one of the subspecies of the house mouse and have much in common with decorative mice. But anyone who has seen this small, nimble creature at least once will never again compare it with its wild relative.

Japanese dwarf mice are native to Southeast Asia and Japan. In Japan, these mice were used as laboratory animals.

So you saw an adorable miniature black and white mouse and fell in love? Don’t rush to buy a baby right away, think about whether you can provide her with decent housing, do you have enough time to communicate with her? Have you decided yet? Then a few rules that will make your mouse’s life happier.

Who should I buy?

If you do not have a nursery and are not called a breeder, then you have only three options:

• One female. The mouse may well live alone, but in this case you should devote at least a little time to it. After all, mice are social animals, and they need communication.
• One male. Males in Japanese mice are defenders of territory. Two males will not get along together; there will be fights, which can even end in the death of one of the males.
• Several females. Females are friendlier creatures than males. Very often, several females live peacefully in one territory.

Remember that mixed sex groups are only suitable for breeders. There is nothing good in the constant reproduction of mice; it has a bad effect on the health of mothers and babies.

House for a mouse

It is most convenient to keep Japanese mice in a plastic terrarium, since these animals are afraid of drafts and are unusually flexible. For a couple of mice, a regular terrarium measuring 41x32xx22 cm will be enough.

A cage is also a convenient option, but when choosing it, make sure that there are no holes larger than 0.5 cm anywhere, otherwise your mouse will wander around the apartment.

It’s good if there is a “training complex” in the terrarium or cage: various ladders, sticks, shelves - all this will not go to waste, because mouse energy is inexhaustible.

It’s great if the terrarium already has a running wheel. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have it—such wheels can be purchased separately.

At the bottom of the terrarium you need to pour sawdust (middle fraction) or special granulated wood or corn filler. You can change them every two or three days, or once a week - this is how often you need to do general cleaning. Mice have a specific smell, so you shouldn’t clean them less often.

There must be a house where the mice will make a nest. Pet stores sell ready-made ceramic and wooden houses. Pick some pieces toilet paper or white napkins (just not cotton wool - it sticks to the skin and can wrap around the animal’s paw or neck) and scatter all this stuff around the terrarium - the mice themselves will find how to use it in their household.

Where to put the terrarium? The place for the terrarium should not be too lit; It shouldn't be too warm or too cold here. Window sills and places near central heating, as well as loggias and balconies are excluded.

Feed

Mice have a very intense metabolism, so they need constant reinforcement. However, you should not overfeed the animals. The mice are fed once a day.

You can't feed mice human food! The main diet of Japanese mice, like any other mice, is whole grain. It is also useful because it allows you to grind teeth, and this is vital for rodents. Nowadays there are a lot of ready-made grain feeds for rodents on sale. Experiment with different foods, see which mice eat completely, and which ones not so much.

Mice need vegetables, fruits and herbs. Rodents eat beets, carrots, apples, zucchini, green salad, green and onion, parsley, regular green grass(wheatgrass), leaves and shoots of burdock, leaves of dandelion, plantain, honey, etc. The exception is white cabbage, which can cause fermentation in the stomach and intestines, and starchy vegetables such as potatoes. You can give corn, but in limited quantities, just like tomatoes.

Once a week you need to give it to the animals protein food- carefully chopped pieces of boiled meat, liver, hamarus, shrimp, or the white of a boiled egg, or low-fat cottage cheese.

Mineral stone is an important addition to the diet, as it enriches your mouse’s body with calcium and phosphorus, and in addition, gives it the opportunity to grind down its teeth. A rodent's incisors grow throughout its life, and if for some reason it cannot grind them down, it will die.

Mice can be fed with regular unboiled filtered water. It is most convenient to use an automatic drinker. A ball-type one is best, because nipple ones are a bit heavy for such little ones. The drinking bowl is hung outside or inside the terrarium. Be careful when removing the drinker - never forget to plug the opened gap in the wall of the terrarium. And one more thing: always fill the drinking bowl completely! It is advisable to change the water in the drinking bowl every three days. From time to time you need to rinse the drinking bowl to prevent blue-green algae from growing on its walls.

Communication with mice

Mice are very energetic and sociable animals. We must always remember this.

There are many ways to amuse restless animals: hang ropes or rope ladders, put a running wheel, put an intricately shaped piece of driftwood or a regular toilet paper roll. A lattice cage or terrarium with a lattice lid provides another way to have fun: you can walk around upside down on the lattice!

Tame mice gradually: before adding the usual portion of food, offer them a seed, oatmeal or other treat. Your movements should be smooth and soft. At first, the mice will shy away from your fingers: in this case, leave the seed and remove your hand. In a few days, curiosity will surely take its toll. The main thing is not to rush. It is very important to talk to the mice, let them get used to your voice. Talk to the mouse quietly, affectionately. Tell him that you admire his courage, intelligence and beauty. And soon you will have a true devoted friend!

Maria Kartashova, city Nizhny Novgorod, nursery "Khomushki". Photo by the author

Despite the fact that zoologists claim that the Japanese dwarf mouse belongs to a subspecies of the common house mouse, everyone who has at least once seen this small, nimble animal would never look for similarities with its undomesticated relatives. These exotic babies come from Japan and Southeast Asia. But if you saw this charming creature in a pet store and fell in love with it, don’t rush to buy it. First, consider whether you can provide your exotic guest with everything she needs for a comfortable life, will you have time to communicate with her? And if you are still determined to have a tiny, cute family member, then a few tips will not hurt you.

How to choose a Japanese dwarf mouse?

So, the first question is who exactly to buy. If you are not a breeder and you don’t have a nursery, you have only three options for purchasing mice. Option one - you can buy one female. Japanese mouse can live outside the company of representatives of its species. But in this case, you will have to take into account that she is a social animal, which means that you will have to make up for the lack of her communication. Option two - you can buy one male. Under no circumstances should you buy two males - despite their tiny stature, they are still defenders of the territory and will constantly sort things out among themselves. Such incidents can lead to the death of one of the animals. Option three - you can have several females. Girl mice are more friendly and can coexist quite peacefully in the same cage. Please note that if you purchase a mixed-sex group, you risk soon turning into a breeder of dwarf mice; moreover, constant reproduction is bad for the health of both adults and small mice.

Japanese mouse care, terrarium. Building a house for a mouse

So, we have chosen a pet, now it’s time to take care of his house. It is most convenient to use plastic in this role. terrarium– these mice are unusually flexible and are very afraid of drafts. If you purchased two or three Japanese crumbs, it is enough if the size of the terrarium is 41x32x22 centimeters. A cage would also be a good option, as long as its bars are not spaced more than half a centimeter apart. Otherwise, you risk looking for a mouse throughout the apartment. It would be nice to install all sorts of ladders, shelves, sticks, etc. in the terrarium. – believe me, the energy of mice is truly endless. The bottom of the mouse house should be covered with sawdust, corn or wood filler. But general cleaning in the mouse house needs to be done at least once a week. And one more thing - the terrarium must have a “house within a house” - a place where your pets will make a nest for themselves. Such a house can be bought at any pet store.

Feeding Japanese dwarf mice

You need to feed mice once a day. Just under no circumstances offer your kids what you eat yourself. Like other mice, Japanese babies prefer whole grains. Today, purchasing such food is not a problem; experiment with the diet, observe which food your pets will eat “clean up” and which they will leave. Don't forget about vitamins - these cute rodents love apples, carrots, beets, green salad and zucchini. IN summer season You can offer your little ones dandelion leaves, burdock shoots, wheatgrass, etc. Once a week you will have to feed the animals with protein food - boil and thoroughly grind hamarus, boiled meat, liver, egg white.

Taming Japanese mice

And don’t forget that mice are sociable and energetic animals. And if they “leave” excess energy on the wheel or ladders, then you will have to solve the issue of communication together. Accustom your animals to yourself, talk to them as much as possible, and your pets will become your friends.

Today you can often see various animals in apartments. Some people get cats, others - dogs. There are people who choose rodents. Some people have chinchillas at home, Guinea pigs and decorative mice.

The latter will be discussed in our article. There is a white and a gray mouse. You can also find rodents with more original colors, for example, spotted.

Japanese mouse: description of the species

These mice were first bred in Japan as food for small snakes. But thanks to their friendly disposition, interesting color and unpretentiousness in keeping, they were soon made another type of pet. The Japanese decorative mouse has become popular not only in its own country, but also in many other countries.

What is this animal? A small mouse measuring four centimeters. The weight of the animal is 6 grams. The fur is white, chaotically decorated with black spots, which make the rodent look like a Dalmatian. Animals' markings are all different, they are usually bizarre in shape. The peculiarity of these mice is that they do not smell.

It is necessary to line the bottom with sawdust. They should be changed twice a week. The optimal temperature for keeping these rodents is 21 degrees.

Should you feed mice? pumpkin seeds, fruits, corn, oats, millet, burdock leaves, cilantro, fruits, plantain, parsley and others.

Once a week you need to give protein food. It can be low-fat cottage cheese, a piece of boiled meat or an egg (hard-boiled). Hang the mineral stone in the cage.

Baby mice

It is not only the smallest rodent, but also the smallest mammal on Earth. The weight of the beast is eight grams. The rodent's body length does not exceed seven centimeters.

Such mice are perfect for keeping in a cage with small cells (no more than five millimeters). These rodents practically do not emit a specific odor. Mice should have clay or glass plates in their cage. Rodents feed on grain and cereal feed.

Also add greens, vegetables and fruits to your diet. Sometimes give rodents lean meat, ground into minced meat.

Cottage cheese and White bread occasionally it is worth adding to the diet of mice.

Gerbil

These rodents are well suited for keeping in an apartment. Gerbils are more active during daylight hours. They are easy to train and do not treat people aggressively.

The natural habitat is deserts and semi-deserts. In appearance it resembles a jerboa, thanks to its elongated hind limbs and tail with a tassel at the end.

Rodents reproduce very well and are not picky about food.

The cage for a gerbil should be metal, measuring 40x50 cm or more.

The rodent should be fed legumes, herbs, and cereals. They also consume hay and branches of soft trees (poplar, willow and others). Sprouted grains are beneficial for the gerbil. The rodent also loves vegetables, berries and fruits, not only fresh, but also dry. Sometimes give your gerbil fermented milk products, cottage cheese, mealworms, dry gammarus and more. readily eaten by rodents.

Tubular bones of farm animals and chalk should be used for mineral feeding of pets. There must be water in the cage at all times.

Gerbils have movable front legs, so they often use them when eating food for convenience.

From the end of winter until late autumn, these rodents breed. There are up to five cubs in one litter. But, unfortunately, not everyone survives. The gestation period of such an animal is 23 days. After the birth of the babies, it is not necessary to remove the male.

At the age of twelve days, babies already begin to eat on their own. During this period, they also continue to feed on mother's milk.

Spiny mouse

Decorative pets have become popular relatively recently. These rodents have captured the hearts of people. They are sociable and quickly get used to people, especially those who care for them. They are unpretentious in captivity and care. What is such an animal? The spiny mouse is a cross between a gerbil, a hedgehog and a jerboa. The eyes of these animals are large and beautiful. The whole body is covered with fluffy fur, and there are real needles on the back.

This feature is the reason why these decorative mice were called spiny mice. The body length is on average 10 cm, and the tail is 9 cm. The face of this rodent is very cute. The lower part of the mouse’s body is covered with white hair, and on top there are needles of yellow, dark sulfur or reddish-brown color.

You should put a house in the cage, the mice will rest in it. You should also place climbing shelves and ladders in the cage.

These rodents need to be given branches deciduous trees. There are no special features regarding nutrition. They eat everything that other decorative mice do.

White house (laboratory) mouse

These rodents have long lost wildlife. IN Lately they are very often found among people as pets. Their mass maintenance began about 125 years ago. These rodents are sociable and unpretentious in care.

It is best for a white mouse to get used to a person if you purchase a month-old rodent. After purchasing it, you need to pick it up and play with it more often. These rodents are highly trainable.

Feeding is not difficult, they eat a variety of rodent foods. White mouse eats greens, vegetables, cereals. Never give your rodents fried or fatty foods. It is useful to supplement the diet with mealworms or other invertebrates.

For growing incisors, you need to add twigs of shrubs or stone fruit trees and crackers to the diet of young animals.

The duration of pregnancy in a rodent of this species is approximately twenty days. The female brings about seven babies, although there are more. B can give birth to approximately ten litters.

Rodents must live in a cage. There must be a house in it. It is also advisable to install a wheel or additional accessories for games. The optimal temperature for keeping is twenty degrees.

House gray mouse

In addition to white mice, there are also gray mice. They are also a subspecies of domestic ones. A gray mouse weighs about thirty grams on average, and its body length is about ten centimeters. The length of the tail of this mouse is 10 cm. The rodent's fur is hard. The coloring is monochromatic.

Lifespan

How long do they live? decorative mice? It is impossible to answer this question precisely. Because it depends on many factors. On average, it is two to three years.

Conclusion

Now you know what types of decorative mice there are. We looked at different breeds. We also touched on the topic of keeping and feeding these small rodents. We hope that our article was useful to you.

Wild past
Babies come from South-East Asia and Japan. The breed was not bred artificially; its popularity was rather a gift of fate. In the wild, they are somewhat smaller than a house mouse, much cleaner and lighter, and most importantly, they are easily tamed, peaceful and feel great in captivity. It is due to these features that these mice were used as laboratory animals in Japan. And it was there that such characteristics as small size and black and white spotted color were established.
Then, sadly, the babies gained popularity as food for small snakes.
It was only much later that mice were appreciated as wonderful pets.
The miniature mouse, measuring 4-7 cm and weighing 6-6.5 g, has great charm. The white fur is decorated with black spots, which make the mouse look like a tiny Dalmatian. These spots are very individual for each mouse, like fingerprints for a person, and take on their own bizarre and unique shape. From common mouse it is distinguished by its smaller size and elongated head and unusually soft, silky fur.
The mice were called “dancing” for their mobility and jumping ability (by the way, they jump very high for their size!). The “unusuality” is due to the fact that they often make jumps leaning on their tail. Their movements are fast and at the same time smooth, varied and even graceful. Unlike a hamster, which usually either eats or sleeps, Japanese mice are very dynamic, inquisitive and spend a significant portion of their time moving. If they are not exploring the areas of their cage for the hundredth and thousandth time or are not climbing its walls up and down, then they are doing the toilet, combing and smoothing the fur with their paws and washing their faces.

Mouse care
Any mouse is looking for a hole. Everyone knows this. Mice feel more comfortable in enclosed spaces. This should not be forgotten, and you should take care of a “roof over your pet’s head” in advance.
The mouse's house should be clean, dry and warm, but not hot. You should not place it near a window or near a radiator, as mice are afraid of drafts and bright light: animals can easily catch a cold or overheat. Never leave the mouse's house open window in winter! The optimal temperature for mice is 19-22 °C.
It should be taken into account that mice are small, and a cage must be chosen with a very fine mesh. And if little mice appear, then even the smallest mesh will not be an obstacle to them. That's why best choice There will be a plastic terrarium. Pet stores sell ready-made terrariums with a house where Japanese mice can rest - with a food bowl, a running wheel, and a drinking bowl. If you bought the terrarium empty, you can purchase all the accessories separately. Caring for mice is not difficult at all. It is necessary to change the bedding 1-2 times a week, depending on the size of the “house” and the number of mice. Bedding materials are sold in pet stores. The best ones are those made from compressed sawdust.
You can buy special toys for your mouse, but you can also make them yourself. The rope net will help the mouse practice acrobatic tricks, maintaining balance with the help of its tail. Even a cardboard tube of paper towels will come in handy. It is easy and fun to climb. The mouse wheel is a fun simulator!

Guarantee of health
Despite their miniature size, mice have excellent health and an enviable life expectancy for such babies - 2.5-3 years.
But still, some attention should be paid to the health of the pet. The problem for any rodent is teeth. Incisors grow throughout life. In addition, your pets need minerals.
It is recommended to put a mineral stone in the mouse’s terrarium, which contains phosphorus and calcium, and in addition, it gives the mouse the opportunity to grind down its teeth.
This breed is characterized by hereditary pathology of the cerebellum, which is expressed in impaired coordination of movements. This does not cause suffering to mice, however, if this happens, it is better not to use the animal for breeding, so as not to perpetuate this pathology. Unfortunately, the mouse will not be able to complain to you about its illnesses. To determine the health status of an animal, you must first pay attention to its appearance. Your mouse should be well-fed, with shiny eyes and clean, smooth fur. The animal must move freely and show interest in food and surroundings. If the mouse hides in a corner, closes its eyes or moves uncertainly, this is a sign of ill health.

Character and habits
If you decide to get yourself a Japanese mouse, then you should think about how it will live and... with whom.
An animal may well live alone, but a mouse is a social animal, and it needs communication, including with its owner. And if you decide to get two, three or more mice, then you need to take into account some biological aspects. Males are defenders of the territory, with all the ensuing consequences: conflicts, fights, which can lead to serious injuries. So several males will have difficulty getting along. As for the females, they are calmer; there should be no problems with living together, but, of course, sometimes small “squabbles” are possible. If you place two individuals of different sexes together, then you can easily prepare to open a nursery or simply distribute babies. IN natural environment A triad is more common - two females and one male. You need to know this too.
So remember: communication is very important for Japanese mice. Animals quickly get used to humans and compete for his attention. It is important to understand the “peculiar” language in which the mice are “explained”. Through special sounds, animals can express the entire range of their emotions: satisfaction, displeasure, aggression, fear or specific territorial behavior.

Comments

It so happened that from childhood I remember how birds lived in our house. These were budgies, goldfinches and canaries. I especially remember the canary Kesha, incredibly smart, he lived with us for a long time and, in fact, became a full member of the family. Kesha usually woke up early and woke up the whole family with his songs. And even if they tell me that his voice was too loud, even if he rather annoyed adults then, for me, waking up to the song of a canary became synonymous with home comfort.