A lot of Mouse-related questions. - Page 2

Esmy · 08-08-2014, 11:02 AM

I wonder where to get them? I know of a local guy that's a reptile dealer. Do they have another name? Do you think a male mouse would do ok with one (I assume female is preferred?) or is it still risky?

Thrifty Hamster · 08-08-2014, 11:04 AM

Do you think I can look on a reptile forum and ask if there are any breeders (for feeder mice) in my area? I think that's my best bet, most likely. I can't find any Multimas in my area (South Florida) even in the farther city-populated places, so I'll have to go deeper and post on a forums like a reptial show place... What do you think? I dont mind doing that, but still.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 08-08-2014, 11:07 AM

They have lots of names

African Soft Furred Rats, African Soft Furred Mice, African Soft Furs, Natal Rats, Natal Mice... I'm sure there's another I've heard and can't remember...
I think male mice are generally ok with them but multis do badly alone so its probably best to get a pair of females if you chose to get them - and be careful they're not pregnant, one of the reasons they're popular reptile food is how quickly they breed...

I'm definetly not an expert in this but I think it was discussed fairly recently on micearenice and we do want multis in the future ourselves

That said - I'm sure both of your male mice are ok alone, I know our Peanut and Nuthatch are

Thrifty Hamster · 08-08-2014, 11:07 AM

Considering Mort's circumstances, I'd get only a pair of females as he's a little prince and he'd love having princesses fawn over him. I'm also planning on getting a 40 gallon breeder for the threesome and if they fall out, well I'll have some sort of back up 20-gallon. I just need to find a place as to where to get the dang mice regardless if it's from a feeder supply shop or from a dealer on craigslist...

**kyrilliondaemon** · 08-08-2014, 11:09 AM

I'd definetly make sure you research multis a bit more first but good luck if you do get them

If you do you need to let me see pics please

Edit I have just remembered that you kinda need to be warned that multis can be really really aggressive... And from everything I've heard their bites hurt! They can be tame and friendly but they can also be real little nightmares

Esmy · 08-08-2014, 11:18 AM

Thry can be nightmares and aggressive but live peacefully with other mice? Bipolar mice? lol I think Jerry could be lonely. He wants my attention but doesn't want me to touch him so all I can do is stare. lol That being said, he now blocks the opening to his hideout and has a huge mound of bedding over his food dish. lol Like someone recently came in and robbed him. lol

**kyrilliondaemon** · 08-08-2014, 11:19 AM

lol sorry I meant towards humans. They can either be ok with humans or really aggressive. As far as I know they're usually fine with mice of the opposite gender

lol Jerry does sound brilliant... Bonkers but brilliant

Esmy · 08-08-2014, 11:25 AM

Lol I like that- brilliant and bonkers. I have to agree! Sorry to hijack your thread Thrifty Hamster, but you raised a great question with the companion question in particular.

Thrifty Hamster · 08-08-2014, 11:28 AM

I think I might have found a breeder in my 'area' that sells ASF/Multis! Now, what I would get would be a 'breeder' and tell them strictly to check if their both pregnant or not, as that's a major issue that I'd have with them... This person is about 8 hours away from where I live, but they are in Florida -hooraa- I could always ask them if they could meet me halfway or something, because there's no way mom or dad would agree to meet them the whole eight hour drive. Plus, that's way too stressful on the girlie mice.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ratat...62?sk=timeline

**kyrilliondaemon** · 08-08-2014, 03:37 PM

Er... Before you get too excited it'd be best to make sure you want multis. They're not like normal mice and I thought you didn't want more mice? When Mort is probably completely content alone and multis are 8 hours away I'd probably leave Mort to it. Most male mice are always completely content alone and keeping multiple species together does always have risks associated with it. Male mice don't need females, they just sometimes like the company. Mice can't properly communicate with multis so if he's pretty happy alone its safer and easier to leave him that way

At the very least its best to really research multis, I know if/when we get them we'll be redoing all our research as they will definetly be getting different care to the mice we currently own. I'm not saying don't get them, just a bit concerned as you seem to have gone from not wanting more mice to rushing out to get multis from someone 8 hours away

Esmy - I get your situation a bit better and I know you're not averse to more pets so I'm not trying to discourage it if its really well thought out, just basically saying to everyone to please research them. Nervous mice can improve in time though and introductions can be stressful in their own right. I've just been trying to answer questions, not to give advice one way or the other - the questions just seemed to all run this way lol

I still think Crittery is the place to start with advice on multis, then micearenice did definetly discuss multi/fancy combinations fairly recently so that thread may be another handy place to research further

Personally I'd not put mice together with another species unless I'd really thought it through and was 100% convinced it was best for that exact situation but it does have to be a personal decision. Good luck to anyone with single male mice they're worried about - from everything I've read they will likely settle down happily enough eventually