Alston's singing mouse, or Scotinomys teguina, is a unique species found in the cloud forests of Central America, known for its impressive vocal repertoire of nearly 100 notes. These mice are not only interesting for their musical abilities, but also for their specific care requirements. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the diet and care needs of singing mice, ensuring their health and well-being in a captive environment.
Understanding Alston's Singing Mouse
Alston’s singing mice are unique because they are known to “sing”. Their musical displays often occur when battling over territory, while males and females serenade each other during courtship. Each creature’s pattern of chirps is unique.
Housing
Singing mice require specific housing arrangements to thrive. Due to their territorial and sometimes aggressive nature, each mouse needs to be housed separately with its own resources.
Habitat Requirements
A suitable habitat for a singing mouse should be at least 12 x 12 x 12 inches, with multiple levels to encourage activity and exploration. The habitat should be placed out of direct sunlight in a low-humidity area with a temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 Celsius).
Bedding
The bottom of the habitat should be lined with at least 1 or 2 inches of paper bedding or wood shavings, except cedar shavings, which are not recommended. Spot-clean the bedding frequently and change it entirely at least monthly. Natural-born burrowers, mice enjoy building nests out of shredded paper, hay, and straw.
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Enrichment
A mouse habitat should include hide houses where mice can play and chew. Every mouse needs at least one hiding space in their habitat for privacy. Daily exercise is vital to a mouse’s overall health. In addition to hide-houses, provide exercise wheels and other forms of mental stimulation. Due to their active nature, singing mice also require specialized exercise equipment.
Diet
A balanced diet is crucial for the health and longevity of singing mice.
Basic Diet
Fancy mice enjoy a mixed menu of pellets, vegetables, and fruit. A nutritious and well-balanced mouse diet consists of high-quality rodent lab blocks or pelleted food that’s formulated especially for mice. Pellets should make up 75% of their diet. The food bowl should be kept three-quarters full and refreshed daily.
Supplemental Foods
In addition to pellets, supplement the diet with fresh foods. Feed mice dark leafy greens every other day, and apple, banana, or melon once a week. Fruits and vegetables should always be cut into small, bite-sized pieces before serving.
Treats
Singing mice also enjoy treats like fresh mealworms, dry cat food, and fruit.
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Foods to Avoid
Avoid feeding mice chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol, as these are toxic and can cause death or serious illness. Because fruits are naturally high in carbohydrates, excess fruits in a mouse’s diet can upset their gastrointestinal tract and may cause obesity.
Water
Mice should have access to fresh, clean water at all times. Give your mice their water in bottles with metal sipper tubes and check them every day for leaks and blockages. Change the water regularly and clean the bottle and nozzle properly each time.
General Care
Handling
Try not to handle mice for 3 to 4 days while they adjust to their new home. Even after they are settled in, mice can get sick. Mice can be skittish and excitable until they are properly socialized and acclimated to their environment. Patience is key when handling mice. Never grab a mouse by their tail or squeeze their body. Thoroughly wash your hands before contact with your mouse. Use caution when handling mice, and remember they may bite or scratch, especially when stressed. Never grab your mouse by the fur or tail. Supervise children around pets.
Hygiene
Mice are clean animals that groom themselves regularly and rarely need baths, but pet parents can spot-clean them by using a damp washcloth or unscented baby wipes, as needed. Pet parents should spot-clean their mouse’s bedding daily, removing any soiled material and uneaten food. The bleach solution should stay on the habitat for at least 10 minutes to ensure that the surfaces are properly disinfected.
Health Monitoring
Mice should be examined by a veterinarian a few times a year. Bring food and water in the carrier. Hair loss, decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, sunken eyes, and loose stools can all be signs of underlying health issues. If a mouse’s nails begin to curl, or if they start leaving scratches on themselves during self-grooming, they should be taken to a veterinarian for trimming. Mice teeth turn orange yellow color as they age.
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Signs of Illness
Contact a veterinarian or a PetSmart store associate if you notice any of the following signs: cloudy, sunken, or swollen eyes; diarrhea or discolored droppings; weight loss; not eating or drinking normally; sneezing; discharge from the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Socialization
When properly socialized, mice can make wonderful and engaging small pets, but they do require daily care to keep them tame and content. Some mice enjoy being held, but many prefer to spend time exploring when they are allowed out of their enclosures.
Wild Mice
Precautions
If you have found a lost baby mouse, you may be inclined to take care of it. Although it is a lot of work, nursing a baby mouse to health can be done effectively. Ensure that the nest has been abandoned. If you come across a nest with no mother, you cannot immediately determine that she is gone for good. You may have simply frightened her or she may be out looking for food. Leave the nest (and mice) alone and check again later. Try not to disturb the nest. The very best way to prevent the spread of germs from your mouse is to wash your hands after you touch it. Before washing your hands, avoid touching your mouth, eyes, or any part of your face. If you live in a region that is prone to ticks, be sure you check your mouse for ticks regularly (at least once a week).
Handling Baby Mice
Baby mice are small and docile, and must be handled with care. They should not squirm much, but you must still grasp them firmly when feeding to prevent falls. Baby mice would ordinarily drink milk from their mother. Instead, you are going to need to provide that “milk” to your baby mouse. Avoid cow's milk. Your baby mouse is going to need to eat around the clock until it opens its eyes. For very young mice (0-2 weeks old), you must do this every two hours. After this, they only need to eat every 3-4 hours. Warm up the milk. When your mouse’s eyes are open, it can begin to eat some solid food. Stimulate the mouse to help it go to the bathroom. Baby mice cannot urinate or defecate on their own. Normally, the mother would lick them to encourage them to eliminate. After a meal, dip a cotton ball or your finger in warm water. You will need some kind of enclosure to house your baby mouse. That first night, you might begin with just a shoebox containing a kitchen towel. However, if you plan to make this mouse your pet, you will need something more permanent. You must also clean the cage once a week. If your mouse were in the wild, it would cuddle with its mother and siblings. Place a heat source in one part of the cage. Use a hot water bottle wrapped in towels or put a heating pad under one half of the cage. Mice need to exercise quite a bit, they need things to chew on, and they crave mental stimulation. Although transmission rates are rather low, wild mice can carry diseases which could make you sick. Perform an internet search to determine the level of risk in your area. Take precautions to protect yourself. Wash your hands.
Feeding Baby Mice
Yes. Baby mice can be fed liquid puppy formula, such as Esbilac. If you have found a mouse with fur, but it is very small, it is still a baby. Baby mice usually get a full fur coat by 10 days old and their eyes open about 12 to 15 days. Beyond that, it is difficult to determine the age of an adult wild mouse.
Preventing Infestations
The quickest way to draw mice into your home is by providing abundant food sources for them to feast on. Mice and rats definitely have a sweet tooth, making fruits and berries desirable food sources for these little rodents. Similarly, keep an eye on your fruit trees and avoid leaving fallen apples or pears on the ground. You may not have a mouse or rat as a pet, but that won’t stop them from being drawn in by dog food in your kitchen or garage. If you have a dog, cat, or other pet, keep bags of pet food sealed tight and even stored indoors rather than in your garage, which can already be a common attractive location for pests. Another rodent classic, anything small and nibble-worthy is sure to attract mice and rats to your home. Although mice prefer nuts and seeds for their protein, rats can be notorious meat lovers. To keep the smell of meats out of your house, avoid leaving skillets and pans covered in leftover meat scraps and fats. Instead, wash them thoroughly and dispose of fats properly. A tidy home is a pest-free home, so keep your kitchen clean! Be careful leaving food in cardboard packaging in your garage or even the pantry, as mice can easily chew through thin cardboard packaging and plastic bags. If you’ve seen the signs of a mice infestation in your home, don’t try to get rid of them on your own!