Pet mice are such lovely little friends, aren’t they? It is such a delight watching them nibble on their food. However, mice have sensitive digestive systems. It is crucial that as a pet owner, you be watchful of what you feed your pet mouse.
Mice are omnivorous. Meats and plants are both fair game in the mouse platter. However, you cannot feed a mouse whatever you get. Mice easily get sick just by food contamination. It is therefore advised that you look up some of the best food to give a pet mouse.
In this article we will explain if and why pet mice can eat hamster food.
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What Do Hamsters Eat?
Generally, if you have a hamster and a mouse as pets, you’d give the mouse some of the hamster food. And it would be okay. However, hamster food sometimes has too much fat content. Foods such as peanuts and sunflower seeds are good for a hamster.
Mice do not do well with high-fat food. It can be detrimental to their well being. This is especially true if you consider the domestic housing of a mouse. Without much activity, they risk a number of body problems.
A hamster’s diet consists of dry pellet food, fruits, and fresh vegetables. However, throw in some protein in there as well. Boiled eggs are great sources of protein. Foods that contain processed sugar are bad for your hamster.
You can replace them with sweet alternatives such as crunchy diced carrot or apples. Always serve the food to your pet hamster in bite-size pieces. They are likely to bite small chunks and only eat a small bit of the food. Their stomachs are not equipped to hold too much food.
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The best food for pet mice
You might be keeping a pet mouse, but that doesn’t mean feeding time has to be boring. It is perfectly safe for a pet mouse to forage for its food in the bedding material of its cage.
You can scatter dry food in the cage. This makes feeding a lot more interesting for the mouse. If you must use bowls, you can use small bowls and place them in separate places.
This is a list of some of the best foods you can feed your pet mouse.
- Pasta, dog biscuits, bread, rice, and cereals. However, be careful with these foods. These are processed and should be served in small quantities. In fact, they should form a small portion of what you give your pet mouse Consider them treats. Mice have a sensitive gastrointestinal system that gets upset very easily.
- Leafy greens such as bok choy, celery, and cabbage. The dental formula and feeding habits of mice demand that you give them crunchy vegetables. Whole raw carrots, broccoli and endives are great options for healthy vegetables your pet can nibble.
- Fresh fruit such as pears, apples, berries, citrus fruits. Citrus fruits that are too acidic will not work well with mice. Mild acid citrus fruits such as tangerine might be better than lemons and oranges.
- Sprouts
- Dry corn. Dry corn is prominent in most mouse diets. However, you need to verify from an expert whether your mouse has an allergy to corn. Most farmed corn has been treated with chemicals meant to keep away rodents. Allergic reactions to maize manifest themselves as dry flaky skin and constipation. Include wheat grain, millet, and oats to make a great dry mix for your little mousie.
- Insects and mealworms. Some pet stores will have packages made for a mouse diet. Mice do feed on insects as well. However, it is best to check with your veterinary specialist to know if your mouse will be affected by such a diet.
- Dairy products such as low-fat milk and cheese are great for a pet mouse.
Bad Food For Your Pet Mouse
Mice are sensitive to food. Additionally, they have a small stomach so their ability to eat large quantities of food is limited. High sugar foods and processed food have as much of an effect on their gastrointestinal systems as humans. Avoid these foods to save you the vet trips and costs.
- Sugary foods such as candy and chocolate
- Raw meat. This is because raw meat can trigger allergic reactions in some mice.
- High acidic foods and fruits. Lemons, onions, and garlic may be good for your sauce or marinade but for your pet mouse, it might lead to stomach upsets.
- Nuts. Nuts can be given in moderation. However, they are high-fat foods and they can bring complications to your furry friend.
- Stimulants such as tea and coffee are a no-no for mice. If you want to make a special drink for your pet mouse, whip up carrot juice or beet juice and mix it with water. Alcohol is also a hard no for your mouse – even as a fun idea.
- Salty food such as potato chips.
Tips On Nutritional Upkeep For Pet Mice
- Water is an important factor in your mouse’s feeding schedule. Make sure you put fresh water in clean water bottles in the cage. Replace the water every 3 to 4 days if the mouse doesn’t take it all. Always wash out the bottles as they can get slimy.
- Clean out food remains frequently. Fresh food goes bad after a few days in the open. This food might be toxic to pet mice. Consider cleaning out the cage to make sure the mouse doesn’t eat anything toxic.
- Most pet stores can make dry mix that is appropriate for mice. If you are unsure of the quantities to make a dry mix, buy ready-mix from a pet store.
- Pellet foods are also available in pet stores. Pellet foods are made to accommodate all the vital minerals and vitamins your pet mouse needs. The size of the pellets also makes it easy for your pet mouse to eat and digest.
Make sure all the food you feed your pet mouse is certified as safe and pesticide-free.
Final Thoughts
There are many suitable foods for your pet mice but choose carefully. These cute and adorable little creatures do have more sensitive stomachs than people know.
Feed them a staple mouse food diet like the ones we recommended below and then add a treat or two along the way.
