A mouse is a very popular pet. In fact, it is considered one of the best beginner pets for both kids and adults.
But in case you’re buying more than one, it would be a good idea to know if you can put them together.
And here’s what I found out –
Mice are social animals but whether they live together or not depends on their surroundings. For example, they live together well in captivity (e.g. house) but not in the wild.
In fact, they are territorial animals in the wild. This is because they protect their habitat from outsiders.
However, there are other reasons for this behavior. Let’s read more to find out!
Table of Contents
Where Do Mice Live Together?
Mice can be found in every environment. They are very adaptable creatures.
They can be found both outdoors and indoors. Mice are nocturnal animals and they tend to shy away from human interactions.
House mice live in small cavities and holes in our house. They have strong enough teeth to make their way through insulation, paper or clothes, and sometimes even cardboard.
In the wild, they are found in dug-out burrows or in tree craters. They mostly live around places that are close to their food sources. They also seek out places that are warm and dry.
Species like deer and house mice build their nests under rocks and stumps. Meadow jumping mice, pocket mice, and woodland jumping mice live in burrows made by other animals.
In winter they either move, dig deeper burrows, and pile them up with vegetation or they take shelter in trees. Mice can sometimes cuddle with other species like squirrels to keep warm in cold seasons.
Do Mice Actually Live Together Indoors?
Yes, house mice can live in a herd with a few males and a large number of females indoors.
On the other hand, wild mice live in a burrow to form a colony of one male and several females.
Mice can form deep bonds with one another. They too have favorites and they cuddle together in winter to keep themselves warm.
They also play together and rest together. Mice are known to communicate with each other through their ‘squeak’ sounds. They also use their touch and scent to speak among themselves.
How Many Mice Are There In A Group?
The number of mice in a nest or a group varies. They can be a dozen to two dozen.
Mice can breed very fast. Female mice can start producing their babies at around six to eight weeks old and they live for two to three years. They can produce as many as ten babies at a time.
The mice in captivity vary from captors to captors. But they all try to make the group small to keep the cage neat. They house at least two mice together to prevent them from feeling stressed and lonely
The mice are predatory and fierce, which is why they can be found in rather small groups.
Can Male Mice Live Together?
Yes, they can but male mice tend to live away from other male mice. They are dominating and reserved animals so they like to have their groups have a minimal number of males.
Wild male mice can live in a group with more than one male but there exists a hierarchy between them. Most of the time the other males are younger mice or the offspring of the group.
The young ones and an adult mouse live together as there is no competition between them at that time. When the young mice mature enough, they leave the nest.
Males can also be grouped together if they are brought up from the same litter. If the males were together from their birth then that shouldn’t be a problem.
Another is that you can pair them with younger mice. But it is to be noted that at no cost there should be a hoard of male mice in an enclosed place.
But what about female mice?
Can Female Mice Live Together?
Fortunately, female mice are less territorial in both the wild and captivity. They do help in keeping their territories safe but female mice can live together with little to no problems.
In the wild female, mice help their group in searching for food and necessities together. They are pretty sociable in nature. They also like each other’s company and warmth.
If more than one female gives birth then they all would help take care of the babies.
The mothers will keep their babies together after spending the initial hours with their babies individually.
In addition, the mothers stay and feed the litter together. Obviously, it is only logical to herd the babies together for their own safety and ease.
As the female mice are the least troublemakers in the group and as they do enjoy each other’s company, they should be kept in a group. Fights in a female-only nest are very rare.
Can I Pair Two Different Species Of Mouse Together?
Putting different races together should be avoided. There is a high chance they would not like living in a shared place at all.
If you absolutely want to raise two types of mice in the same cage then you have to spend a considerable amount of time introducing them.
Here’s what you should do:
- Introduce them slowly and at their own pace.
- Allow them to interact among themselves and get comfortable with each other.
- Put them in a neutral zone for a few days to observe their ways of acting.
*NOTE:
When they feel comfortable around each other only then you should put them in a cage.
Different species who are living together should also be closely supervised to see any changes in attitude or habits.
The Ideal Space Requirement For Mice
Although mice are quite small animals, they require large living spaces like hamsters. Mice should not be put together in a cage in large numbers as this can be unhealthy for them.
- Mice enclosures should allow for a minimum floor area of 250 cm2 (eg.10cmx25cm) for a single-housed mouse.
- The minimum floor area should be 500 cm2 for two mice.
- Ensure a minimum floor area of 60 cm2 per additional adult mouse when mice are housed in larger groups.
- The cage should be high enough that they can stand on their hind legs and can climb.
- This cage should also be divided into places for other activities like going to the bathroom, feeding, playing, and nesting.
Nursing mothers with their litters should be kept in a cage without wires as it’s risky for the ‘pinkies’. They also will need some additional floor area.
Keeping Your Mice Together (What To Do)
Here are 4 things you should do if you are keeping your mice together.
1. Make Sure They Don’t Smell Other Animals On You
Always keep your hands clean before you touch them so you don’t accidentally scare them. After touching another rodent, you should wash your hands before getting to their cage.
If they smell any other species on you, they can become quite alarmed.
2. Give Enough Supply of Food and Toys
A good amount of food and water should be provided for them and some toys to play with. They do not need that much care but their feeding place should be isolated from their playing zone.
You should also contact your veterinary doctor if you notice any changes in their appetite or playfulness.
Mice are active animals so any changes should be reported to a doctor as they may be concerning.
3. Make Sure To Group Them Appropriately
You should also keep this in mind to group them in an organized way so that their territorial instinct is not triggered. Too many male mice together can harm the group as there would be fights over the territory.
To ensure their safety, only one male mouse with female mice is preferred. Alternatively, you can also place young males with them.
4. Keep Females Together
Female mice should always be kept together and separated from male mice as they can breed like crazy.
Conclusion
To sum up, mice may not be the friendliest creature out there but they do make quite an enjoyable pet.
Nonetheless, it’s not like they can help with this odd behavior. They are made to behave this way towards other males. They are mighty animals who defend their nest and groupmates.
You can keep them as pets as long as you don’t mix up the males. You should also remember to separate females and males to stop overbreeding.
Now that you know that mice can live together, what about keeping mice with rats? Read this blog to find out!