Spiny Mice - Related to Grease Balls?

General Health Info
Preventing Obesity
Fat Spinies

This is not a complete "how to" guide for feeding spiny mice, you can read on feeding at the Care and Feeding page, but here's something on the matter.

Spiny mice are really omnivorous animals, it is rare that a spinie turns up its nose to anything closely resembling food. These active little spiny balls also eat relatively much and you should not try to limit their greatest joy, eating. Spinies should be allowed to eat as much as they want, but you should monitor the quality of food. Do not give your spinie fatty food, as the mouse really is (with all respect) related to grease balls and will gain weight pretty fast. Its coat will also literally drip with grease. This problem is common especially with old males, but even young mice and females aren't safe.

Therefore you should rather feed your spiny mice with lab blocks than with seed mix. If you do feed seed mix, select a one with as few sunflower seeds and nuts as possible. You should also add 1 dl of oats to 1 l of seed mix (1/10 parts of oats to 10/10 parts of seed mix). Oat is a good supplement to lab blocks as well, as spinies eat them eagerly and get the energy they need for their active life style.

What you should avoid, then? I already mentioned sunflower seeds and nuts. Even though it is a good thing to give dog or cat food every now and then, do not overdo it or choose a lighter brand. Also, do not mix vegetable oils in the porridges you make for your mice, even though they would love it. Cheese or fatty meat do not fit the spiny mice well either.

Do avoid all fatty and prefer all versatile diets, lots of it. And remember: a small amount of fat does not ruin the beauty of your spiny mouse, so do not remove all good things from its life.

On to Fat Spinies.

Text: Tiina Andersin.