Male or Female? One or Several?
You & Spiny Mice
Pet Shop? Breeder?
Choosing the Spiny Mouse
Male and female spiny mice are both perfectly suitable for keeping as pets. With spiny mice, there aren't even too many differences between the two sexes (no distinct boy smell - spiny mice don't have a mousy smell as a species), so the decision is totally up to you. Spiny mice are very social animals, so do not get a single spiny mouse!
There may be difficulties with introducing a new spiny mouse in an established group of females, as the older ones tend to defend their territory. This can be rather aggressive even. Adults may have a hard time accepting any new spiny mouse in their territory. Therefore it is better to house together two young spiny mice at selling age or somewhat older, or introduce a younger spinie to an adult.
Let the spiny mice to meet each others on a neutral ground, a larger show box (plastic tank) will do fine. Watch the situation closely at first and if everything seems to be going fine, leave them to get used to each others.
In the mean time clean the intended new home for the spinies thoroughly, including all the toys, nests, food bowls and water bottle. Change used cardboard boxes and tubes for new ones. Spiny mice recognize their own territories by the smell, so they won't be as eager to chase the newcomer out if the cage does not smell familiar. It is also a good idea to give the spiny mice something very tasty to eat, so they won't necessarily bother fighting each other with all the goodies around. There can be some quarrel when the group reestablishes their "pecking order", but usually everything goes fine.
Hra. Piikki |
Spiny mouse's condition
Always remember to check the condition of the mouse you are buying. Healthy mice are lively, their coats have a healthy shine, their eyes are bright, their spines are in good condition and there is no discharge coming from the nose. The spiny mouse should be clean under the tail and it has to be able to move about with ease. Healthy, level headed spiny mouse does not act aggressively towards you, although some skittishness may be happening before it gets to know you better.
Final words
Please, be a responsible spiny mouse owner!! Do not breed your spiny mice, if you are not certain that you can find good homes for each and every baby you produce. Dumping the babies to a pet shop does NOT qualify as finding good homes! It is highly irresponsible to get a male and female couple to live in the same tank. The result will be large flow of babies and continuous pregnancies are a huge strain on a poor female spiny mouse. You don't want to be called a spiny mouse miller or baby factory and despised by all responsible spiny mouse owners, do you???
It is very easy to avoid unwanted litters of spiny mice. Just keep the males and the females apart. If there is any possibility that someone in your house hold could let the sexes mingle together, get only spiny mice of one sex.
Remember that your spiny mice have only you to provide them with everything. They are your pets and don't care what you look like or if you are in perfect health. It is your responsibility to love your spiny mice what they are as well. Do not dump a spiny mouse in favor of a "better looking one". Get help - and that does mean contact a vet - if there is something wrong with the spiny mouse. All mice are such small creatures that you do need to act quickly. "I'll just see what happens for a few days before I decide on contacting a vet" -attitude literally costs lives.
Well, that's about it! I'll just say:
"Be happy with your little prickly spiny mice!"
Text by Satu Karhumaa with help from the spiny mouse care & feeding information.