What is a Fancy Mouse?

The domestic mouse—not to be confused with the species you’d find in a field or attic—has been kept as a pet for centuries. A fancy mouse is domesticated, but while all domesticated rats are considered fancy rats, not all domesticated mice are considered fancy mice. A fancy mouse is a domesticated house mouse.

One of your first questions may be, “How long do mice live?” If well cared for, the life expectancy of a pet mouse is typically one to three years, the same as the average fancy mouse’s lifespan. Here’s how to care for these little whiskered fellows.

Purchasing or Adopting a Fancy Mouse

Many pet shops offer mice, though it may be best to find your fancy mouse at a reputable rescue organization or breeder because they often may have tamed the mouse themselves and can usually provide the most thorough information about health history. It’s a good idea to look for a breeder or pet store that separates females and males at a young age, as mice can reproduce as young as six to eight weeks, which isn’t recommended as it dramatically stresses female mice when this happens. To avoid accidentally breeding mice yourself, you’ll also want to make sure to keep males and females apart.

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