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| General Care FAQ for Spiny Mice |
| What is the best bedding? Any bedding will do as long as it's not cedar. Pine should be avoided too although there is some debate on weither pine has any effect on rodent's delicate respitory systems. Sani-Chips, Aspen Shavings, CareFresh, Yesterday's News, CornCob (as long as they don't eat it) and the pellets you feed a wood stove will all do. Some people prefer beddings in which they can dig and hide in while others just want something that keeps the smell down so it's up to you, although I must say spiny mice have no odor what so ever to them.. so long as they're not in utterly filthy cages.. What is the best food? Spiny mice are pretty exotic creatures, they haven't been in captivity for as long as other animals so their diet really isn't known. I feed my spinys a mix of a quaility lab block and a seed mix. However you must make sure the foods you are giving them aren't too rich in calories as they will become obese. If you are breeding spiny mice I have heard of a few breeders who give their females a cricket or two every once in awhile for the extra protein. Rest assured though if you are squeamish this isn't an absolute nessessity. What is the best type of cage? The best type of cage for a spiny mouse in my opinion is the run-of-the-mill aquarium. A ten gallon will be OK for a pair or trio and if you have a larger tank that's fine too. The more space the better! Although these require a wire mesh cover and perhaps even some cage clips to keep the cover on firmly to prevent escape. Spiny mice are fastidious chewers, if you were to put one or more in a plastic enclosure they will chew their way out within the first day or two! Wire cages are OK as long as the bars are 1/2 inch X 1/2 inch or smaller, otherwise they'll squeaze through. Also be cautuous of low cages. Spiny mice can climb and jump really quickly and really high! Do they require any special care you wouldn't give to other rodents? Yes, Spiny mice are voraceous chewers so they'll need something they can chew on. They'll also need a bottle guard and a cage void of plastic. Other then that they require you pick them up by gentley scooping them up rather then picking them up by the tail- if you do pick them up by the tail it will rip right off! So don't even try! |
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