Last updated
8-22-99
1 or More?
It has been brought to
my attention that people are keeping single female mice and rats.
I would like to tell everyone that this is not good. Male mice
will fight when together, and they are used to living alone. Females,
however need at least one other mouse or rat, or you being with
them holding them 2 hours a day. This does not usually fit to
schedule. Here are some examples of single female mice and rats
that were left alone.
Cindy mouse was
brought home as a single mouse. She was brought home at the age
of 3 months. Her owner worked from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM. She was
only able to handle her for five minutes, tops, a day. Most days
she was too tired to even hold her. After having Cindy for one
month, owner Cheryl Hillingway noticed that she was losing fur.
Deciding that she should end with company, Fuchia, another female
mouse, was brought. Cindy grew all her fur back in one week. A
weird coincidence? Or was it that another mouse was ending her
loneliness? Read on.
Tootoo the female
rat was saved from being snake food. The owner owned many rats,
but all were males, and the owner didn't exactly like female rats.
Owner Samuel Wilkens put her in a 20 gallon tank, seperated from
all other rats. Samuel held Tootoo, but not as much as the males
were held. After three months, she started laying down, and wouldn't
even come out for food. A few days later, Samuel had bought what
he thought was a male rat, but it turned out to be female. Soti
was put in with Tootoo, and Tootoo was better the next day. Samuel
turned out to be a great breeder, but had one rule: Rats must
be sold in pairs of at least two. He understood what happened,
do you?
I have unfortunatly heard
many a case of single female mice and rats dying young. Please
do not let this happen to you. My Celeste could have died, if
she was out friends for any longer. So please do not let your
animals suffer! Get them company!
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