Wondering what do mice eat? Please keep reading.
The dietary requirements of each and every creature is significantly different. Hence, it is very important to develop a clear idea regarding these concepts before looking after any animals or reptiles.
Some people might keep mice as pets. In addition to that, these creatures are also used in the research labs for studying different aspects of science such as physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, etc. It is very important to take good care of these animals, and hence, the caregivers might wonder what do mice eat.
If you feed the animals food items that are inappropriate for them, then it might make them fall ill. Sometimes, it can also lead to their death. So, make sure you are giving due attention to such vital things before feeding these animals.
In most cases, you will be provided a diet chart from the vet’s office, and you need to follow that properly. In the case of any doubts, you must make everything clear before leaving the vet’s place. Thereby, you will be able to look after these animals very easily at your home, or the labs. So, without wasting further time, let’s take a look at the food that can be given to the mice.
Know what do mice eat..
If you are thinking about bringing mice home, then you might be extremely curious regarding what to feed them. Giving random food items on the basis of invalid assumptions is not at all recommended. As we have already mentioned, certain food stuff can cause severe allergic reactions, and irritations.
- Some fruits and vegetables
When it comes to mice, you can definitely offer some fruits and vegetables to them. You will be able to find a wide variety of options such as strawberries, broccoli, curly kale, etc. You can simply take some pieces of fruits and vegetables from your platter, and then offer it to your pet mice.
- Pulses and cereals
Mice love eating different varieties of pulses and cereals, and hence, you can try incorporating some pulses and cereals into their daily diet.
- Boiled eggs
You can always give boiled eggs to the mice, but make sure that you are giving the eggs in small amounts.
- Pasta
Some people also give pasta to their mice. You can give both raw, as well as cooked pasta to the mice.
- Fresh mealworms
You can definitely give your mice one or two mealworms at a time. If your dry food already contains these, then you can give it a skip.
- Dried herbs
Giving dried herbs to your mice can be quite beneficial, and you will be able to find a number of amazing mixtures from the pet stores. Most people often go with the mountain and garden mix.
- Apple wood
You can give them apple wood, or any other fruit tree wood to gnaw on.
- Dog biscuits
If you want, you can also give your mice dog biscuits like gravy bones.
Foods to avoid in the case of mice
The people who are wondering what do mice eat might also want to know about the food stuff that must be avoided in the case of mice. It is very important to keep these food items in your mind, and avoid giving it to your mice at all times.
- Grapes and raisins
Both grapes and raisins are not good for the mice, and hence, you should avoid these items while offering fruits to the mice.
- Chocolate, coffee, and tea
Some people might think about giving chocolates to their pet mice as a treat. But, this should totally be avoided as intaking these food stuff can cause severe reactions in the mice.
- Avocado, onion, and garlic
Avocado, onion and garlic can be extremely toxic for the mice, and hence, you should avoid feeding your mice these items.
- Rhubarb
Rhubarb is also something that should be totally avoided when feeding your mice.
- Alcohol
This might sound a bit silly, as nobody will try to feed their pet mice alcohol. But, accidents can happen, and you should be very much careful during all times.
- Walnuts
Walnuts can also be toxic for your mice, and you should keep this food stuff away from them.
- Lettuce
Lettuce should not be given to the mice as it can cause diarrhea in them.
Some tips for efficient feeding
Now that we know what do mice eat, as well as what are the foods to be avoided, let’s take a look at some feeding tips which can assist you while feeding your mice.
- As we all know, mice usually have a tendency to forage, and you must not try to discourage this habit. In fact, whenever possible, you should try to scatter the portions of their daily food stuff near and around the place that they are kept.
- This is actually very important because it will encourage natural foraging activity, as well as behavior. It will also help the mice to stay active and healthy.
- It should be kept in mind that mice usually show a tendency to eat their droppings. This will actually enable them to absorb some vital nutrients which are needed for their health and well being.
- This habit is known as cecotrophy or coprophagy. They mainly absorb vitamin B12 and folic acid through this method. So, you must allow them to do this, as it is actually helpful for them.
Conclusion
We have seen what do mice eat, what are the foods to avoid, as well as some tips that can help you in the long run while looking after the mice. In addition to food, you must also make sure that th
e mice are getting a fresh supply of water at all times. It must be noted that adult mice need to drink around 6–7 ml of water every day. So, you must make sure that you are providing adequate quantities of water to your pet mice. If you face any difficulties in feeding your mice at home, or in the lab, then you must get in touch with your vet immediately to avoid further complications.
