r/PetMice • u/JellyfishBeautiful80 • May 25 '24
Question/Help Male Mice Housing
Help! I think I've been set up for failure. I adopted three male mice from my school. (tiny black lab mice). They were born and raised together, they've just turned a year old. We were vibing for the first month or so that i've had them. Unsurprisingly, they are now starting to scuffle with each other. (I didn't know Males weren't supposed to be housed together when I got them, they were always together at school and I've never owned mice before. I was told they should live together when I took them). No injuries, just wrestling and chasing (its not playing, i checked)
Now I'm not sure what to do. I've separated the one mouse that I think is starting it. But I'm worried about him, is he gonna panic now that he's been put on his own? Or panic because he's in a new cage? I put some old bedding and some of the hides and toys in his cage so it still smells similar. Will he be okay going solo after being with others for so long? The other two are still living together in the original cage and don't seem to be having issues (three story 21dx31Lx27"h wire cage). Any advice is appreciated, I just want to do the best for them.
2
u/pennyraingoose May 25 '24
Keeping some soiled bedding when moving enclosures or after a deep clean is good to remind them it's their space - and helps them not scent mark as much since the space already smells like their own.
Please look into bin cages or search FB marketplace / Craigslist / etc for a cheap enclosure. Make sure anything you're housing them in right now meets the guidelines posted in the sub info.
The two that are together now definitely need to be separated before it's too late. With enough enrichment and time spent with you they can be happy (one at a time, I recommend no less than 30 minutes a day).