Some people consider the Long Hair mouse a fancy mouse because of its long hair that attracts attention, cute eyes, popularity, and ability to be used for performances in shows.
This mouse is adaptive and easier to manage as compared to other rodents. When it’s tamed from a young age, it grows to trust humans and get comfortable around them. This trait just makes it more desirable as a pet.
But what other features make the Long Hair mouse special and a good fit for your home? We’ll tell you about that in this article. We’ll also show you some tips to become a great pet owner. Now, let’s get started.
What Is a Long Hair Mouse?
The Long Hair mouse gets its characteristic feature from the Angora and Angora-Y genes. And to ensure that the trend continues in the offspring, the breeder breeds two long-haired mice together.
The good part is that this mouse doesn’t lose its attractive fur and personality as it ages, but it’ll require adequate care and attention to keep those furs radiant. If the mouse isn’t well catered for, the fur could develop clumps and fall off.
How Do You Describe a Long Hair Mouse?
Long Hair mice usually have thick furs that appear silky and shiny. On their rump, the fur grows thicker and fuller. And as they age, their coats don’t fall off or shrink out. This makes them wonderful pets and great for mice shows.
In addition, their body is composed of the undercoat and the overcoat hairs, with the undercoat being the most visible. They also have long hairs all over their body except their face and legs.
You’ll often see Long Hair mice in a variety of colors: blue, white, red, black, and silver, amongst others. Usually, a mouse may have a single color like black all through or a blend of colors, with patterns and spots.
The Long Hair mouse is about 7 inches tall and weighs 3.5 ounces. And it has round eyes, large ears, a long body, and a long tail. Interestingly, if you’re training your pet for shows, you can grow it to about 12 inches.
What to Feed a Long Hair Mouse
You can feed your Long Hair mouse with blocks and pellets that are commercially available. These pellets are prepared in the lab and formulated with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients for your pet.
Also, you can supplement the blocks with fruits and vegetables to keep your pet strong and active. Furthermore, ensure a constant water supply for your mouse; you don’t want it to get dehydrated. And make sure the water bottle is cleaned regularly to prevent contamination.
How Does a Long Hair Mouse Behave?
Long Hair mice love to be in groups and pairs, so make sure you keep them together. They’re nocturnal, fun, and lovable. These social creatures are active; you’ll often see them climbing and running around.
In addition, you’d have to handle them carefully, especially when they’re with visitors because if they sense any danger, they’ll react and bite. They may also make a mess around your home, so keep an eye on them when you let them out of the cage.
Moreover, the Long Hair mouse loves to nibble on items, so you can get play toys for it. You just have to make sure that they’re safe for this delicate pet.
Housing of a Long Hair Mouse
For starters, you can get a wire cage with sturdy bars. This structure can then be fitted with breathable plastic flooring material; wire mesh can hurt your pet. You also have to make sure that the bars are close enough so that the mice won’t crawl out or even get attacked by predators.
Next, you need to keep the cage in a place with relative temperature – not too hot or too cold. Now, you’d need to fill the floors with appropriate bedding like tissues, corn bedding, and paper towels. Your choice of bedding shouldn’t be detrimental to your pet.
Also, you can create divisions in the cage for your pet to play around with and have some privacy. And you can put mice toys in the cage too.
Finally, ensure that you clean out the place regularly to keep your mice from health issues.
Should I Train My Long Hair Mouse?
You must train your pet so that it learns to respond to you. You can play with it while in its cage and be around it as it runs around the house.
Also, you can try picking the Long Hair mice up to feed them so that they get familiar with you. It’s worth mentioning that they love to be cuddled, so you can carry them occasionally.
Are Long Hair Mice Prone to Infections?
The Long Hair mouse can live for about 1 to 2 years. However, it’s very delicate and easily prone to health issues. Examples are cancers, tumors, colds, cardiovascular diseases, skin infections, and bacterial infections.
To prevent these health conditions, ensure that you take good care of your pet; try to keep it calm. Also, make sure its cage is clean by clearing out areas that are prone to ticks, and remember to provide it with good food.
How to Take Care of Your Long Hair Mouse
The Long Hair mouse is popular for trapping dirt in its long-fluffy hairs. So, you’d have to perform some thorough cleaning regularly. Here are some ways to ensure uptight neatness:
- Clean and wash the mouse’s bedding and feeding materials at least once every week. You may use a mild detergent like a 3-5% bleach solution. You can also disinfect the cage with some kitchen alcohol
- Regularly observe the smell from the mouse
Is the Long Hair Mouse a Good Pet for Children?
The Long Hair mouse has a very delicate body, so the children may not handle it very carefully. If you want your kids to have mice, you’d have to supervise them effectively.
Is It Difficult to Care for Long Hair Mouse?
No, the Long Hair mouse isn’t difficult to care for. It just needs attention, feeding, and training.
Is the Long Hair Mouse Fond of Being Held?
The Long Hair mouse loves to be fed and played with while inside the cage. When you stroke it lightly from a tender age, it can become accustomed to gentle handling.
Last Words
There you have it. We’ve seen what the Long Hair mouse looks like, how to handle and train it, and how to be a great pet owner. These social creatures are wonderful pets and love to play around.
The added benefit is that they respond well to how you train them. And normally, they wouldn’t bite, except if they get afraid; that’s why you need to be careful when handling them.
Keep in mind that whether you’re using them as show mice or keeping them at home, you must be cautious of how you handle them because they’re fragile pets.