You know..I dont know how to pick a mouse up?

Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:22 pm

I'm just wondering hwo you pick a mouse up. I've got no problem with my rats..they sit there, I use a hand to scoop them up around the ribs/tummy and plop them on my shoulder. They are fat and like being carried around because theya re lazy.
I never really play with my mice..I like watching them and am happy to just enjoy them being mice. They take treats from me occasionally, but are not even remotely close to being socialised and so I cant pick them up.
When it comes to cage cleaning time I normally get them at the base of their tail and in the same motion scoop a hand underneath them so that they are only tail-held for a second or two.

I can't scoop them up like I can a rat, I can't reach in and nab them beause they're too fast (and biters)....so other than getting a vacuum designed for sucking up mice, how am I supposed to pick them up without resorting to the base of the tail?

I'm always really careful, but I know it probably hurts a bit to get your tail nabbed...but then it doesn't seem to hurt so I dont know!

I need to find some acceptable way of getting them, other than by the tail, because I do have to clean the cage etc.

Advice?

Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:25 pm

I place both hands over them in a sort of cupping motion, and then just sort of close my hands around them and scoop them up.

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--Brittany

"He who breaks a thing to find out what it is, has left the path of wisdom."

Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:32 pm

If I do that with the white girls they bite me and freak out. With them its the tail or nothing =/
Pipi lets me scoop her SOMETIMES, depending on the situation.

Any kind of 'cupping' forces 2 of the mice to scream and spaz out, and if I persist in scooping, they start biting.

Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:13 am

I think the base of the tail is not a bad thing since you only grab them there for a couple seconds. It also lets them know who's in charge, which can have a more calming effect on unsocialized critters than two giant hands swooping and scooping.

Or you could try Thimble's method: when he wants one of the girls to move out of his way, he grabs them by the strawberry with his teeth and yanks. Shocked

They don't even scream, it doesn't seem to bother them.

But I think I prefer your method. LOL

_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:29 am

Hmm....well, with mine I just stick my hand in the tank and they briefly sniff it and walk right on. So, they are relatively easy to pick up. wink

Your method isn't a bad one - as long as you are not lifting them up very far by the tail. Sometimes it is best to use your method if your mice are unsure of you and have nipping/biting tendencies.

With my young mice who are not yet socialized, I usually get them into a corner and scoop them up into a hand. It is easier to use 2 hands to cup them from underneath, and then lift them up out of the tank/cage.

Another easy method is to use an empty TP roll. All you do is place it near the mice, and they usually will just walk right in. Then, simply lift the roll and hold one end over your hand. Give your mouse a minute or two, and they usually will walk out on their own. Or, place the TP roll down on a table and let them walk right out. wink

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Shanna
~ Serendipity Rodentry ~

Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:43 am

I wish I had SOME experience with mice beyond just watching them like they're goldfish. I think they're fun to watch, peeking in and out of their house and TP rolls, running in their wheels and peeking out of the cage bars - running off with huge giant hunks of food etc.

Iwish they could be socialised, honestly I'm a little bit scared of them. The black one is awesome, she's adorable and lovely, but the white ones are both kind of stupid and scream at me when I try to give them treats. I've come a way with Pipi, I'll just sit there with my face to the cage and peek on her, and she'll come see me, run away, come see me, run away etc until she's okay with me being there. She sniffs my fingers and takes treats from my hands.

Is it possible to get the other white ones to act like Pipi? They seem intent on living their lives out like little wild beasties and since its not a bandit situation (they dont lunge to attack me or Elysia, they just do it if I stress them out) I'm okay to let them live their mousely ways.

I'd like to have cute mice like you though Shanna, in your pictures with big gorgeous fluffies sitting in your hand! My mice hate me though. Maybe my next mice will be breeder meece.

Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:00 am

ugh, well my more nervous mice I've had to sort of corner and scoop...although thats a very difficult process if they are nervous enough to fly everywhere.

Try getting them out with a toilet paper roll (scoop em in it) and poke them out onto your hand when you have it out of the cage

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<3 to my Fats and my Meeces

Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:10 am

Leaving your had and forearm in the cage for a long time helps quite a bit with nervous beasties. One you don't move for a while they will come over and explore, they can't resist. You'll need to do this over and over again without moving, them slowly begin to move once in a while as htey get used to you. Long loose sleeves help, as they'll want to explore those. Talk to them softly the while time, and repeat a phrase (I use "the sleeve") so they will associate it with explore/play time.

This sort of trust training is worth the time and effort because eventually you'll have mice who will start clamouring for you when you walk to the cage and say, "Who wants THE SLEEVE?" Mr. Green

Then it's circus mousimus time.

_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:11 am

some of my mice are jumpers so the scoop method really doesnt work and they use my hands as a spring board. The tp method is great...and the seriously anti socials..my non breeders are a base of the tail. I guess it depends on your mouse. Oreo I just pick up like my rats but I grasp his whole body in one hand. He is a lil cow though. Shaz

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Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:28 pm

Aww cowmouse ^^

I wish my mice were 'fancy'. I have two rew's and ...well I dont know mouse genetics, but she's all black with a black tail and a white tailtip. I don't really know what that makes her O_o;

Either way I'm going to try to use the TP method, their cage is set up awkwardly for that though..oh well ^^;