Fancy Mouse – Especially Bred for Exhibiting in International Shows

Fancy Mouse is a tame mouse that is a type of “pocket pet” which was usually produced as a pet. The Fancy Mice are also named as ‘Feeder Mice’ when they are traded as food for flesh-eating pets, for instance, snakes. Fancy Mice have also been mostly bred for participating in international shows. They are low-priced as compared with other bigger pets, but they have reasonably a short life. The word 'Fancy Mouse' is used to clarify mice that have been particularly bred for the exhibition.

Size and Weight

Fancy Mice vary significantly in size. The normal size of a small pet-mouse ranges between 15 cm to 17.5 cm (6 to 7 inches) in length from nose to the tip of the tail, whereas, the size of a show-mouse is around 30 cm (12 inches) from nose to tail. The normal weight of a pet-mouse range between 1.0 oz to 1.6 oz (29 grams to 44 grams), though, the large show-mouse can be up to 4.6 oz (130 grams).

Coat and Colors

Human fixed simulated variety in fancy mice has generated a range of colors and designs. These comprise black, chocolate, blue, white, cream, lilac, red, fawn, champagne, cinnamon, golden agouti, silver agouti, silver, and dove. The color may differ slightly as per club standards. The wild breed that has become obedient and bred in numerous generations still fall under fancy-type.

Mice in Shows

There are numerous clubs worldwide that conduct shows for the mice, as compared to rat-shows. These shows are commonly conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The clubs comprise “American Fancy Rat and “Mouse Association” (AFRMA) in the United States, “East Coast Mouse Association” (ECMA) in the United States, “Rat and Mouse Club of China” (RMCC) in the United States, “National Mouse Club” (NMC) in the United Kingdom, and many more.

Except the variety standard describes otherwise, the coat should be small flawlessly flat, silky and smooth to the hand. The mouse should be faultlessly docile and free from any depravity and not subject to fits or other similar illnesses.

Fancy Mouse Cage

A cage with wire-bars and plastic parquet is the recognized housing for the fancy mouse. A distance between cage bars of less than 0.35 inches (9 millimeters) stops the young mice to escape through the bars. They may get stuck with the bars. This can also help avoid predator-pets including cats, dogs, arthropods, snakes, and other carnivores from killing and eating the fancy mice.

In the United Kingdom, various show-breeders keep their mice in wooden boxes measuring about 460 millimeters (18 inches) by 300 millimeters (12 inches) by 180 millimeters (7 inches), while there has been extensive use of plastic packing containers.

Fancy Mouse Feeding

The food for a fancy-mouse can range from particularly expressed food mix to kitchen scraps. Carrot, spinach, lettuce and other vegetables are frequently eaten by the fancy mice but should be given sparingly as such foods can effect in diarrhea and severe dehydration. Breadcrumbs, wheat, and rice can also be good food for the mice. The mice can also consume oats, oily seeds, clean eggshell, breakfast cereal, and stale bread. The fruit and vegetables are usual and healthy food for the mice.

Homemade foods can be mixed using grains, rice, oats, seeds (including peanut, sunflower, and pumpkin), superior dog-food, as well as numerous other ingredients.

Breeding Mice

The mice have a fast population growth rate. The development period is about nineteen to twenty three days. The usual litter size is four to twelve young mice. In some cases, up to thirty young have been born. The males can mate with females once the litter is born, which means that a female can become pregnant with the next litter within three days of giving birth. The females should not be bred before twelve weeks or after eight months; doing so is very unsafe because some mice die while giving birth.

The baby mice, named “pinkies” or “pups”, are born sightless, naked, and deaf. Their eyes are closed when they born and their ears are stuck to their heads at sides. The pups start growing hair at 2 to 4 days. The ears open after three to five days, and they will start vocalization. The eyes open after fourteen days and they will begin walking.

Mice as Pets

In Europe, the production of fancy mice became prevalent from introducing the Japanese stock in the 17^th century. By 1895, Walter Maxey established the “National Mouse Club” in Victorian England, with its first authorized show conducted in Lincoln. Since then, mouse clubs have designed all over the world. Good breeders participate in the shows to display their mice, where the mice are judged on color, body shape, and behavior.

Some people choose the disposition and inquisitiveness of male mice. It is a decent idea to keep fancy-mice in crowds of at least two if possible because mice are friendly creatures.