Fetching little Stuart from the pet store - cute baby mouse

I bought little Stuart for $1: 30 at the pet store in Prince George. Half his siblings had already been sold as snake food when I rescued him. I plan to hand raise Stuart. I have bottle fed a baby mouse once before and he grew up to be the most amazing pet - he thought he was human and was as loyal and affectionate as a tiny dog.

We had quite a long drive home - it was important to keep him warm and feeling safe. I chose him because I wanted another white mouse, I find they are often the most friendly. I also wanted a boy (they tend to be bolder), but this is hard to tell at this age, about four days old. Once their fur comes in you can see the double row of nipples in the females much more clearly, the males do not have these. I now know that Stuart is definitely a boy.

It is important when choosing a mouse for bottle feeding to get a vigorous, large, chubby and healthy looking one. A runt would have a harder time surviving being bottle fed. No human can be as good a mother as a mouse mom, so hand raising always involves the risk of the little one not making it. So far Stuart could not be healthier and more lively, so I think he will be alright.

WARNING: do not attempt to raise a pinky unless you are a very experienced animal person or it is a true orphan and there is no other choice. It is better to start with a fuzzy, a little mouse between 8 and 10 days old who has fur but whose eyes have not opened yet. You are much more likely to be successful.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• mouse
• mice
• baby
• infant
• pinky
• pink
• cute
• sweet
• adorable
• bottle
• feeding
• hand
• raising
• animal
• care
• milk
• rearing