Background
Mice (Mus musculus) are rodents that are increasingly being kept as domestic pets.
Appearance
Mice weigh from 20 to 30g and they are approximately 16-18 cm long from nose to tail, although show mice can weigh up to 100g and measure 30cm. They are available in a variety of colours and patterns including black, white, chocolate, tan and multi-coloured.
Behaviour
Mice are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day and are awake at night. They are quite skittish and are particularly hard to catch in their cages. Mice can be trained to be handled, however they often defecate and urinate, especially if they are nervous.
Lifespan
Domestic mice have a normal lifespan of up to 2 years.
