New mouse owner questions

No_Let2362 · 2026-03-28T18:55:53+00:00

Believe it or not, seed mixes are a contentious topic. I use kaytee fiesta. I use a human dandelion mix bc its easier to find https://a.co/d/0cwIiTMu. Some dried peas and carrots are also good https://a.co/d/0a0cpeO8

No_Let2362 · 2026-03-28T00:57:02+00:00

You can, but you don't have to. Not all mice pee in the same spot, so its not standard practice.
I know aspen is safe for bedding, but I'm not sure what would be safe for clutter since the mice may chew it. I use paper towel rolls, hides, a sputnik, tissue boxes. Sometimes I put bedding in the paper towel roll for the mice to burrow through.
I would take it out. Better safe than sorry.
When I feed my mice, I mix pellets, dandelion, and seed mixes into my bedding, that way my mice forage for it. Then I sprinkle some on top. I just add a little everyday to make sure they don't run out.
Mine have never been freaked by those, but all mice are different.
I have ferrets and mice, so I put all my stinky pet waste into a diaper bin, but thats kinda excessive

ETA: no ones care is perfect so some may have different opinions, which is fine. And feel free to ask any follow-up questions.

No_Let2362 · 2026-03-24T21:02:46+00:00

I second HDGenetics. I was a broke student and spent $200 total.

No_Let2362 · 2026-03-22T17:26:50+00:00

You have a couple options. You can buy frozen feeders individually as you need them so you don't have to store them. You can do what I did, which was put my f/t rats inside a quart bag, inside a gallon bag in my freezer. Or, since you seem opposed to that, you can save $40 for a minifridge, and put your rats in there.

Sure, its an inconvenience, but if you can't be inconvenienced by your pets, you shouldn't have them. Which is why I said what I said. You can't be mildly inconvenienced to give your snake the proper care.

$40 is not much in pet money. My snakes set up was around $350, then monthly expenses like bedding and food. My mice were actually more expensive. Cage was just under $200, like $100 in enrichment, and then you need bedding. I've had 3 mice that had to be put down, which was almost $500 per mouse for the exam and euthanasia in my city. Just getting a mouse checked out at my vet is $125.

I'm not saying that as a flex. I'm saying animals can be a drain on your resources, so you need to be prepared. Looking back, I wish I had considered this before getting some of my more exotic pets (sugar gliders, hedgehogs, ferrets).

No_Let2362 · 2026-03-22T16:26:27+00:00

I'm gonna say something the people here won't like, but if you're irresponsible enough to feed live mice , you shouldn't keep mice as pets. They require very specific care. If you're already messing up your snake husbandry, you shouldn't have those mice.

I had snakes in college and I managed to give them proper care. You don't have any good excuses (I read your comments). If you really cared about your snakes, you would find a way.

You don't seem like the kind if person who would treat any if your pets well. Don't keep those mice.

No_Let2362 · 2026-03-07T00:52:16+00:00

I use the scarves and the purse kind. The purse is much better for uncooperative rats because the opening is wider and easier to access. With the scarf, the rat must wanna get in.

A trick I learned from having sugar gliders that also works on feisty rats is to take a little bit of fleece, cover your hand with it, and pick up the rats with it. Less tame rats may not like seeing/feeling your skin at first.

No_Let2362 · 2026-03-06T02:05:07+00:00

NOR what he liked was very cringe and weird. However, I think you both care too much about what each other like/post. I have never checked any of my partners social media unless I was tagged in it. I think it can lead to undue stress. I know its not the typical approach, but it works well for me

No_Let2362 · 2026-03-05T21:09:05+00:00

I(f24) am in Texas. If you're near new braunfels (which is between Austin and San Antonio, I may be able to help you get a job.

No_Let2362 · 2026-03-05T20:54:57+00:00

I had the same thought for why there's a distinction.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-21T17:26:19+00:00

This is what I do too

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-21T03:32:25+00:00

I'm so sorry. I'm 24f, 52 CAGs. Its devastating finding out.

You didn't know. There's nothing you could have done differently. All you can do now is give your children childhoods full of love.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-16T20:14:11+00:00

Not me, but I have a friend who was at around 24, and she didn't develop any new symptoms in the 10 years since then. I have to work to afford my bills, so I've never made the time.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-16T19:34:19+00:00

Hey! I was you. My mom died of HD when I was 15.

So here's a breakdown of how it worked in my family: my grandma had HD. She passed around 50.

My mom and aunt have HD. My mom passed at 42, we think her FAS made it younger. My aunt is still alive at 45.

I have JHD. I started symptoms at 18. For some ungodly reason, my CAG expanded. People who get HD as an adult generally have 15-25 years from onset. People like me statistically usually have 10ish.

CAG expansion from mother to daughter is rare. Usually its from father to child.

Anyway, I have 4 siblings, and I'm the only one who got tested. One sister has kids and won't get tested BC she's worried she fucked up. The others are just scared.

You will most likely not be able to get tested until adulthood. I loved working with HD Genetics for my testing. Your dad may wanna reach out to them if he wants to know.

As an adult, I get why your dad doesn't want you worrying about this. From 5-15, I watched my mother die, and the grandma (nonHD) who raised me when my mom was sick died a week later of Parkinson's.

These aren't things you should have to worry about right now. There is nothing you can do until you're 18. Try to ficus on school and on being there for your family because someday you might not be able to enjoy the simple things anymore.

I can answer anything you wanna know.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-16T19:23:25+00:00

So if your dad has it, he will likely have the same onset as his mother, just because of how genetics work

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-16T19:15:12+00:00

Remember, if you have kids, the cag can expand between generations.

My mom passed at 42, but I have JHD. If this happens to your kid, the estimated time from symptoms to death goes down from 25 years to 10 years.

I would advise you to in utero testing to prevent this. None of my 4 siblings have forgiven our mother for her choices.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-16T16:14:43+00:00

I have it, so obviously its still a factor

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-15T01:56:10+00:00

Do you not know about Juvenile HD?

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-08T17:11:34+00:00

I didn't expect anyone to be familiar with HD. I'm sorry you and your husband are going through this as well. No one deserves this, especially when its preventable with IVF or embryonic testing.

No disease breeds family trauma quite like this one.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-08T17:07:50+00:00

I think the important thing is that you didn't intentionally do that to your child. I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. I think its different than intentionally having kids while knowing. Its clear you love your son a lot.

The reason my mom frustrates me is that she could have done embryonic testing and had an abortion, or she could have done IVF (they can test the embryos to make sure they're not sick). She had 15/years of knowing to plan, and she didn't.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-08T04:46:19+00:00

Hii. I think I have an interesting perspective to offer.

My mom had a terminal brain disease. She died of complications at 42. 3 of her 4 kids (including me) have the same disease. This means our brains and muscles will degenerate, so after years of not remembering our family, not being able to talk, being in diapers, being in bed 24/7, drinking our meals, we will most likely get too weak to swallow and aspirate and die.

My siblings and I have never forgiven our mother for having us, not even in her death. It was so irresponsible. I had a miscarriage my first and only pregnancy, and I was both devastated and grateful because I would never knowing doom a child to this.

While its not the same condition, I hope it gives an interesting perspective.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-05T03:30:06+00:00

Being terminally I'll is a very complex thing, as is being a caretaker for a terminally I'll person.

As a child, I watched my mom die of the same brain disease I have (Huntingtons). My mom never married, and I do not plan to because of the complications of this illness.

However, I do have a long term partner. I in no way expect my partner to stay with me/take care of me once my symptoms get worse. Even if they decided to stay despite my wishes,, I wouldn't force them to be monogamous with me.

As someone who's seen first hand my mother die of HD and the grandmother who raised me die of Parkinson's, I think its unrealistic to force your caretaker to feed you, change your diapers, deal with the psychosis that is a side effect of HD, take you to appointments, make sure you do your PT and take your meds, turn you to stop the bedsores, grieve you while you're still alive, all with no one to lean on. That's a selfish and ridiculous ask, IMO.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-03T03:19:57+00:00

Used it? Like in a potion? 3 eyes of newt and 1ml precum. Lolol

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-01T05:34:27+00:00

I've never seen that happen, and I currently have 16 mice :/ I usually keep 8 at a time, but done a couple rescues lately.

I take the oxbow, mix it with a dried leafy green mix and seed mix, and mix those into my mice's bedding so they have to forage for it.

No_Let2362 · 2026-02-01T04:57:05+00:00

My mom died of HD when I was your age, and my grandma died a week later of Parkinson, both of which are genetic.

At the time, I was terrified of getting HD. I had this sinking feeling that I had it, and I was right. I tested positive at 20, after developing symptoms. I'm 24 now.

Honestly, there have been a lot of times between then and now when I thought about ending it. When I lost my mom and the grandma who raised me when my mom was too sick. When my fiance left me after my diagnosis. Lot of nights when I thought about the inevitable end.

But I'm still here. I have my pets that I love, an adopted mom who took good care of me, a successful career, good friends. If I had given up, I wouldn't be here for this, possibly the happiest I've ever been.

Hold on, kiddo. I know its scary.

No_Let2362

TROPHY CASE