General Discussion

i know nothing about mice lmao just here to tell you that mice are adorable and i hope you have a good time with them

I dont recommend that cage- young mice have a talent for slipping between bars. Instead, a ten or twenty gallon tank would likely fit your needs better.
if your heart is set on bars, I had luck with the IRIS brand 3 level one, but it looks like it went up in price recently.

Males are highly territorial and should be kept alone, females cn be kept in pairs, but trios are recommended (for a trio I would advise a 20 gallon tank or larger, however).

My #1 life hack to avoid stink is to use eco earth as bedding instead of standard bedding. Its found by the reptiles, holds tunnels just as well if not better, and literally completely removes the standard mouse stench- even from male mice.

Mice tend to have varying opinions on what is fun- some like digging, some like climbing. Climbing the walls is fine, tall toys are fine, theyre very agile. I recommend having a dig box in part of the tank (at least 6 inches deep, but as deep as you can make it), and assorted climbing toys on the other. My past mice really enjoyed hammocks, as well as popsicle stick creations. Google "mouse entertainment systems" for ideas on things to make- they seem to enjoy those kinds of toys the most.

Feel free to shoot me anymore questions :)

Seconding not getting that cage. If a tank is too pricy, a very roomy storage bin can can be purchased for very cheap, and is easy to modify (for example if you want to install a shelf, you can drill through the walls). I'd also recommend checking out this tumblr for cage and toy ideas. The enclosures shown here are top-tier stuff, so yours doesn't need to be this elaborate, but I find it is a good place to find inspiration.

(Also, just so you know, a properly sized wheel is probably much larger than you would expect. You want your babies to be able to run in it without bending their spine, or it can cause back issues.)

@Herico - 3 is mostly recommended for females as they bond closely with each other- that way when one dies, esp if at a younger age, the other two aren't left alone. If a pair of girls works better for you, by all means go with a pair, its just commonly suggested to go the more the merrier route :)

I bred mice, also had lots of mice, so here's my tips for you. :]

1. Bin cages are easier to find, bigger and cheaper than any "pet cage" from a store, easier to clean, and less likely to break (compared to a cage that can rust, a fish tank that can crack, or any other type of cage). Watch out for any extra edges along the bottom of the bin, some bins have "feet" on the bottom but that means the plastic comes up and mice WILL chew that. Have metal mesh on hand for repairs if you need to.

2. Almost every bottle seems to leak. Glass ones don't usually work, but go for the best quality water bottle you can.

3. Chewy.com has the cheapest rodent food I've ever seen. Mice need a block diet, with other things as very rare treats. My mice liked cooked rice, unsweetened cheerios, and occasionally plain meat with no seasoning or oils on it.

4. DO NOT get males in the same cage. Nine times out of ten they will fight. Same logic as betta fish... sort of. However, pairs or trios of females would be perfect! They will snuggle together at night, groom each other, fight for the best snacks and generally be great friends for each other.

5. Places to look for toys. Keep in mind fabrics will be hard to clean, and plastics might get chewed. Dollar store "storage" container, bird toys, baby toys that are plastic or look fun to climb around, cardboard, cleaned out plastic food containers, packing paper or paper with non-toxic ink on it, and branches are all great toys.

6. Get a flying saucer instead of the standard wheel if you plan to do so. The wired wheels can get their tails caught and rust or are harder to clean. The saucers aren't nearly as bad.

7. When picking out mice, I've always had better luck going to a reptile specific shop and buying feeders. Generally MUCH healthier, but they won't always give you females. If they won't, look for mice that aren't hunched over, don't sniffle or shake, have a plump healthy looking body and aren't goopy around the eyes or nose.

As for names, I had several lines of mice going with each generation or line getting a theme. I used spices, cheeses, breads, coffee drinks, and types of cows for my various lines. :]

I made the mistake of buying a bar cage when I got my girls way back, and had to do a quick run to the pet store for a 10-gallon tank after one of them decided a fun game was to squeeze through the bars and play "freak mouse mom out by running toward the surge protector".

When I had mice, I usually kept girls in pairs, or single boys. I did have the occasional solitary girl, and with those girls, I made sure to play with them a lot - more than I had with the boys or pairs. I also didn't get my mice from big box pet stores (for the most part - occasionally I'd find a super sweet and healthy one, but that was luck). I got my first from a friend, who'd picked him up at a locally-owned pet store, but decided keeping two boys in one room wasn't going to work out (this was in a dorm setting, where technically we weren't allowed to have mice as pets). Most of my girls came from a local pet store I found when I got my first full-time job - at least till that store closed. That was seriously the best store, and I am sad it's gone, even though it's been over 10 years now).

I did get those habitrail plastic cages with top bars and ventilation slits for when I had to travel with my mice. Just big enough for transport and a few days away from home. I also bought a ball, so they could exercise more freely, and watched for any cleanup when they went running.

Names... I went with what felt right for the mouse. Gavin. Adric. Tarma. Kethry. Clover. Neville. I *think* that's all my mice over the years. I've also kept hamsters and rats, and the only ones that had a theme were the first group of female rats.