My mouse keeps batting its tail?

Question

So, I bout two mice, a couple of days ago, if anyone has seen my previous questions. They are both young females. One of them loves to explore new things and has learned to not be completely afraid of me or my hand. Obviously, she and I are still working on a bond. The other one, however, will bat its tail furiously on the wall whenever I put my hand in the cage, and sometimes even after I've left them alone. I read that this means she is frustrated, but I just don't understand why! She is the same mouse that bit me the first day because she was scared; does she remember this incident and not trust me because of it? If so, will she ever get over it?

Every time I go into the cage, she runs straight to the wheel and just runs nonstop, unless she's stopping to bat her tail like I said. What can I do? Why is she so frustrated if the other one is not?

? · Accepted Answer

Did you buy these mice from a pet store? Mice and Rats in pet stores are not handled every day, in fact they are held only to be lifted up by their tails once every few days to have their tank cleaned. Some of them are bought from people who actually spend time with them, and some are simply breed from large breeding factories and tossed around like garbage.

It's likely your scared mouse wasn't treated right from where ever she was bred from. She probably isn't used to humans being so kind.

Try offering her some treats, a small piece of bread or a cracker would probably be a yummy treat for her, see if she'll take it from your hand and try once a day or so, just be patient with her and she'll come around eventually.

My mouse keeps batting its tail?

1 Answer