In the wild-

Harvest Mice (Micromys minutus) are Europe's smallest rodent, weighing in at no more than 6 grams (as little as a 2 pence-piece!) and reaching only 7cm in length- that's including their unique tail. They can also claim the top spot as the only British animal to have a prehensile tail, really setting them apart from our other native wildlife! What they lack in size, they make up for in beauty, with ginger-brown fur and white bellies. Wild Harvest Mice are often illusive and difficult to find, although you may be lucky enough to come across their amazing spherical nests, which they suspend within tall grass, if you're exploring the south of England. The bulk of their diet is made up of seeds and fruits, but can also munch away on small invertebrates, meaning they're easy to feed in captivity.

In captivity-

Housing-

Housing your Harvest Mice is easy, and there are a number of different options available to give them the best possible setup. One of these is the use of a front-opening terrarium, designed for use with reptiles. Some of the best on the market are made by Exo terra, and these can be found for sale online, in pet shops, or even for a good deal second-hand. The other commonly used option is repurposing an old aquarium, although a very fine and escape-proof lid will need to be fashioned to ensure enough ventilation is provided. No matter which option you choose, you'll want something tall as Harvest Mice are amazing, active climbers. A tank of 30x30x60cm (12x12x24 inches) will comfortably house a small group of about four. If keeping both males and females, there is a high likelihood that the population will quickly explode, so consider keeping another tank on hand, or start out with something larger. At this point it's also worth noting that any normal rodent cages- such as those suited to hamsters, gerbils and fancy mice- are not in any way suitable for keeping Harvest Mice, that is, of course, assuming you don't want to chase these tiny critters around your house after a daring escape!

Decor-

Decor for Harvest Mice should be naturalistic, and plenty of branches and grasses should be included in their tank to allow them to climb as they would in the wild. An ideal candidate for use in naturalistic setups is willow or hazel, which are both safe and can be collected from outdoors and sterilised, cutting the costs of setting up. Other climbing opportunities can be offered in the form of commercially available products: ladders, rope, bridges and more will allow your mice to keep active and display natural behaviours. Multiple hides should also be provided, with a number of options on the market such as coconuts, woven willow tipis and far more! Upturned ceramic flower pots could also be used, offering opportunities to climb and hide. You may also wish to add a wheel for additional exercise, particularly in a smaller setup, but you should be careful to ensure the wheel is safe and there is no chance of injury, especially consider their long tails.

Substrate-

Sand is an ideal substrate for a Harvest Mouse setup as it's easy to clean and is great for odour control- it's also best for a naturalistic setup, and could be mixed with a small amount of organic, safe top soil. Alternatively, use a substrate designed for use with rodents, wood shavings and paper bedding are perfect as they are easy to clean, control odours, low dust and are often absorbent.

Feeding-

As with any pet, it's vital to provide a varied diet. Commercial canary mix can provide the bulk of their diet, with a millet spray provided in the setup at all times. Sunflower seeds can also be offered. Berries can also be provided alongside their seed-based diet, and for additional protein invertebrates such as dried mealworms could be included in their diet. Furthermore, dried grasses, flower heads and rodent treats should be used to further vary and supplement your Harvest Mouse diet. Fresh water should be provided at all times and replaced at least once a day. Ideally use stainless steel bowls, which are easily cleaned and are proven to harbour less bacteria than their ceramic counterparts.

Handling-

Harvest Mice are best left alone, and are very much a hands-off species to keep. That being said, the 4 in our care are inquisitive, bold and more than happy to be handled, climb all over or snuggle up in a pocket! Additionally, due to their small size they are quite fragile, and if you do handle them, do so very carefully and keep them away from other pets.

Buying Harvest Mice-

Harvest Mice are readily available in the UK and can be found in pet shops across the country and on websites such as Preloved and Pets4Homes. Prices can vary greatly depending on where you buy from- whilst they're often only around £10, some can cost as much as £40! Unfortunately Harvest Mice are short lived, even in captivity, with an average lifespan of only around 2 years, so you're unlikely to find any for rehoming.

Setup shopping list-

  • Housing (at least 30x30x60cm)
  • Substrate of your choice 
  • Natural decor
  • Climbing opportunities
  • Hides (aim for 1 per mouse)
  • Food bowl
  • Water bowl
  • Seeds, millet, and other foods

 

References-

My care sheets are mostly written from experience, however to make sure I give the best possible advice, I will compare with other owner's views and successes. For this care sheet, I cross referenced with-

The Wildlife Trusts- https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/harvest-mouse

Rushcliffe Wildlife- https://www.rushcliffewildlife.co.uk/hm/harvest-mouse_pets.html

Rodent Zone- https://www.rodentzone.com/harvest-mice-as-pets/

 

 

Thank you for reading my Harvest Mouse care sheet and I hope you found it helpful and informative. Good luck with your new rodent! Feel free to contact me via Instagram to ask any questions!