What you pay for mice as pets

Especially in case of less expensive mice species the costs of housing and after the adoption it are often underestimated. That’s why we made for you two calculations according to two different ways of keeping and thinking of mice.

Unfortunately many (potential) new mice keepers assume that mice may not cost much while keeping, because they are cheap to get. At least when visiting a vet for the first time the (expensive) reality might surprise some people unpleasantly.
But also getting the first equipment and the regular costs some mice keeper spend more money than they intended. So here are two calculations made for fancy mice. At first the example how some unexperienced newcomers plan and in contrary to that the calculation for a proper keeping.

The figures are valid for Germany. In other countries for instance vet visits often are more expensive.

Adoption

• 2 mice - 6 Euro
• cage set with interior - 30 Euro

Running costs per month

• bedding - 4 Euro
• Hay - 4 Euro
• dry food - 3 Euro
• Fresh food - 4 Euro

Extra costs

• none

Adoption

• 2 mice - 6 Euro
• homemade compound 100x50x150 cm - 150 Euro
• houses and other furniture - 100 Euro
• branches - free
• proper wheel - 30 Euro

Running costs per month

• bedding - 6 Euro
• hay - 6 Euro
• self-made dry food mix - 5 Euro
• fresh food - 4 Euro
• dried insects - 5 Euro

Extra costs

• neutering - 60 Euro
• vet - other - 250 Euro

Based on the fact that the commercial value of the animals in this example is about 6 Euro, the costs from example 1 differ substantially from that of the proper keeping in example 2. In our example the adoption is 200 Euro more expensive, the current costs only differ by 9 Euro. The extra costs that many keepers tend to forget make a difference of 310 Euro. In this example the good keeping and care of a mouse life costs 569 Euro more than the unexperienced person planned.

The costs of the proper housing for mice of course depend on the kind and configuration of the housing. As there are seldom acceptable cages on the market, often only a self-built compound may be used. In this case for a compound for up to 5 mice an average amount of 100-200 Euro must be planned. If the keeper has some wishes regarding design and fitting into his/her flat, 250 Euro and more are easily spent.
Furniture is available according to existing sources and preferences between free and 25 Euro and more per piece - you need by far more than one fitment, and consider that some pieces may have to be replaced later on.

Vet bills usually are in the area of 8-12 Euro in the average for checkup. In case of serious or chronic illness the amount easily goes beyond 50 Euro. Which treatment will costs which amount of money you can ask your vet in advance to get an idea how much money you should take aside.
For neutering of bucks a calculation with amounts between 30 and 60 Euro usually is fine.

Food is a rather small cost factor which grows proportional to the group size. A bigger burden for the moneybag is the protein food for species who need a higher percentage of such, and the fresh food, at least if you claim to feed only high-class fresh food. The cost for animal protein are difficult to lower. Insects are the perfect animal protein food, and compared with grain feed or to cheap dog or cat food somewhat expensive. For keepers of mainly or exclusively insects eating species it might be a better idea to breed.

Refusing animals good food, vet visits or a bigger housing caused by the shortage of money is no action in the sense of the animals. Please consider this before the adoption. If you aren't willing or able to spend greater amounts of money, you should retrain from keeping mice.