Your first equipment

You are sure you want to get rodents? Then you should prepare everything for your new pets. Before you buy the animals you should have the following things:

1. Cage
Get detailed information about the needs your future pets have concerning their cage and choose the best possibility you can buy. If you want to have a home-made cage you should keep in mind, that the construction may take a little longer than you thought. So allow a bit more time for it.

2. Bedding
Get detailed information about the best bedding for your pets. Some sorts of bedding you may not find in the pet store round the corner. Then you may find it in the internet. Thus order it well-timed to avoid having your new friends without bedding.

3. Furniture
To buy furniture usually is fun. Make a shopping trip with a friend and buy everything your rodents need. Read up on the needs of the species before you start. That saves you money you would spend otherwise for useless or in some cases even dangerous things.
If you have the chance you can go for a walk and get your future pets some branches, roots or something like that.
If you decide on exotic mice which need warmth you can also buy a heat source.

4. Food
To feed your mice properly get detailed information about their needs. The proper diet is essential for their health. Maybe you can buy compound feed or mix it at home. Additionally you can buy some healthy (!) treats. Please take care: Many manufactured treats are not healthy.

5. Petcarrier
Maybe you have to take your pet to the vet or even you want to clean the cage. Then it is a good idea to have a petcarrier.
For shy exotic mice you may need a second, small carrier to catch them without touching.

6. Vet
Fancy and exotic mice are rare patients at the vet and additionally vets know nothing about mice after leaving university. So make sure to find an experienced vet around who studied further on these small patients.
Even before you buy the mice you should save some money for a visit to the vet. Maybe you will need it sooner than you expect.

7. Pet sitter
You want to go on vacation? Or you have to stay at hospital? It is better to know in advance who will care for your pets in such cases.

Translation
Angelus Noctis