Optimal Diet for Pet Mice: What to Feed and Why It Matters
Optimal Diet for Pet Mice: What to Feed and Why It Matters
A balanced diet is one of the most important ways to ensure your mice live long, healthy, and happy lives. Good nutrition supports everything from immune function and coat condition to behaviour and lifespan. Mice are opportunistic omnivores with fast metabolisms, so they benefit from a high-quality staple diet, regular fresh foods, and safe, enriching treats in moderation.
The Foundation: Staple Diets
Your mice’s core diet should consist of a commercially formulated lab block or rodent pellet that provides complete nutrition. These are specifically designed to meet the dietary needs of mice and prevent selective feeding.
Some excellent options include:
Vetafarm Rodent Origins (Australia-based and widely available)
Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat & Mouse Food
Harbormouse or Mouse & Young Rat Breeder Mixes (for breeders or growing juveniles)
Avoid generic "mouse seed mixes" from pet shops, as mice will often pick out the tastiest bits and leave the rest, leading to nutritional deficiencies over time.
Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
Supplementing with fresh foods a few times a week adds variety, hydration, and enrichment. Stick to small amounts to avoid spoilage and upset tummies.
Great options:
Cucumber
Carrot
Capsicum (bell pepper)
Zucchini
Broccoli
Apple (small pieces, seeds removed)
Blueberries (as an occasional antioxidant-rich treat)
Avoid or limit:
Iceberg lettuce (too watery, can cause diarrhoea)
Citrus fruits (can upset the stomach and irritate skin)
Potato (toxic if raw or green)
Onion and garlic (toxic to mice)
Fresh foods should always be removed within 12–24 hours to prevent mould or spoilage.
Treats and Enrichment Foods
Treats can be used for bonding, training, or just to give your mice a little extra joy—but they should be used sparingly.
Mouse-safe treats include:
Whole oats or rolled oats
Millet sprays
Mealworms (especially good for pregnant/nursing mice)
Small pieces of whole grain bread or pasta (plain, no sauces)
Cooked egg (tiny amounts, high in protein)
Unsweetened puffed rice or puffed millet
Too many treats can lead to obesity and health issues, so keep them to no more than 5–10% of their diet.
Water
Clean, fresh water must be available at all times. Water bottles with metal sipper tubes are preferred, as bowls can easily be contaminated with bedding or faeces.
Check the bottle daily to ensure it's not clogged and refresh the water at least every 1–2 days.
Feeding Routines & Foraging
Scatter-feeding or using foraging toys adds mental stimulation to your mice’s daily routine. Instead of placing all their food in a bowl, try hiding pellets or treats in:
Cardboard rolls
Egg cartons
Small boxes filled with shredded paper
This encourages natural foraging behaviours and keeps their clever little minds busy!