Mortimer has figured out how to drink his formula from a dish and is eating just about anything I give him and when I picked him up for a cuddle after work, his little tummy was round and firm, just like it should be. I cleaned his aquarium when I was cleaning bird cages and gave him fresh newspaper and a couple more socks -- he likes socks -- and put one of them in his little house, so he's had his supper and gone into his little house for a nap on top of his new sock. I found an idea for a mouse toy where you take an anklet and stick a toilet paper roll in the end to make a hidey hole, so I fixed him one of those, too. He hasn't noticed it yet. By the weekend, he should be strong enough for a wheel. Keeping my fingers crossed that I'm doing the right things for him!

It sure sounds like he's thriving...great job!

Looking forward to more pics soon!

do ya need some socks?? im about to throw out loads of old ones with holes, some small child size and some adult size...... let me know and ill get to ya LOL! (what an offer huh??LMAO) i promise to wash em first heheheheheh

I'm so glad he's doing well
You might double-check the wheel thing, though- I know rats aren't supposed to have wheels because their tails can get caught and broken/ hurt. Isn't it the same with mice? I suppose you could get one of those solid plastic ones for him instead of the wire ones and that would take the danger out of it.
Mortimer has to be the luckiest baby mouse EVER to be discovered in someone's closet!!

You're right about the wire wheels -- they can be dangerous for mice. But they make solid plastic ones for that reason, and they also make saucers, and with both of those styles the moving parts are behind the plastic, where little toes and tails can't get caught. I thought I'd get Mortimer a saucer partly because I think it will be funny to watch him on it and it will be easier for him to manage since he's still pretty uncoordinated. In fact, he walks like he's on a three-day drunk. Remember Otis from the Andy Griffith Show? I should've named him Otis. He'll probably also get a ball eventually because someday soon he'll be too big to stay in a shoebox while I clean his aquarium.

And thanks for the offer of socks , but we have tons of them. Hubby is VERY hard on socks and I never seem to throw them away because I always think I can use them for rags or something. Of course, I never do, but Mortimer should be set for socks for quite a while.

LOL I just noticed you haven't added Mortimer to your signature yet! You should do that!

I don't want to jinx him by adding him until I'm sure he's going to make it. It's a week tomorrow, and maybe when he's weaned and playing on a saucer and doing regular mousie things, I'll feel confident enough to add his name. Hubby feigns astonishment every morning when Mortimer is still there because HE doesn't want to jinx it. It's really chancy trying to raise a baby critter.

Last night he had a pumpkin blossom (not a whole one!) and some canned dog food for his supper (I wouldn't give him canned dog food as a regular diet, but I want to be sure he's getting enough liquid and protein while he's so tiny). Mortimer got that little hunk of canned dog food in his little front paws and rolled it around until he got it turned just so and then went to town on it and got it all over his little face and Hubby said, "He's a determined little thing, isn't he?"

That's the most adorable visual. I would love to have been able to watch him washing up afterward- there's something about watching a mouse or rat licking his little hands and bathing. It ranks right up there with seeing a bird splashing around in a bath!!
It's probably a little late now, and it sounds like Mortimer is doing pretty well anyway, but I thought about something today that might be helpful. Kitten food (canned or dry)- the kind they wean onto- has a high nutritional value to ferrets. I remember when I had one that was sick the vet told me to supplement his food with kitten food and that dog food didn't have the right nutrients. I have NO IDEA if this would hold true for a mouse, but it's worth checking out at least.
It sounds like there are a lot of us pulling for the little guy- Mortimer has quite the following

Now, why didn't I think of that? If kitten formula is good for him, kitten food would be, too. We happened to have canned dog food because, well, we have two dogs. And no kitten food because we don't have any kitties. Dog food probably isn't very good for him and he only gets a little to supplement his diet, but I'll stop on the way home tonight and get him a can of kitten food. One can will last that tiny thing for ages.

You should have seen Gigi's face when I opened that can of dog food and put some in Mortimer's dish and didn't put any in HER dish. My, but she was honked. She only gets canned food as a treat because she's too fat already. The vet said we have to be stern about watching how much she eats. Problem is, he didn't tell HER ...

So she'll be happy to take that opened can of dog food off my hands and I'll give Morty some cat food instead. I'll tell him his legions of fans are pulling for him, too.

Does anyone else find it funny that the best food for a baby mouse is the same food that's best for his arch-enemy, cats?

Absolutely- be sure there are no kitties in the area when Mortimer has the kitten food smooshed all over his face. He would look and smell like the kitty version of a chocolate-covered peanut or reese's cup or something. Nom nom nom!!

he sounds incredibly cute xD
the only problem is you didn't post any pics

I'm at work is why no pics. The pics are at home in my camera. I took a new one last night and I'll get it posted tonight.

Hehehe, this is a fun thread to keep up with!

"mouse power!"

Looking forward to the pics

Bad news. Mortimer died today. He was okay when I left for work, I petted him and he acted just as usual, but Hubby said he was home later this morning and he was lying on his side, and next time he checked him, he was gone.

We did try our best and at least he spent his last few days being spoiled and petted and taken care of.

just know that you gave him a good short life and that a lot of mice don't make it past their first week

Awwwwww..*hugz* I am sorry

Oh I'm so sorry, I was sure pulling for the little guy and have enjoyed your updates. At least the little guy had a lot of love and TLC in his short life. Big HUGGSS to you.

Oh no!! I am soooo sorry! We were all pulling for the little guy! He had a good life while he was with you so you can feel good about that. Will there be another little rodent in your future maybe? Now that you know just how adorable they can be!? Farewell little Mortimer! Your fan club will miss you!

NOOOOOooooooooo. Hugs to you and hubby. I know the little feller had wormed his way into your hearts.

RIP, wee Mortimer.

oh no im so sorry!! (((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

Noooooo!!! I jinxed him by suggesting you add him to your siggy!!!! Seriously though, I'm so sorry you lost him. He was very well loved, and will be missed by a lot of people.

We only had him a week, but it doesn't take long to get attached to a little critter. I'm tempted to go buy a domesticated mouse and put him in Mortimer's old home (after disinfecting it, of course, in case he was sick and not just too young) -- not to replace Mortimer, of course, but in the hopes of maybe saving one from being snake food and in a little way, making up for not being able to save Mortimer.

I'm sorry for your loss ): We have two little female mice and they're very rewarding low maintance pets. It's lovely to watch them interact and run around their cage. They have a little house that they sleep and and drag tissues and hay into.

Avoid getting orange ones as I've read that they have a genetic obesity problem and we've had two orange/blotchy orange and both of them have been very overweight while their cagemate is healthy.

I'm sorry he didnt make it. Its hard to say what went wrong though aspiration pneumonia & digestive bacteria/enzyme imbalance are the most common causes when handing raising a mouse. There can also be issues with the immune system.