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Special treats for mice

princess

Cornaholic
I have a fishtank full of lovely feeder mice at the moment and I'm trying to make their life as pleasant and interesting as possible for the short time they have left!

I bought a pack of 'small rodent mix' from the supermarket (no added colours, I checked!) and a small pack of rawhide dog chew sticks that I figure I can give to my friends dog if the mice didn't like them. As well as this I've thrown in a couple of small chunks of carrot and I might give them some corn tomorrow or something for some interest.

Well, I was on the balcony pulling the dead heads off the chrysanthemum and one of the heads fell into the (open topped) tank and was immidiately pounced apon by about 3 mice! They pulled out the seeds and happily sat munching on them. Does anyone know if they're toxic at all? I think they'd be fine as this is pretty much what wild mice eat anyway. I just thought I'd share this with you as it could start up some thought as to what odd items/foodstuffs people have found that their mice like to eat or play with.


Cheers, :cheers:
 
Duh, we all like potatochips!!!!

I'm trying the whole 'you are what you eat' approach and my snakes foods food is no exception! I'm sure you'd have some very happy mice if they lived on chips, pistatio nuts and chocolate chip cookies!!! -yes I do realise they'd get sick!
 
OOH, that's a thought...I might see how they like Timtams!


-2 mins later-


They love them!

I gave them 2 tiny little pieces and they went crazy! They're a little stale (I've had them in the cupboard for 6 months, so I guess I don't feel so stingy giving them some!
 
Gourmet feeder mice, step it up anf feed the mice macadamia nuts. Dayum that'd be some mice with some big nuts !! :rolleyes:
 
My mice regularly get treats of Wheaties cereal (dunno if you have that in Sweden or not), yogurt drops or yogurt covered nuts, and fresh sweet corn kernels you pull off of an ear.

Occasionally I'll give mine chicken bones with a little bit of meat left on them. I only do this about once a month or so.

I don't think potato chips would be good with all of the salt and oil in them. They've been shown to be bad for humans. ;)

As far as crysanthemum, I'm not sure about their toxicity. Although based on the way they smell, I don't think I'd eat one.
 
Hmmm... good question. I'm not really sure what the answer is about the seeds. I've read a lot about certain species of chrysanthemum plants containing Pyrethins, which is a natural insecticide. I just talked to my Hubby about it, but he didn't have a lot of time cause he was running off to a meeting at work. My Hubby worked as a certified pesticide applicator a few years ago as his second job. So... he knows about Pyrethins, and the commercial insecticides he used contained them along with other ingredients.

I'm glad you asked the question, because I ran across a website that lists items poisonous to children and pets. It lists chrysanthemum, but doesn't mention the seeds specifically either. The article tells if it's the pit/seed only of an item that's toxic. When it lists a plant, I'd be thinking about the foliage and flowers, which is the part most kids or pets would eat... but what about the seeds? :shrugs:

Anyways, I thought it was a great source of info, so here's the link to the complete article and a copy of the poison list.

Poisonous Items

What is poisonous?
Here is a quick reference guide to the more common house and garden plants and foods that are toxic to most all animals and children. If you have these plants or foods, you need not dispose of them-just keep them away from pets and children.

C = cardiovascular toxin
GI = gastrointestinal toxin
R = respiratory toxin
N = neurological toxin
KO = kidney/organ failure
* = Substance is especially dangerous and can be fatal.

Alcohol (all beverages, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl) = N
Almonds* (kernel in the pit contains cyanide) = R
Amaryllis bulb* = GI, N
Anthurium* = KO
Apricot* (kernel in the pit contains cyanide) = R
Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)* = GI, C, VERY POISONOUS
Avocado (leaves, seeds, stem, skin)* = C, FATAL TO BIRDS, KO
Azalea (entire rhododendron family) = C, GI, N
Begonia* = KO
Bird of Paradise = GI
Bittersweet = GI
Bleeding heart* = C
Boxwood = GI
Bracken fern = N
Buckeye = GI, N
Buttercup (Ranunculus) = GI
Caffeine = GI, N
Caladium * = KO
Calla lily* = KO
Castor bean* (can be fatal if chewed) = GI, C, N
Cherry (kernel in the pit contains cyanide) = R
Chinese sacred or heavenly bamboo* = R, contains cyanide
Chocolate* = GI, N
Choke cherry, unripe berries* = R, contains cyanide
Chrysanthemum (a natural source of pyrethrins) = GI, N
Clematis = GI
Crocus bulb = GI, N
Croton (Codiaeum sp.) = GI
Cyclamen bulb = GI
Delphinium, larkspur, monkshood* = N
Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)* = GI, R, severe mouth swelling
Elderberry, unripe berries* = R, contains cyanide
English ivy (All Hedera species of ivy) = GI
Fig (Ficus) = General allergan, dermatitis
Four-o'clocks (Mirabilis) = GI
Foxglove (Digitalis)* = C, can be fatal
Garlic* (raw or spoiled) = GI
Hyacinth bulbs = GI
Hydrangea* = R, contains cyanide
Holly berries = GI
Iris corms = GI
Jack-in-the-pulpit* = KO
Jimson weed* = R
Kalanchoe* = C, can be fatal
Lantana* = KO (liver failure)
Lily (bulbs of most species) = GI
Lily-of-the-valley* = C, can be fatal
Lupine species = N
Marijuana or hemp (Cannabis)* = N, GI, can be fatal
Milkweed* = C
Mistletoe berries* = N, C, shock
Morning glory* = N, Seeds toxic to birds
Mountain laurel = C
Narcissus, daffodil (Narcissus) = GI
Oak* (remove bark for use as a bird perch) = KO
Oleander* = C, very poisonous, can be fatal
Onions* (raw or spoiled) = GI
Peach* (kernel in the pit contains cyanide) = R
Pencil cactus/plant* (Euphorbia sp.) = GI, dermatitis
Philodendron (all species)* = KO
Poinsettia (many hybrids, avoid them all) = GI, dermatitis
Potato (leaves and stem) = GI, N
Rhubarb leaves* = KO
Rosary Pea (Arbus sp.)* (Can be fatal if chewed) = GI, C, N
Scheffelera (umbrella plant)* = KO
Shamrock (Oxalis sp.)* = KO
Spurge (Euphorbia sp.) = GI
Tomatoes (leaves and stem) = GI, N
Yew* = C, fatal to most animals
 
Sorry about the spelling typo... it should be Pyrethrin not Pyrethin. Guess I should have used the Spell Checker :D
 
OK so chrysanthemums are on the list but these aren't pyrethrum dasies (sp?) and I don' think all types are bad, + it's actually a natural insecticide that can be eaten to prevent tics and fleas and all those nasties biting you.



and what the hell is is saying that
'Garlic* (raw or spoiled) = GI' is higly toxic and can cause death! not a week of my life has gone past when I haven't eaten garlic! I've even been known to slow roast whole bulbs, squeeze the caramelised goo out of the cloves and eat it on toast like that.....yummmmmmmmy!
 
As far as garlic goes, yummy yummy... I eat it all the time too. I think it's kind of like chocolate... we eat it, but dogs shouldn't.

Pets - Onion and Garlic Poisoning

:-offtopic Do you live near Göteborg? I love Sweden and used to visit Göteborg on business trips many years ago.
 
I differ with the opinion of Garlic being bad for your dog, as it helps with tick and flea problems...the little buggies don't care for the taste of garlic blood...but anyway that is just MO....

I feed my rats, crackers, lettace, carrots, apples, and many other things, besides their normal food...Helps elemenate the waste from my table, as well as giving them a bit of a treat...

terrysangel79
 
Well, I'm a lot closer to Göteborg than you are! hehehe

I'm in Malmö which is Swedens 3rd biggest city and right down in the south of Sweden. If you know where Copenhagen (capital city of Denmark) is then just go over the 20km long bridge to Sweden and you'll find my place there.

It's very nice and where I've been calling home for the last 3 years.
 
princess said:
Well, I'm a lot closer to Göteborg than you are! hehehe

I'm in Malmö which is Swedens 3rd biggest city and right down in the south of Sweden. If you know where Copenhagen (capital city of Denmark) is then just go over the 20km long bridge to Sweden and you'll find my place there.

It's very nice and where I've been calling home for the last 3 years.
Ok, I see where you're at. Sounds like you really enjoy it there. I've been to the Copenhagen airport, but that's all I saw of Denmark. Boy it's sure been a long time since I was in Sweden. I really liked it there. I worked with Volvo (we were designing/building airbag systems for them). It was fun trying new foods that you just don't see much of over here... like when they served a cold, fish soup for breakfast and when I ordered what they explained was like cheesecake, but was more like cheese than cake. I had a great time.

Wish I could visit again... but my life is totally different now, so I'm pretty sure that'll never happen. Gosh, I've only made the trip to the beach once since moving to California three years ago. :rolleyes: Besides, now I have to save up for more snakes to add to the "collection." :D
 
My great-great grandfather was born in Sweden, and sailed from Goteborg to New York in 1845. I'd love to visit, but I don't think it'll ever happen.
 
BeckyG said:
My great-great grandfather was born in Sweden, and sailed from Goteborg to New York in 1845. I'd love to visit, but I don't think it'll ever happen.

You'd love it.

Okay back on topic... I've been kind of boring with mouse treats. At first they got rodent block only. Then, I started giving them Cheerios when I'd open the lid to check on the babies, remove them for sexing/snake food etc. It distracted the "new mommy" mouse and she started to like me instead of trying to nip at me for bothering her babies.

Well they got the routine down and were pretty cute... as soon as I'd open the lid, they'd run to the sides of the container, stand on their hind legs, and beg for a Cheerio.
 
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