Mouse Mania Trivia Quiz

Answer: acrobats

Mice are natural "upside down" climbers and being tiny featherweights can climb obstacles which any other rodent would bend or break. As circus performers, they are "naturals" !

Answer: 8-13

Most mice have between 8 to 13 babies per litter. However some genetically modified mice in laboratories have anything up to 26 babies at one time.

Answer: 32 hours

In the intensive breeding program, female mice come into postpartum estrus within 32 hours of giving birth. If a newly pregnant female mouse is put with a strange male mouse, she will absorb the embyros into her system and come into estrus again to mate with the new male.
However, in non-intensive breeding programs, if the male is removed from the female as soon as mating takes place, after the babies have been weaned, it can be up to five days after she is back with the male before mating takes place again.

Answer: viral pneumonia

Although all three of these illnesses do of course kill mice - particularly cancer - the most prolific is viral pneumonia which is a form of "flu". This can and does sweep through entire colonies, killing adults and young indiscriminately. There is little that can be done to save mice with this illness.

By the time they are discovered hunched up with their eyes closed, fighting for breath, it is generally too late.

Answer: manx

Manx is a breed of cat. The incorrect answers are coat patterns and colours of mice.

Answer: True

Contrary to popular thought, Dad mouse is unlikely to eat his children! It's usually the mother who will eat her children. This may come about with an inexperienced mother, through fear of predation, an ill or weak pup, or for reasons unknown.

Answer: True

Very occasionally a female mouse will withhold some of her foetuses. This may occur if she is living on her own and is carrying too large a litter to cope with.

Answer: approx 3 weeks

If is wise to separate the female and male siblings at approximately 3 weeks. However, if the litter at 2 - 3 weeks appears strong and are beginning to attain a slender "mouse-like" shape, rather than a rounded "baby" shape, then they can be separated at that time. Male mice will show their well-rounded "credentials" as soon as they are capable of sexual interaction and this will be at 2-3 weeks.

Answer: 1 male - 6 females

Male mice are extremely combative. Unless the baby male mice are left in the colony with their male and female family, then more than one male per colony can prove to be a violent proposition. The 1 male- 1 female combination is not desirable because the female, will continue to have litter after litter so that she will be swamped and unable to care for them.

The 2 male - 1 female situation will lead to the female being sexually harassed, and fighting between the males which will probably lead to either the death of the weaker male, or his hide being literally stripped off his back.

This rarely heals and usually become infected.

Answer: 20 -21 days

A mouse gestation is just on 3 weeks.

Answer: hopper

Fuzzy is the latest stage at which an orphan can be introduced into a new colony. It would appear that identifying scent is apparent with the arrival of full body fur and opening of eyes i.e hopper and older. At this stage, a young mouse arriving in a strange colony is doomed. A female colony member will kill the intruder with a single deep bite to the abdomen.

Answer: True

This is an occasional phenomena which appears to occur when there is a shortage of mother mice in a colony. Strange but true !

Answer: basil leaves

Whilst most mice will eat cheese, nibble at liqorice and certainly eat eggs, the aromatic basil leaf is mouse " marijuana " ! They will roll in it, line their nests with it and above all - eat it!

Answer: True

The metabolism of a mouse is geared to high speed. Being included on a lot of natures menus requires fast production to keep up the numbers which in turn requires fast growth. The necessity to outrun predators means fast footwork on little legs ! When a mouse dies, rigor mortis generally sets in within the hour.

Answer: False

In a colony situation, all the females work "shifts" to look after all the babies and all the infants in the colony smell of the colony. With each female becoming pregnant every three weeks, the number of babies increases rapidly, so that artifically created colonies (i.e by humans) must be monitored daily to check for overcrowding. Dad mice are rodent "snags" taking their turn to keep the babies warm and to bring straying infants back to the nest.

Answer: calico

Answer: Birmese

Birmese is a coloured pattern or variety of mouse, characterised by a chocolate coat with darker points on nose, ears, base of tail and feet. There are four breeds of mouse - longhair, rex, smooth coat and Manx.

Answer: C57BL/6

The BALB/c is a small pink eyed white mouse which is bred in laboratories for experiments. It's common, but not as common as the C57BL/6 strain of mice. Scientists favor the C57BL/6 black mouse as it is very stable genetically and it breeds well. The Quackenbush is genetically engineered to produce up to 26 babies per litter and to grow to approximately twice the normal size of domestic pet mice.

Answer: 1800s

Mice were and still are, bred extensively for reptile feed, however in the 1800s, when "terrier clubs" were formed for the betting on the speed at which terriers could catch and kill mice and rats, there appeared coloured mice in litters which were saved and frequently kept as pets. Subsequently, the clubs began to hold mouse and rat shows.

This lead to record keeping and pedigrees being issued, which increased the value of the rodent. At this present time, mice and rats are highly popular as pets and there is much fierce competition in the show rings and vigorous bartering on the sidelines !

Answer: True

An infection of the inner ear causes the mouse to lose balance and walk or run around in circles. If the mouse is picked up by its tail, it will spin uncontrollably. An antibiotic can be administered, however it is generally unsuccessful and sadly the animal has to be euthanased.