Overview of Multimammate Mice
Multimammate Mice are also known as the African soft furred rat, Natal rat, Natal multimammate mouse and soft furred mouse. Although they are often referred to as a rat they are closer in size to a mouse, with adults weighing around 60-75g and measuring around 15cm. Tail length is 11cm. They are sometimes referred to as the link between rat and mouse.
As the soft furred rat moniker suggests they have very long silky fur. They have a range of colourations such as the natural agouti brown, cinnamon and various pied markings. They live between 2-3 years.
They cannot be kept in a plastic or wooden cage since they are such avid chewers. This means a large tank with secure mesh lid is best, filled with plenty of branches for climbing and chewing material. They need a deep level of substrate since they enjoy burrowing and it is important to provide nest boxes, bedding and hay for privacy.
They are omnivorous and need a good rodent mix supplemented with various fruits and vegetables and occasionally with live insects such as crickets or mealworms. Water should always be available.
Multimammate mice would naturally live in colonies and so must be kept with company to avoid depression. All female groups can be more stable than male but aggression between them if well kept seems uncommon.
Multimammate mice can be handled, although they are known to nip more than fancy mice. Some keepers report that their males are more aggressive than females. Care should be taken with handling due to their less docile temperament, but if obtained from an ethical breeder that the chances are your multis will be perfectly friendly.
Sadly, due to the fact that they produce such large, regular litters multimammates are widely bred as feeder breeders for snakes. The 'multimammate' part of their name actually means many breasted, referring to the 18 teats on the female - the most of any rodent.
Multimammate mice are one of the very few examples where rodent species can cohabit, since they can live with normal Fancy Mice. This is usually done in a male mouse/female multimammate and male multimammate/female mouse scenerio since they are unable to interbreed but can also be of the same gender. They have also been known to foster each others young although obviously this would only be done in a scenario where the original mum, or foster mum of the same species, is not available.
Multimammate Mice Behaviour
Sadly, the majority of Multimammate mice have been bred to provide food for reptiles due to their large litter sizes and fast growth. This means that they are not bred with an awareness for health or behaviour, and there is little long-term knowledge about family lines.
This means that many Multimammate mice end up in rescue, both from situations where they have been taken from a feeder breeder and from situations where pet shops advise incorrectly that they are suitable as pets for kids.
Multimammate mice can often be very skittish and are much more likely to bite than fancy mice. They need to be with an experienced keeper, who can accept that if they do not tame down they can still be given a good quality of life. Many multimammate mice are happy to take treats by hand from a trusted human and may accept gentle strokes. They can be toilet-tube trained to make moving them out the cage for clean outs relatively easy.
Multimammate mice are similar in behaviour to normal fancy mice, and to these and to each other, they are highly social. They live together in small groups or colonies very peacefully, with fallouts being less likely than with fancy mice. Introducing multimammate mice to an intact fancy male mouse is a good route to give the latter companionship they cannot otherwise have, as there is no risk of inbreeding.
Handling & Taming Multimammate Mice
Multimammate mice can be difficult pets to tame, due to the way they are bred. If you have managed to find a pet breeder with good lines, then you may have calmer mice.
Though Multimammate mice are far more likely to bite than fancy mice, it is unfair to call them more aggressive. In general, they have had far less contact with humans and therefore still retain more innate fear of us. Spending regular time talking to your multimammate mice in a calm voice and encouraging them to take treats from your hand can build trust.
Multimammate mice are best to train to walk into a toilet tube and be lifted up to start handling outside the cage. Do not reach in and grab your multimammate, or chase them round the cage as this will only scare them.
Multimammate Mice Environment
Multimammate mice have similar needs to a Fancy Mice environment. They are much better chewers however, and should not be given plastic. This includes cages, as a multimammate mouse can easily escape from a cage with a plastic base in a very short space of time. Some multimammate mice may never show an interest in chewing, however it is important to understand that if they decide to, out of boredom or any other impulse, that the potential for escape is there.
A good guideline for cage size for a pair of multimammates is 80 x 40cm. An old fish tank with a homemade mesh lid can work well for multimammates, providing you give enough climbing opportunities and have a varied cage layout.
Multimammate mice are very active and do enjoy wheels. If giving plastic wheels, remove if there is any sign of chewing. Your wheel should be solid-based and large enough that your pets can run without an arched back.