About wheels

Is he running little circles or big circles? Or maybe running circles around
the whole pool.... if it is small circles, it could be an inner ear
infection.

"Michael L." <anomaly3 DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2756-3F118D8E-61@storefull-2137.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> I have heard you should aways give you mice a running wheel but my
> Stuart won't use his so i took out of his pen because it just takes up
> room. He prefers to run in circles instead of using a wheel. He has
> plenty of room. His pen is a 4 foot baby pool with lots things for him
> to play with and hide in. He always runs in a clockwise circle so i
> guess he is right handed. Is this a common trait for mice?
>
> Michael
>
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In article <2756-3F118D8E-61.RemoveThis@storefull-2137.public.lawson.webtv.net>,
anomaly3.RemoveThis@hotmail.com (Michael L.) wrote:

> I have heard you should aways give you mice a running wheel but my
> Stuart won't use his so i took out of his pen because it just takes up
> room. He prefers to run in circles instead of using a wheel. He has
> plenty of room. His pen is a 4 foot baby pool with lots things for him
> to play with and hide in. He always runs in a clockwise circle so i
> guess he is right handed. Is this a common trait for mice?
>
> Michael
>
>
Does he run in circles a lot? Does he wave his head from side to side?
Does he ever seem badly balanced and fall off things? Don't be alarmed,
but my sister once had a waltzing mouse that ran in circles a lot.

Liam
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Thanks for the response! It isn't inner ear infection. He runs mostly in
smaller circles but he has been doing it all his life and he is almost 2
so i think ether it is genetic or a learn habit. I have cardboard boxes
made into a play house and he often gets on the top box and does his
circle running but he will also do it on the floor. But since he is
happy, i haven't tried to retrain him. I don't think it is the waltzing
mouse thing ether because he can go in a straight line if he wants
too...he just very seldom wants to.

Michael
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On Sun, 13 Jul 2003 12:49:18 -0400, Michael L. wrote
(in message <2756-3F118D8E-61.DeleteThis@storefull-2137.public.lawson.webtv.net>):

> I have heard you should aways give you mice a running wheel but my
> Stuart won't use his so i took out of his pen because it just takes up
> room. He prefers to run in circles instead of using a wheel. He has
> plenty of room. His pen is a 4 foot baby pool with lots things for him
> to play with and hide in. He always runs in a clockwise circle so i
> guess he is right handed. Is this a common trait for mice?

It's a compulsive disorder that some mice have, including one of mine
(Chicory). It seems to occur more often among inbred populations of mice,
from anecdotal reports. I think it bothers me to watch Chicory do it, more
than it bothers him. Chicory does run his wheel, though -- and that seems to
help him "straighten out" for a while. I tried to arrange things in his
house to interrupt his circles as much as possible, but beyond that I just
leave him alone. He's friendly and loves treats; he seems happy enough. Of
course, I'd never breed him or his siblings in a million years!


Heather
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