What do mice eat? - briefly
Mice eat a varied diet of grains, seeds, fruits, vegetables, insects, and occasional plant material; in laboratory or pet settings they are typically provided commercial rodent pellets supplemented with nuts and fresh produce.
What do mice eat? - in detail
Mice are omnivorous rodents that consume a broad range of organic material. Their diet varies with species, habitat, season, and availability of resources.
In natural environments, mice obtain nutrition from:
- Seeds and grains (wheat, barley, oats, corn)
- Nuts and fruits (acorns, berries, apples)
- Plant parts (leaves, stems, roots)
- Invertebrates (insects, larvae, earthworms)
- Fungi and mushrooms
- Carrion and waste material
Seasonal shifts influence proportion of each component; seeds dominate in autumn, insects increase during warmer months, and fruits become more important in spring.
Laboratory and pet mice receive formulated chow designed to meet precise nutritional standards. Typical composition includes:
- Protein: 14–20 % (soy, casein, fish meal)
- Fat: 4–6 % (vegetable oils)
- Carbohydrates: 50–60 % (corn, wheat, maltodextrin)
- Fiber: 5–7 % (cellulose, beet pulp)
- Vitamins and minerals: added premixes for calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, D, E, B‑complex, and trace elements
Water is supplied ad libitum; average intake ranges from 3 to 5 ml per 20‑gram mouse per day. Dehydration rapidly impairs renal function and reduces reproductive performance.
Nutrient requirements differ between growth stages. Juvenile mice need higher protein levels (up to 22 %) for tissue development, while adult females require additional calcium and phosphorus for gestation and lactation. Excess dietary fat predisposes to obesity, hepatic steatosis, and reduced lifespan.
Wild mouse populations adjust intake to avoid toxins. For example, rodents avoid seeds containing high concentrations of alkaloids and preferentially select low‑tannin nuts. In urban settings, mice exploit human refuse, consuming processed foods high in sugars and salts, which can lead to metabolic disorders similar to those observed in captive animals fed imbalanced diets.
Overall, mouse feeding behavior reflects opportunistic omnivory, with dietary composition fine‑tuned to meet protein, energy, fiber, vitamin, and mineral needs across varying ecological contexts.