Denna sida på svenska. The average life expectancy of a mouse depends on what type of mouse you have, how long the parents of the mouse lived, if there are any inherited diseases involved, and how well you care for your mice. It is very important to feed mice well!
In general the life expectancy of the English type mouse is very short, under a year, some do not live for more than 6 months. Here in Sweden we have one breeder of English type mice that claims that her mice can live for about 2 years in general, and the oldest English type mouse she knows about lived to be 3 years, 5 months and 1 week. The secret of this long life expectancy lies in feeding, this breeder says.
The Swedish type mouse generally live a little longer - just over 2 years is common, and the oldest Swedish type mouse I know of lived for just under 3 years.
The Minimouse in general lives a shorter lives, in general only 1 year. At the most they live for 1 1/2 years. The oldest cross between a Minimouse and a Swedish type mouse I've heard of lived to be about 2 1/2 years old.
Laboratory mice can live quite long, though, around 3 years is is not that uncommon, and a few can live for way over 3 years. Pet mice are bred for longevity, laboratory mice are not.
Conclusion:
All together this means that most mice in captivity die either from disease or from being put down, and very few actually live all their natural life.
Copyright Eva Johansson.
Last update: 11th of August 2006.