Caracul Mouse

Coat and looks how to spot one

Wavy coat that turns plush

Babies have a wavy coat and curved whiskers. The waves start to straighten at about four weeks, and the adult coat looks plush, with a small kink at the tip of each hair. One copy of the gene looks the same as two.1

Personality what they are like

Coat type has no effect on character, so these are typical fancy mice: lively, curious and happiest with mouse company. With calm, gentle handling close to the ground they settle well and seldom nip, and the AFRMA expects every show mouse to be easy to handle.345

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Busy and quick, most active at night and around dusk and dawn. Offer a solid-surface wheel, ropes, branches, tubes and tunnels, and scatter part of the food so they can forage.467

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

No special grooming: mice keep themselves clean. Dust-free bedding and regular cleaning keep the coat nice.6

Home where they are happiest

A roomy, escape-proof cage with bar gaps under 5 mm, at least 2 cm of dust-free bedding plus paper or hay for nesting, hides with more than one exit, a solid wheel and climbing items. Keep it well ventilated, out of draughts and away from heat.6

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Complete mouse nuggets as the main food, with small portions of vegetables and fruit counted into the daily amount. Scatter some of the ration for foraging and provide fresh water from a bottle, checked daily.7

Company who they like around

Sociable animals that do best in stable, same-sex groups. Females usually live together easily; males are best kept with brothers they grew up with. Avoid swapping members in a settled group.83

The story where it all began

Caracul is one of several curly genes in mice. Breeders often combine it with other curl genes, because on its own it gives only gentle curls.19

Recognised by the official bits

Fancy clubs

Curly coats like caracul are shown with other curly mice (AFRMA class Frizzie).9