They can have other advantages over ordinary mice, too. There is a large hereditary element to the functioning of the immune system, so fancy mice should be healthier than ordinary mice on the basis of generations of selective breeding. Because fancy mice need to accept being handled by strangers at shows, they may also be more docile and easily tamed than ordinary pet mice. A fancy mouse that is particularly nervous or hard to handle would not normally be bred from in case these characteristics were passed on to its offspring. This is in contrast to the ordinary pet mouse, which may have been bred for snake food so the breeder has no reason to select for health or temperament.
Fancy mice are extremely pretty.
They are sleek and polished rather than soft and fluffy. They are very active, playful animals and will entertain you by chasing and grooming each other, playing with their toys, and exploring anything they can get their little noses into. They are very happy animals and it is a joy to see how much pleasure they get from a few simple objects. They are among the more intelligent rodents and can be taught to explore mazes and the like. Although they are naturally shy, mice get to know their owners and can be trained to come to you and climb on your hand.