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 #1898123


SnakeKeeper19
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 What now?!?!?!

My breeder mice just had their babies and this is my first time breeding so what am I supposed to do now?
11/13/08  08:35pm

 #1898150


AvandisFifth
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   Message To: SnakeKeeper19   In reference to Message Id: 1898123


 What now?!?!?!

We had a crap load of mice in bio class last year. I was in charge of taking care of them. What I did was seperate them from mom once they seemed to be feeding on their own, otherwise mom might kill and eat them. Once they are old enough you want to sex them and seperate the males. They have a tendancy of killing and eating every bit of each other (you might notice some disappearing with no evidence of where they went.) If you are going to feed them to your herp while they are too young to sex then you should be fine. Just watch and make sure they dont fight so you’re not losing stock due to fight deaths.

If you really wanna be safe with the babies, seperate them from mom completely, keep them in a warm enclosoure, and hand feed them all with a syringe every 4-6 hours.
11/13/08  09:25pm

 #1898251


Manderzratz
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   Message To: SnakeKeeper19   In reference to Message Id: 1898123


 What now?!?!?!

you shouldn’t separate them unless she isn’t feeding them or she’s hurting them. take the father out or he’ll re-breed her too quickly. check the babies for milk bands. it’s a white band in the belly that means they’re getting milk. if you do separate them-you HAVE to feed very 2-3 hours, must express their bladders with your finger (using warm water) or a cotton ball. and you MUST keep them warm without them burning. it is much safer to leave them with the mother unless they are in harm’s way. mice generally only commit infanticide if the babies are ill, the mother doesn’t have the nutrients needed to care for them, or if the mother has extra stress on her. check the babies for milk bands and watch to see that she grooms and nurses them but other than that, if those two things are good, leave them be and she should do her job. good luck to your new litter.
11/14/08  01:30am

 #1898253


Manderzratz
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   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1898251


 What now?!?!?!

oh and mice should not be separated until 3.5 weeks old. they will start eating on their own around 2-3 weeks at the latest but still need their mom and will normally still nurse if given the option. 4 weeks is the start of sexual maturity so 3.5 weeks is best.
11/14/08  01:37am

 #1898254


Manderzratz
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   Message To: AvandisFifth   In reference to Message Id: 1898150


 What now?!?!?!

Quote:

They have a tendancy of killing and eating every bit of each other (you might notice some disappearing with no evidence of where they went.)


this only happens to dead or ill ones. or again if the mom isn’t ready/cared for properly and needs nutrients or is stressed. but for the most part if the babies are healthy and the mom is well cared for and prepared for pregnancy and fed a high protein/fat diet and left alone-no problems should ensue. it is not true that they have a "tendency" of committing infanticide, unless you mean that they eat them when killing them. but that is a natural habit to prevent decay from attracting predators and again, won’t happen for no reason. (sorry to the op for multiple posts. didn’t realize how many things i had left out.)
11/14/08  01:42am


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