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 #1978728


EvilTrailMix
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 Success!

At long last I finally have a litter of baby mice! They were born early this morning, so they’re April Fool’s babies.

I took a quick peek at them while mom was out eating, and I have what appear to be 11 healthy little mice. Thanks to everyone who helped me out!



04/01/09  09:11pm

 #1978785


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1978728


 Success!

Congratulations! Once they get started, the going should be easier from here on out. Are you going to let them grow, or harvest as pinks?
04/01/09  10:48pm

 #1978833


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1978785


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Ha, I wish I could harvest them as pinks! Alas, my snakes’ pinky eating days are long gone, so I’ll have to let them grow for about a month before they are just right.

And thanks for the info on CO2 chambers. I did it for the first time about a week ago on a bunch of live feeders. (Strangely, live costs less than frozen?) Very effective, and no vinegar smell after I aired them out.
04/02/09  01:55am

 #1978903


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1978833


 Success!

Glad I could help!
I hate harvesting pinks myself, as the poor little babies in the nest look so cute and then I have to reach in and take them all away; but my snakes can only eat pinks and fuzzies so I have to harvest early. Some I do let grow to adulthood so I can sell them to a friend who has a Savannah monitor. This pays for the food and other supplies for my mouse colony.
04/02/09  09:35am

 #1979026


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1978903


 Success!

Nice! I wish I could feed my snakes pinks just because it would take much less time than having to wait for them to grow. I think it may turn out the opposite for me, as I think I found some people nearby who are interested in pinkies.



04/02/09  03:10pm

 #1979075


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1979026


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Congradulations!!

I love when they turn into fuzzies and just start opening their eyes. Soooo cute.
04/02/09  04:58pm

 #1979788


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 1979075


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I know! I’m a little worried though. I’ve never watched baby mice grow. They’re going to be so cute. Poor, cute, little snake food.



04/04/09  01:17am

 #1979891


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1979788


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Quote:

I’ve never watched baby mice grow.


Well, hold onto your hat! One thing they do is grow FAST! I frequently procrastinate on harvesting pinks and fuzzies as this is just my least favorite chore, and the little babies rapidly become too big for my snakes. Lately I’ve been procrastinating even more, as I built up a big stockpile of fts over the winter, and only need to harvest about once a week to feed live. I’ve got about 5 tubs of young growing now, and only one tub has large pinks or small fuzzies for feeding day, which is today. I’ve got another four tubs of new young females, the offspring of my best breeders, to step in and replace the current mamas so I can retire them. They did a great job this winter.
04/04/09  09:49am

 #1980105


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1979891


 Success!

They do grow fast! They seem to have almost doubled in size and they are only 3 days old! Unfortunately, once they turn into hoppers the growing seems to slow. (I got some live feeders from the pet store but they were too small and it took weeks for them to get big enough) If all of my mamas have 11 next time though they should start to add up quickly, once they’re large enough to feed.

I’ve been thinking about getting some plastic tubs for the mice so I can give my 10 gallons to my burrowing tarantulas. The poor things don’t have much room to dig in their critter keepers. I have to ask though, how do you get a smooth edge cut in the lid of the tubs? I took my lid to a neighbor’s because she has an electrical saw, but my neighbor’s husband just went at it with a pocket knife and made a horrible, cracked mess of it. And how do you attach the screen to it? I’m kind of at a loss...



04/04/09  04:53pm

 #1980300


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1980105


 Success!


mouse tub 58 quart Sterilite tub. Wire is 1/8 inch hardware cloth cut oversize then bent one inch under and fastened with #6 machine screws, washers, and nuts. I run a length of foam insulation like for windows between the wire and the lid, to prevent the mice trying to squeeze out or get poked with the wire edge.
To cut the lid, use a jigsaw. First make a small hole with a drill long enough to put the jigsaw blade through, then, while supporting the lid by having it on the tub, do your cut. Make sure the plastic is warm, as cold plastic tends to crack more easily. The piece of cut out lid I salvage and use as a cover for the nest box so they don’t pee and poop up the roof of the cardboard nest.
I had another thread about this but forgot where it is. Oh, here it is:
Link


Here is my solution for drippy water bottles. I put the little tub under the water bottle, and put it in a tuna can to keep it stable. I cut a little circle of 1/8 inch hardware cloth to fit inside the tub and prevent them from getting into dirty water.
04/04/09  10:42pm

 #1980684


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1980300


 Success!

I think she has a jigsaw. Is that the one with the vertical blade that moves by itself and you slide whatever you’re cutting under it? I’m not well versed in tools...

And the holes in the screen I have are too small to put screws though. I was wondering if something like caulk would work? I’m not going to be setting anything on the screen, so it’s not like it will have to hold any weight. I’d thought of using a staple gun, but didn’t have any staples of the right size, and I’m not sure they’d fit through the holes in the screen either.



04/05/09  07:35pm

 #1980714


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1980684


 Success!

Yes, that is the one with the vertical blade. Its helpful to practice on something first to get the hang of using a jigsaw.
The way I make the holes is I drill through the screen and the lid, using a bit the same size as the screw. First I position the screen over the lid (don’t forget the weatherstripping between the lid and screen) then I drill one hole and install the first screw, washer and nut, and work my way around the lid until they are all installed.
Some folks use a hot glue gun to attach the wire screen. I haven’t tried that, as glue is messy to work with and not as long lasting as screws. Also I have cats and even though the cats never go in the mouse barn, there is always that possibility. I use the same wire covered affairs for my lizards and gopher snakes, although those tubs are the Sterilite 105 quart size, and cutting those lids is more of a challenge as they are made of a more brittle plastic than the 58 quart ones. So if a big fat cat sits on top of one of my tubs it will hold the weight!
04/05/09  08:30pm

 #1980723


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1980714


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Ok, thought so. I’ve cut wood with it before, so plastic shouldn’t be too much of a stretch. I think I’ll just go with hot glue then, because it’s something I can do right away, and if it doesn’t work I’ll just go get some screws. And our cat isn’t likely to bother them. At about 10 years old she’s most interested in sleeping these days. :P

Thanks!
04/05/09  08:47pm

 #1980784


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1980723


 Success!

When you get a tub completed please post a photo or two!


Some of my 18 mouse tubs in the RV.


Bully (brown and white), her mate DustyBill (black), and their offspring. Almost ready to be weaned. Mama is pregnant again so this time when I take the babies out, Papa is going to be separated, too, so she doesn’t get pregnant right away again.
04/05/09  09:56pm

 #1981129


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1980784


 Success!

Aw, your mice are so pretty! I’m going to see if I can get over to my neighbor’s house when her husband isn’t there so he won’t try to help...

In the meantime, here are my new babies! 5 days old now.

Here is dad. I’ve decided to call him Stuart. Original, I know. :P

Here’s their setup. 20 gallon with 2 girls, 10 gallon with dad, and 10 gallon with mom and babies. They’re still using the heater because it’s fairly cold and actually trying to snow today...

And here’s one of the brown girls. They love their wheel! :)
04/06/09  02:34pm

 #1981156


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1981129


 Success!

Lookin’ Good!
What are you using for a nest box? I’m thinking of doing something besides cardboard just because the cardboard boxes are a chore to keep making. Your thing looks more durable, like it could be washed and re-used. I think we discussed that before but I forgot which thread.
04/06/09  03:50pm

 #1981238


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1981156


 Success!

It’s just a hamster house that came with a wire cage I bought a long time ago. You could use a butter tub with a hole cut in it. That way you could take off the lid to look inside. I’ve got some of those in with one of my snakes.

I gave my two brown mice a macaroni and cheese box. The day after it was completely stripped of color and had multiple holes chewed in it. So I can see where the butter/sour cream/other food container could help. :)
04/06/09  06:24pm

 #1984381


Jynxer50
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1981238


 Success!

Hey GreatBallzofFire, I had the same problem with my mice because they would ruin their cardboard boxes. And then at a Christmas exchange gift party, I ended up with a set of mixing bowls that I had no idea what to do with. (What’s a 17 year old boy going to do with mixing bowls? Certainly not cook..) And I took the medium sized one, drilled a hole in the side, and my mice love it. It’s the perfect size for a nice nest and its very durable so I can wash it in the dishwasher. I know you have alot of tubs though... I only have 2.

jake
04/11/09  10:04pm

 #1984536


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: Jynxer50   In reference to Message Id: 1984381


 Success!

Jake,
The bowl thing gives me an idea. Next time I go to Walmart I am going to look for small durable storage boxes with lift off type lids. Something I can drill entrance holes in, and have the lid lift up so I can see the contents.
04/12/09  09:14am

 #1984593


Jynxer50
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1984536


 Success!

Glad I could help. :)
04/12/09  11:29am

 #2010395


MHUH
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1978728


 Success!

Good for u!
05/24/09  03:43pm


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