If I were you, I'd keep the male. The papas are almost never the killers. When the other two females are evidently preggers, remove them each to her own birthing cage. That way, you'll isolate the cannabalistic one, and can eliminate her. Possibly, when they're isolated for birthing, both may raise their litters. In that case, you'll know that the cannabalism was either probably due to stress, or was being done by the papa. Keep back one male and at least two females from each of the mamas, and you'll have the foundation for a good colony. If they're all raised together from infancy in a roomy cage, they'll probably not kill their babies.



One other thing: it is essential that they have adequate fresh water available at all times. The most common cause of cannabalism in rodents is thirsty parents.



tricia



>>At first I was just attributing it to new mothers...but I had 3 litters from 2 mice...the first 2 were all dead before I saw them...but the third, there were a few dead pinks and 7 live ones, the mom seemed to be taking care of the live ones...and then the next day, there were 6 more dead ones, and only one left alive, that I fed to my milksnake. At least my $6 fancy mouse isn't killing anything :P (the others were a buck something apiece). I think I'm just going to raise up her litter and use them as breeders...

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>>-audri

>>Webpage/Pics




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tricia

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