Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I only have a few snakes at the moment, but I'm planning to get more. I thought I'd try my had at breeding mice so that I don't have to pay ridiculous prices for them (and I can be lazy and not have to go buy some).

What's the reproductive cycle of a mouse? I'm trying to figure out just how many mice I'll need to be self-sufficient. How many babies can I get out of each mouse and how often?

Thanks

Mice gestation period is 20-21 days. Each litter can be 6-12 depending on the mice size. After giving birth they can immediately get pregnant again. I keep my mice 1 male to 6 females. Every 3 weeks I get a bunch of babies (you do the math).

Yeah, you can pretty much plan on the first litter being short, after that, plan on 10 babies from each female every 3 weeks, providing correct diet and conditions.

If you keep 4 females and 1 male per cage, you can expect 40 babies per month per cage.
If you got small snakes, this is ideal.
If you got adult snakes, mice take too long to raise to feeding size, and you're better off with rats.
6 weeks from baby to small adult size is typical for mice, 3-4 weeks for rats to large adult size. (Large adult mouse size.)

Also, if you keep 3 female mice and 1 male mouse per 10 gallon size aquarium, plan on cleaning the cage every 2 weeks.
If you keep 2 or 3 females and 1 male rat in a 55 gallon aquarium, plan on cleaning it every week. Rats typically have more babies per litter also, plan on 12 per litter.
The size of the snakes to be fed pretty much make it an easy choice.