Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two female mice in two different cages, but from the same father (and could be the same mother too), that have had babies that when born were discarded while still in the sac all curled up tight as a drum. I took them out and opened them up to find them ok... some were even revived in spite of how cold they were. The sac felt rather thick and it was hard to open them and I wonder if perhaps this discouraged the mice from opening them as well. (It was one females first litter, and the other female was in an experienced group). I also wondered if this was a genetic trait. Ok... so I don't expect an answer to these unusual questions, but just thought I'd share something that I just wasn't used to seeing in my colony.

Thanks for your ear (eyes)
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MissHisssss

I have seen this from time to time, always with first time moms (regardless of the experience of the other mice in the cage). I don't think that the placental sack is tougher than a normal one, it just gets hard when exposed to the air for any length of time. I've also been able to save a few of these babies and foster them off, or even have the momma mouse care for them once they are removed from the sac.

It's like a spectrum. Some mice don't do any "clean up detail" once the mice are born... so that leaves little encased babies. Some do the perfect job, and those are the perfect pink litters. Some do too much, and that's when you only see body parts.
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~Sasheena

Hey Sasheena, how's it going? Thanks for your input. I've seen many things being born (including mice) and I've just never seen them all rolled up in the sac so tight like little cocktail shrimp. I'm used to seeing them come out nose/feet/tail first, then the body, etc., not still all rolled up in a ball... unless they rolled back up once they were born. Then to see the mice throw them out of the nest like little pink basket balls... I've just never witnessed such a thing before. Anyway... I'm just glad to hear that someone else has seen it as well. Thanks for sharing.

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MissHisssss.