Hey guys, im just getting started into the whole mice thing. I want to try and get a large scale production going for an economical price. Does anyone know where I can buy some good live mice to get started. Also what are the basics... gestation period... how long do you have to wait until you can breed a female again... a male... what should the male:female ratio be.... Thanks a lot guys... Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!!
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Just Getting Started In Breeding Mice...
pinkie
Sep 20, 2003 10:14 PM
Replies (1)
Sonya
Sep 21, 2003 12:42 PM
>>Hey guys, im just getting started into the whole mice thing. I want to try and get a large scale production going for an economical price. Does anyone know where I can buy some good live mice to get started. Also what are the basics... gestation period... how long do you have to wait until you can breed a female again... a male... what should the male:female ratio be.... Thanks a lot guys... Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!!
Mice have a 21 day gestation. Breed back is a moot point because with mice you should not ever disrupt the group by taking out or putting back individuals. Meaning....set up the group (mine are in 1.6 and let them do their thing. Barring natural disaster or massive disease I don't mess with the group. Every so often I let one or two of the young grow up to replace a worn out breeder. With mice...NEVER take a male out and try to move him around to other groups or move females etc. They don't tolerate it and will likely just cannabalize the underdog. And NEVER try more than one male per group....again, they will kill each other.
I would get mice where they look healthy, are mediums, not larges and don't cost a fortune. Getting large, adults to start may be slower than growing out half grown mice and may just land you with someone else's worn out breeders.
I have never found Petco to be a good source. I go to local shops or other herper buddies with colonies. DON'T select funky colors...like a lot of dilutes or silky coateds as they generally don't breed as well and sometimes carry lethal genes.
Hope that is some help.
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Sonya
