Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Before my mouse gives birth I was just wondering what could I add to her diet to up the protein. I have been reading posts and one just below this ldypayne mentions that if a new mom doesnt' have enough protien in her diet she may kill her babies. My mice are on the mouse/rat commercial lab blocks. Is this enough? or should I add chicken or anything to her diet? Thanks again.
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1.0 ball python (vakker)
0.1 border collie/german shepard (maya)
2.1 cockatiels (sydney, ozzie and petrie)
1.1 chinchillas (ziggy and elmo)
0.2 mice (callia and shysie)
0.0.1 Emperor Scorpion (not named yet)
1.0 betta (grim)
25 fish (too many names to put here)

UNROASTED, UNSALTED PEANUTS Sorry about the caps.

not all lab blocks are created equal. If you are using a good quality lab block, then nothing additional is required. The packaging should break down the protein % for you.

good luck
Denver Tom

>>Before my mouse gives birth I was just wondering what could I add to her diet to up the protein. I have been reading posts and one just below this ldypayne mentions that if a new mom doesnt' have enough protien in her diet she may kill her babies. My mice are on the mouse/rat commercial lab blocks. Is this enough? or should I add chicken or anything to her diet? Thanks again.

First, what is the % protein in the blocks? I look at mid to high 20%s of protein for mice that are breeding their brains out. The blocks may be enough. Though I am not a fan of blocks and tend to 'supplement' feed everything. I guess I am a diet tweeker. I feed each cage to the animal's conditions.
Personally you can add Cat kibble, cooked lean meats in very small amounts. I personally add veges or greens often too.....mostly for fresh vitamins and hydration. I toss in leftovers....pasta, sauces and all. Rice etc. More work than some of the larger producers want but me with my half dozen 1.8 mouse tubs and my 3 or 4 1.3 rat tubs can do this fine.
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Sonya

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.

Ok I checked the blocks and it said it had a minimum of 21% crude protien. I also give the mice a little bit of this gourmet mouse food which is basically seeds and grains. I'm starting to get worried though. Its been a week of her showing drastically and there are still no babies. She is having more trouble moving around now, though she is still eating well and still trying to get away when I want to pick her up. How long does everyone elses mice show before they give birth? I just want some numbers to compare to. Thanks so much for all your help. I would be lost without this forum.
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1.0 ball python (vakker)
0.1 border collie/german shepard (maya)
2.1 cockatiels (sydney, ozzie and petrie)
1.1 chinchillas (ziggy and elmo)
0.2 mice (callia and shysie)
0.0.1 Emperor Scorpion (not named yet)
1.0 betta (grim)
25 fish (too many names to put here)

typical mouse gestation is 19-23 days, average being 21 days. If there is no signs of distress in the mouse, I would just give her a few more days. Sometimes you willl come back in a couple hours and find out she had a bunch of babies while you weren't looking. I had a female do that to me. Looked in on her about an hour before I wanted to clean all the mice cages, she didn't ahve babies, half way through cleaning, I look in to take her out of the cage to clean it, and she has a bunch of pinkies all around her. I had mice take 19 days to give birth and one that waited 23 or 24 days and she looked as big both times.