Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sorry if this ground has been covered alot already - I didn't see much on the recent page...I have a 10 gal aquarium of 1 male and 4 females. The first litters from all females came at about the same time and everything went well. Removed young before they weaned to feed to the snakes, no problem.

Since then, I can't get a litter past the first 3 days - they are all eaten. Not sure if it is the same female or not. Have raised lots of mice before without this problem (under exact same conditions last year).

The questions:
Should I keep fewer mice in the breeding cage? (total 5 now)
Should I remove moms to a separate cage to raise the pinks?
What are likely causes?
Underfeeding? (get rodent chow and seed mix 2X/day)
Stress from too many in one cage?

They are in an isolated room at around 75 deg, dark most of the time, and left alone except for feeding.

Any advice is appreciated.

I've raised mice off and on and have only noticed other "moms" eating the babies. I used to keep 1 male and 2-3 females per cage, but if you have the space and enough cages, 1 female per cage, and maybe a couple revolving males to breed with might be your best option.

Also, ya may not want to take out all of the pinks from the mother. Leave 2 or so, and they can eventually either be fed to your other (Assuming you have bigger ones) snakes, or be used as replacement breeders.

If they have access to a good rodent chow, I doubt that nutrition is the problem. I would say it is either a stress issue or you have a jack the ripper mouse. You'll have to eliminate all stress sources. if the problem remains the same, I would destroy the group and start over.

I really really doubt that it is a space issue either.I have had 3 times that many mice (counting babies and very young) in a 10 gallon aquarium with no problems at all. I think the "Jack the ripper mouse" scenario is probably more likely. I do NOT suggest rotating males in and out. In fact, I wouldn't add any new mice to an established colony. In my experience that more often than not leads to more carnage. I would start again with a 1.3 or 1.4 group. I agree with not taking all of the babies from the mothers, at least not at first. I'd say keep 1 male and at least 3 females. When they are weaned, you can take all 4 of them and start a 2nd colony. Plus, the mothers don't seem to get as stressed when you only remove part of their new litter as opposed to all of them at once.

You probably have a Jack the Ripper mouse. When you find which ones they are, remove them immediately. The temp is good, a 10 gal aquarium is ok too. If they are only visited during feeding, then there shouldn't be much stress either. When I get a mouse that has those traits, it's snake food. Don't remove all the babies either, that WILL stress out the females. Make sure they have plenty of water, if they don't, they will eat their young. Also, just use one male for as long as you can. If you switch out with another male the females may reject him and fighting will ensue.

I raised rodents commercially for about 5 years. What I found, and was supported by others, is simply this:

1) Some mothers will eat their first litter, and never harm another litter.

2) Some Mothers will eat another mother's litter, but never her own.

3) Some mother's (Jackie-the-Ripperess) will eat ANYbody's litter--her own or others.

My advice is this: If this is a first time occurrance--don't worry too much about it.

If it happens again---FIND the offending female and destroy her.

Not many female mice are Jackie-the-Riperess', but they are out there, and they WILL reek havoc with your breeding efforts.