Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a small colony of mice 1 male to three females. Two of my females got prenant and had litters this week. They killed all the babies within a few hours. My question is could this be because they are housed in the same room as the baby corns and milks. Or just a coincidence with moms that probabbly are first time moms, took a little over a month to get big(pregnant) looking.Will rats do this.Any suggestions appreciated.

I doubt it's due to the snakes. Are there any other disturbances, or are they overcrowded? My best advice is, observe carefully, single out the murderers, and eliminate and replace them.

first time moms are HORRIBLE.. they just dont know what to do.. and tend to pretty much eat all their babies the first time thru..

i plan on my first set of babies to all get eaten, if they dont, then woohoo.. if they do.. im not worried about it..

let em get prego again, and im sure they will do much better

best of luck

dan

I had a problem with this until I increased the protein intake of the mothers. If this behavior continues, find a dog food with at least 20% protein. It worked for me.

All of the Mazuri feeds are 16% protein. I feed a rodent chow that is 16% also. Thousands (millions?)of rodents have been raised on 16% feed. How could it be a protein issue?

DeMak

I don't recall the brand I get up here in So. Dakota but it is 21% protein.

My female rat, first time bred, had 15 babies. I had to put her down though because she bit me every time I got my hand anywhere over her tank to feed, change water, etc. I did hold back three girls from that litter though and will pick the most vigorous to raise and breed.

I have 3 colonies of 1.5 to 1.7 mice and it seems that at least two colonies have new pinks every few days. One popped out two litters the same day, what a pile of pink! I would say that the litters are 10-14 pinks per litter. I did have one new mom that chewed of some feet and tails but didn't kill or intentionally eat her pinks. I take all but 2-4 pinks out of each litter to feed my MHDs and Hognose and let them raise the rest to weaning or larger for my rats and for picking replacements as the elders need replaced.

I can't say that the protien is what has my girls producing so well, but something is. I am also not experiencing first time moms eating their litters when they are raised by the colony they were born to. I do occasionally swap fuzzies to keep them from inbreeding too many generations and so far they have done great.

Marcia

Marcia

Good to read you again!

DeMak

when I said I raise the mice for my rats I didn't mean I was feeding them to my "rats", but rather my rat snakes! I just re-read that and thought it sounded a bit strange!

I have been so busy with my new store and working 8-10 hour days 6 days a week that I don't often have much to post. I still read most of the posts though ; )

Marcia

>>I have heard that dog food isn't good for my snakes due to the red colors. I beleive it is magnesium, but it is something that accumulates in a snake until it reaches a toxic level. Am I wrong?

My mouse ate her first litter. All 11 of them. You would think she'd get full....the 2nd litter (also 11) she ate all but three. Those she raised. Never ate another one after that. Rodents are notorious for cannibalizing first litters. I would just let them keep going, and see what happens with the next litters. Things will probably improve.