Reptile & Amphibian Forums

k so this is my third set of mice, i think im going to give up on them after these guys...

i finally got mice to breed, and not eat the babies, they had a huge litter, what looked like 13 is now 8.. maybe i miscounted? anyway i get home from work tonight, and as usual i go and look at the mice tank, to check food levels and water, and get a peek at the babys if i can..only to find one of the mothers decapitated and laying beside the food dish! it was supposed to be a 1.3 ratio, before these guys gave birth i found out that there was 2 males! so i chose the more dominant one (he was always starting the fights ) and left him in there, the other got fed to my snake...
why did they do this? they had a full bowl of food..and i cant see any other reason for them to eat half a mouse..it was a really gross sight, i think she was pregnant as there was what looked like developing pinkys hanging out of her..

im just gonna buy my mice from now on but i was just wondering why they would do such a thing?

They didn't have enough protein, they didn't like her. She died giving birth or for some reason and they were just 'cleaning up'. I don't strain myself worrying about mouse motives unless it is fixable. Honestly if you are checking them all the time they could have been overly stressed. Just don't know.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Mice sometimes canibalize there young due to shortage of water.
so make sure that there is a constant available water supply and protein rich food, thats sometimes all you need.

what is a good protein rich food? Just had 2 litters of about 20 eaten. P'd me off.

Recently I had a new group of 1.6. Two litters were born. 19 babies. Several days later all were gone. Not a peice of evidence was left. Then another had 10 and soon 3 more were gone, so I removed the one I THOUGHT was doing it. For several days all was ok, then when I went in to check them I caught the culprit red handed. She was removed instantly. Sometimes you just get a cannibal. Sometimes first time moms will eat them too, or one that is sick and or dying.

I feed rodent blocks and add some Wal Mart ole Roy dry dog food (without red dye in it) for extra protien.... plus a handful of game cock seeds when I change bedding and take babies, etc, to divert their attention... and, also to wean babies.

If you're going to raise mice be prepared for all differnt kinds of unsightly happenings. Hang in there though. You'll get used to it.

>>what is a good protein rich food? Just had 2 litters of about 20 eaten. P'd me off.

Aim for a low 20%s kibble. Either a dog hi protein or something. I tend to feed a dog kibble and seed mix and when there are litters and more physical stress and I add some cat kibble in the mix now and then....with the 30%. Fat and constant supply of water is also a big factor. Lower fat or no water and you will get cannabalism. With mice I think stress is the number one reason. Try to ignore them except for the necessary stuff. I don't count pups or anything except cleaning day. I might note that I hear or see newborns but otherwise I don't poke around. Counting is only on cleaning day.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron