HELP!!! Whats wrong with my mice??

[snakecharmer3638]

I'll try to make this short. This is my first litter from this breeding group and they are what I call fancy mice. My other breeding group are white mice. Both groups are kept in the same conditions. The white mice were started earlier and have had about three litters all healthy. The fancy mice are one tan and white male, one grey and white female, and one sandy colored female. The litter belongs to the grey and white female, and they are due to be weaned this weekend.
I have noticed that in this litter, which is a mixture of different colores including one white mouse that all of the mice that are black and white seem to be under developed. And in the last week two of them which were very small died.
Could this be some type of genetic issue? If so, do you think it could be something that is passed on by the mother or the father or both?
Thanks in advance for your help.

[snakecharmer3638]

Nobody??

[Jenn]

I've had a few litters like that. Most grew up just fine and became food nonetheless. Just feed off these females and keep going. Selective breed and you will soon have favorites.

[kc261]

I have had a few litters with runts as well. Both times it was the first litter for the female, so I wonder if it had something to do with her either not quite being ready physically, or she didn't do a good job of taking care of the babies. Most of the runts died off. One survived and is a very petite but cute and apparently totally healthy little guy that I'm keeping around because he's cute and I've got a soft spot for him and I'm curious if he'll ever catch up or always stay petite.

I'd say give the female another chance and see what happens, but I definitely agree with the selective breeding comment. If it turns out to be a recurring problem, I'd select your next generation of breeders from different stock.

[candyman88]

who cares whats color they are.there going to be bait.i waiting for my mice to pop out baby i have a brown/white/black thats a male and the female is white and black i hope they come out all diffent colors.i called them my bait makers lol had them for 2 weeks now

[Kryptonian]

When I used to breed hamsters I had a similiar situation. Not sure if it will be the same in mice. With hamsters there are some colors that were selectively bred badly. Black bears, panda bears, anything with black, (not dark grey or brown, pitch black) is from a recessive gene. This gene is much like albinos and piebalds etc in bps. If the hamster is black then both its genes are black and if 2 black are mated the litter will be 100% black. Then there is the roans. Roans are basically white hamsters with either black or dark cherry red eyes tat look like someone rubbed color on the surface of thier fur. This mutation has something wrong in its genes to the point where there is so little genetic diversity that when you breed 2 roans together you get a deformity. You end up with a litter of albino babies that have no eyes. These hamsters also do not live very long, average life span is 4 months. They are also extremely aggressive. So Kinda like the problem with pearl bps. Maybe there is a color gene in the mice that cuase certain ones to be deformed aswell.
http://www.hamsterific.com/HamsterUn...rsToAvoid.html

http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com/imag.../anastasia.gif

[halfwaynowhere]

you said they are black and white- were they maybe roan? I've read something about that being a lethal gene... I would remove that mom from the breeding group if she's producing babies that don't make it...