help murdering going on in my mouse bin!

I had the same type of experience with mice. What I do if I am going to introduce a new female is clean the whole bin out. Put the new mouse in and then add the existing colony. Overall this has helped out alot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dr_Gonz0

As for fighting, like people, some mice are just jerks. We would just weed out the agressors and make sure not to house 2 males together.

---

Well said. Although I haven't had a problem if there are multiple males in a "grow out" environment as long as they came from the same litter. (Lol, almost said clutch...teehee!)

For example, I right now have 4 mice cages: a grow out cage, 2 cages each with a mom each, nursing new litters, and one more cage where dad lives, waiting for his women to come back home. When the new litters are ready to be weaned, I'll probably euth. the rest of the grow out mice, clean the cage and move the "kids" in...just depends on the timing and how fast the grow out mice get eaten vs. how soon the new kids are ready to be weaned. =)

My 2 Mom and 1 Dad mice are nice...I enjoy holding them for a minute when I'm feeding or cleaning. =) But when my old dad mouse got nippy and generally became a poopy head, welcome to the gas chamber, buddy.

Rats are not all ribbons and bows either! My friend just lost a colony of about 2.10.50. She added in two males that she got from a friend.. they MURDERED almost all but one female she was able to rescue!
Males will kill off babies that are not theirs, plain and simple. Tigers, lions.. they do this as well. I am pretty sure that equines do it in the wild as well.. I am just saying that with mice, rats, anything.. just tossing in newcomers (especially males!) Is not a good idea.