Low quantity mice breeding

For mice? I don't know anything about mice breeding, but do you want 4 weeks in between when the mice are ready to be fed? I don't expect you'll be feeding pinky and fuzzy mice are you?

Honestly, if you wanted to do a small operation for 2 snakes, I would harem breed all at once and CO2 them when they are old enough. Just my thoughts.

If this were rats, I could give you better advice.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

For mice? I don't know anything about mice breeding, but do you want 4 weeks in between when the mice are ready to be fed? I don't expect you'll be feeding pinky and fuzzy mice are you?

Honestly, if you wanted to do a small operation for 2 snakes, I would harem breed all at once and CO2 them when they are old enough. Just my thoughts.

If this were rats, I could give you better advice.

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I am breeding because they only eat live, and live are too expensive to buy all the time. We are a little partial to feeding live, so euthanasia is out of the question. Based on other posts and online sites and stuff, it looked like 8 weeks would be an adult mouse ready to feed. Does this need to be extended to get bigger?

Why not do like another member here. She finds a mouse breeder and buys as many as she needs for a month or 2, and sets them up in her quarters and feeds and waters them. She buys bulk, so it's cheap (think reptile show or private breeder, get in touch with me later) and if they breed, good stuff, if not, then it doesnt matter.

I know you think it's cheaper to raise... but is it really? Taking into account all the hassle of first getting mice to breed (notorious for cannibalism) and the amount of feed, housing... It does get pricey.

I don't want to discourage you, just trying to give you ideas. I can't imagine waiting 8 weeks for a litter is much fun, but if the litters are consistent and enough to keep 2 snakes fed for 8 weeks, then yes, in theory it should work. Just don't put 100% reliability on mice. (from others experience)

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Why not do like another member here. She finds a mouse breeder and buys as many as she needs for a month or 2, and sets them up in her quarters and feeds and waters them. She buys bulk, so it's cheap (think reptile show or private breeder, get in touch with me later) and if they breed, good stuff, if not, then it doesnt matter.

I know you think it's cheaper to raise... but is it really? Taking into account all the hassle of first getting mice to breed (notorious for cannibalism) and the amount of feed, housing... It does get pricey.

I don't want to discourage you, just trying to give you ideas. I can't imagine waiting 8 weeks for a litter is much fun, but if the litters are consistent and enough to keep 2 snakes fed for 8 weeks, then yes, in theory it should work. Just don't put 100% reliability on mice. (from others experience)

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I never really thought about feeders at shows, good call. How much is it typically? I think there are pretty consistent shows around here, at least one a month, which would not be bad. Thanks

Mice are cheap. You have Kalamazoo, G.R., Taylor (d-town). Taylor usually has a handful of rodent breeders, and there is always a multitude of mice to be had.

I love your spreadsheet, but unfortunately with a small colony, you'd never be able to count on nature following your plan, hehe...

It took a good year before my mouse colony was consistent and dependable, between me figuring enclosures, schedules and my animals, getting a good buck and mommas, etc., and getting a routine going.

But having said that, I think it's fun. As my two mouse eaters take adult mice, I try to always have adult and/or grow out mice available. If I get too many, euthanize and freeze (but then one of my two mouse eaters will take F/T, so there you go). =)

Anyone have any idea how much live mice are at reptishows?

I wanna say .60-.80 a mouse?

Here's what I do regularly:

I go to Big Cheese Rodents in Ft Worth, buy 275 live medium adult mice. They run me $0.45 apiece. The Petco around me sells them for $2 apiece, so no thanks. Even with gas the way it is, I come out WAY ahead.

OR

Get a cement mixing tub and make a lid for it, or get a big tank(20 long or bigger). Get 8-10 young female mice(small adult) and 2-3 young adult males. Leave them COMPLETELY alone other than food and water, and changing the cage once a week. Putting them in a closet or in a bedroom where they get minimal disturbance will ensure that they won't get stressed.

After a month or so, you should have babies. Do not touch, bother or otherwise mess with the cage or nest for a good week after the babies are born. When you clean, grab the whole nest and babies, with gloves on if you can, and transfer them to a holding tub or bucket. Put the adults in another container so they aren't trying to grab babies and moving them. Clean the cage quickly and put everyone back as soon as possible.

Food-wise, they need a higher protein diet. Mine get Mazuri 9F(16% protein and 9% fat), plus some dog food, black oil sunflower seeds and old-fashioned(slow cooking) oatmeal. They get cheerios every now and then too.

The main thing with mice is to LEAVE THEM ALONE. They will do their thing and you'll have litters of mice coming out your ears soon. If you notice a female dragging babies around more than she should, or stealing, or eating babies(attacking them, and only eating their heads or whatever, not cleaning up a baby that has died naturally), immediately cull her.

If you have any questions, let me know :)

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I wanna say .60-.80 a mouse?

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And rats?, since mine would be able to handle a little bigger prey, then I wouldnt have to multi-feed.