Mice gasping for air?

Hello guys, so I recently started breeding mice. I have 1 colony nursing babies together .3 2 of the mothers died unexpectedly when the babies were at weaning age. Maybe try got sucked dry from te babies? Now the second question 6 of the babies have pased away gasping for air? Do you guys know why this could be happening? They have 100% ventilation water and food available at all time. I have no clue why any of this is happening. It has not happens before on othersonly these ones. Is it possible the mice got a disease and its spreading?

Sounds like some sort of respiritory thing. What are you keeping them on? What are you feeding them?

I'm keeping them on spruce, I can't find any other bedding anywhere where I live. I'm also feeding them hog grower, with mealworms every now and then.

How old are the babies that died??

Check your water bottles to see if the tubes are clogged.

I'm so sorry, I don't ha e anything to add but please keep us posted!!! I hope it works out for you!

I have water bottles aswell as little dishes in there with water, they are about 30 days old weaned then 4 days ago. So far 6 have passed away of the babies and 2 mother from that same colony with the babies died unexpectedly. I'm not sure what's wrong.

Is the temperature too high? Heat can kill em.

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How large is the tub/tank they're in? Is it well ventilated?

Respiratory Infections often occur with over crowding and poor ventilation.

It's in the white dish washing tubs from the dollar store, the top is screen. And there is about 15-20 weanlings in there. There is tons if room. Temps are good it's about 18 degrees in there so not too hot not too cold. I have 4 females die when there was only 7 of them in a tub.

If the spruce isn't kiln dried it can cause toxic respiratory infections.

If the babies are weaned too young they might not be eating and drinking on their own.

If the mom had an illness that is transmittable they might all have it.



GL - that sounds crappy :(

I'd try changing their bedding. Spruce is an evergreen, which can release toxic gases when cut up. It has to be kiln-dried, NOT air-dried, in order to be safe, but even then, since you're having issues I'd switch it anyway and see what happens.

Are the mice having any sneezing or nasal discharge before they die? Do they look thin or dehydrated before they die? You can check for dehydration by pulling their skin on their back upward then seeing how quickly it snaps back. If it doesn't go back in the blink of an eye, they're dehydrated.

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Originally Posted by Sita

I'd try changing their bedding. Spruce is an evergreen, which can release toxic gases when cut up. It has to be kiln-dried, NOT air-dried, in order to be safe, but even then, since you're having issues I'd switch it anyway and see what happens.

Are the mice having any sneezing or nasal discharge before they die? Do they look thin or dehydrated before they die? You can check for dehydration by pulling their skin on their back upward then seeing how quickly it snaps back. If it doesn't go back in the blink of an eye, they're dehydrated.

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Im going to switch bedding tonight, I'm going but aspen and see how it works out. Thanks for all the tips guys. Sita, I have already gotten rid if their body's but ill check that in another one if I loose anymore. I don't think I weaned them too soon. There were i think 24 days old. When I weaned.

I'd definitely check the hydration status of the animals too...
In the past when I've seen my mice die due to dehydration they have say there and gasped like that.

24 days is the perfect age to wean them; at UC Davis their weaned at 21 days, so you're good there.

To make sure there aren't any extra issues with regard to respiratory diseases, I'd take a 3x5 index card and measure the bottom of the cage with it; the number if index cards it takes I cover the bottom is the number of nice you can maximum house in the cage according to the National Institutes of Health guidelines to prevent excess ammonia buildup in their air. It will also help curb aggression and increase the likelihood of the litters surviving.

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

24 days is the perfect age to wean them; at UC Davis their weaned at 21 days, so .

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Do you go to UCD? :D

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I interned at their Mouse Biology Program 2 semesters ago for my Vet Tech Program

Thread crashers^ :) thanks for the help guys. I think I have the problem solved. Thanks everyone ill update in a week.

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

I interned at their Mouse Biology Program 2 semesters ago for my Vet Tech Program

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Awesome. Ive heard good things about the Mouse Biology lab. I considered interning there too at one point, but got a different lab job at the Genome Center on campus instead.

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Originally Posted by Skilla6000

Thread crashers^.

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Lmao. Sorry OP!
It was just exciting to find a forum user so close. Lol:p


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