Failing at Breeding

[revxus]

So I bought a few mice a month ago from Petco, and they all ended up dying after their 15 day guarantee, so I had to buy a new batch of them.

Just last week, I bought 3 females and 1 male. To my frustration, two have died including the sole male and this time, I went back to Petco and got them replaced.

I'm not understanding what could be going wrong. They are placed in a 10g tank, with food and water daily... so far I have noticed they are very active upon arrival, then they get lethargic and start to look thinner and their food pellets are just being ground up and are sleeping on it?

I haven't bred mice before, I also have rats and they are being taken care of the same way and fed the same diet - but haven't had fatalities with the rats.

Any help is appreciated.

[Sarin]

Probably your supplier... Try getting a whole new batch from a different store, sanitize your current tank and replace everything.

[revxus]

Probably your supplier... Try getting a whole new batch from a different store, sanitize your current tank and replace everything.

It's becoming rather expensive! But, I have a new 1.2 batch just replaced, and I've placed them in a whole separate tank and in a different room of the house.

If this doesn't work, I'll have to take your advice and get a new batch elsewhere. This is my 3rd batch already, so if it doesn't work then it's their supply that's bad.

I always quarantine new arrivals for 4 weeks, and I clean everything with 50% bleach & 50% water to sanitize, and the furnishings are frozen for 48 hours because I don't have a working oven to use.

Thanks for the advice!

[irishanaconda]

It's becoming rather expensive! But, I have a new 1.2 batch just replaced, and I've placed them in a whole separate tank and in a different room of the house.

If this doesn't work, I'll have to take your advice and get a new batch elsewhere. This is my 3rd batch already, so if it doesn't work then it's their supply that's bad.

I always quarantine new arrivals for 4 weeks, and I clean everything with 50% bleach & 50% water to sanitize, and the furnishings are frozen for 48 hours because I don't have a working oven to use.

Thanks for the advice!

check ur watter bottle too just in case, i had the same thing happen with asf rats when i realized the watter bottle was not working at all.

[RichsBallPythons]

What food are you feeding. If feeding the pet store mix bags that could be a problem as well.

Those are not good for breeding stock mainly for hamsters. Try to get your hands on bag of KENT or Mazuri Rodent Blocks. Mice once started NEVER stop. That 10 gallon tank will be over grown in 2 months.

[revxus]

What food are you feeding. If feeding the pet store mix bags that could be a problem as well.

Those are not good for breeding stock mainly for hamsters. Try to get your hands on bag of KENT or Mazuri Rodent Blocks. Mice once started NEVER stop. That 10 gallon tank will be over grown in 2 months.

Yeah, I got a free pair of rats at 10 weeks of age so they're still small and more likely not of age to produce yet and that 10g tank is temporary until I get a system with tubs.

Anyway, about the mice... they are feeding on these small green pellets I bought at Wal-mart, and it's actually Timothy Hay not Alfalfa as I stated earlier.

Here's what the bag says:

WESTERN TIMOTHY ESSENTIALS
FOOD FOR RABITS, GUINEA PIGS, CHICHILLAS, AND OTHER SMALL ANMALS

I understand this may not be the appropriate diet, but as I have never bred rats or mice before I thought they all had the same dietary necessities. Petco employees said it was fine as long as it said for "small animals" and the bag also states Vitamin and Mineral Enriched. And it contains 13% Crude Protein.

I have also been adding table scraps along with these pellets recently.

Also, the food at the store they are being fed are these grayish pellets. It's like $9.99 for a 3lb bag here in Cali.

[RichsBallPythons]

Call around to feed stores and as if they carry Kent or Mazuri rodent food. The food you are supplying is not good enough nutrition for rodents.

[Jenn]

As mentioned before, it sounds like the water bottle to me too. Are you sure they are actually getting water?

[revxus]

As mentioned before, it sounds like the water bottle to me too. Are you sure they are actually getting water?

Oh, the water is changed daily and the water bottles all work. However, I will be calling around for the food you have suggested. Thanks.

[RichsBallPythons]

YOu can do a search here to see if their sold locally.

http://www.kentfeeds.com/

Usually Farm feed barns carry it or mazuri. Kent runs about 11-14$ per 40lbs and mazuri is $23-30 for 50lbs