Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 2,801

1 members and 2,800 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,031
Threads: 248,489
Posts: 2,568,442
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, isismomma
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 15 of 15
  1. #11
    Registered User Parsons483's Avatar
    Join Date
    06-12-2019
    Posts
    83
    Thanks
    71
    Thanked 23 Times in 13 Posts

    Re: mice won't stop cannibalizing young

    I ended up leaving the male in there making my own mix of food (mix of cat food, seeds, and pellets) I assumed the females were lacking protien and letting them do their own thing with weaning the babies.. and no more eating eachother. Odin (snake) is quite well fed now..

    Sent from my moto e using Tapatalk
    Last edited by Parsons483; 11-27-2020 at 12:46 PM.

  2. #12
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,183
    Thanks
    28,082
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts

    Re: mice won't stop cannibalizing young

    Quote Originally Posted by Parsons483 View Post
    I ended up leaving the male in there making my own mix of food (mix of cat food, seeds, and pellets) I assumed the females were lacking protien and letting them do their own thing with weaning the babies.. and no more eating eachother. Odin (snake) is quite well fed now..

    Sent from my moto e using Tapatalk
    I'm glad that something finally worked out for you, & I suspected the food to be the issue. I feed my mice quality* "lab blocks" (aka pellets) that are large & don't fall thru the wire bars on the tops; then I also supplement their diet with one or more of these: sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, raw unsalted peanuts a few times/week. Also give small amounts of greens (usually kale) for extra vitamins, there's nothing better. You can offer other things too, but these are the essentials. Was using Purina 5001 (for rodents!), now using Mazuri (again, for breeding rodents). Cats have very different needs, & their chow may contain things NOT good for mice long-term. Including excessive fats (which cats NEED) & artificial colors, which mice cannot excrete & which can make them (or your snake, ultimately) sick. I would suggest that you get some proper lab blocks shipped to you, if your local stores won't order it. BTW, I switched brands only because of availability (to my local feed store), but both are good. They are balanced specifically FOR the protein & other needs of RODENTS, unlike cat or dog foods. Don't say no one told you. All the best.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    Parsons483 (11-27-2020)

  4. #13
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,183
    Thanks
    28,082
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts
    BTW, in winter (assuming your mice are not kept in a warm house) they'll also burn more calories just like we do; for that reason, I give mine more seeds/nuts (protein & fats) than in summer. My mice are in a chilly garage attached to my house, btw. Their cages are fully insulated, & they do well with the modifications I make.

    Those seed/grain mixtures they sell in pet stores have eye appeal, but seem to work best for hamsters, not mice or rats, all of which I've raised thousands of.
    Last edited by Bogertophis; 11-27-2020 at 04:23 PM.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  5. #14
    BPnet Veteran BeansTheDerp's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-25-2020
    Posts
    241
    Thanks
    400
    Thanked 171 Times in 108 Posts
    Images: 5

    Re: mice won't stop cannibalizing young

    what you could do is once the mice get old enough, just separate them from the adults? that way they cant be eaten!
    Be kind, and inspire others to be kind.

  6. #15
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,183
    Thanks
    28,082
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts

    Re: mice won't stop cannibalizing young

    Quote Originally Posted by BoopsTheBallPython View Post
    what you could do is once the mice get old enough, just separate them from the adults? that way they cant be eaten!
    They don't make it that far. They get eaten long before they're weaned, fyi. This can happen for many reasons, including the mom mouse has dried up & is too old to keep breeding, or bad genetics from the start. In my colony, I know it's not about the food. If it's not the mom's first litter, I would feed her off as a non-breeder. If I notice any cannibalism of a litter, I pull the rest out before they meet the same fate. Sometimes I can sneak them into another mouse's litter (if they're the same size & not too many for her to feed overall), but usually they get fed off or frozen for future feedings. Breeding mice requires some "tough love", lol.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1