Mice are territorial and acted completely normal for them when confronted with a stranger in their territory. I am sorry you are upset about about the loss of your hopper but his death was not the fault of the female mice and to blame them for acting like mice is a bit immature. NEVER just throw strange mice into an existing mouse's territory. If you want to try to introduce them, either completely clean the cage to remove the scent of the residents or put them in a new cage--even then they may still not accept strangers.
I assume you are not blaming the snake for acting like a snake, so please do not blame the mice for acting like mice. Feed them if you are going to, but don't purposely feed live as a means of 'revenge'. Statements like this reflect badly on you and others in the herp community.
A small bit of listerine, alchol or water in the snake's mouth will usually make them release.
Reply With Quote