Got mice?

[Classicrocker42o]

I do.

Anyways I bought a female mouse that was pregnant, and a male.

I've kept them both separated for now, but I'm wondering should I keep them together? She's pretty big, and starting to make her way to that baseball look.

I've heard the male might eat the babies, and even the store told me that. I've read different other places to. What's true?

[Sasquatch Art]

I always keep my female prego mice separate from both males and other females.

That is just how I run my colony...


I have heard that when keeping a male with a female (even with babies) she will get pregnant again, which really isn't healthy..

So I would separate her from him...

[CntrlF8]

Mice, unlike rats, do just fine with harem breeding. Leaving the male in with them full time is just fine, and many breeders on this site, including myself, do it. Males are also not prone to eating the babies, that's usually the mothers. The males also help tend the babies, as will other females most of the time.

[Ginevive]

I have read that males will eat the babies if they were not from their own breeding. Is it the father of the babies, or an outside male?
But if they were already seperated, I don't know how he would "know" that they are his or not.. so it is a tough call. Personally I would not put this male with the female now, because at this late in the game, she might get set-off and kill her babies once they come.. or he might harass her when they're born, not knowing that they are his kids..
Tough call though. This is just what I would do.

[littleindiangirl]

That's exactly what I was going to say. Most males will kill babies that arent their own to get the mother pregnant again with his babies. I agree that you probably want to wait on introducing them until the pups are gone.

[CntrlF8]

Sorry, yes, I should've added that bit as well.

[Classicrocker42o]

I don't believe he is the father.

She was already pretty big when I got her, and the male just came from their bin.

I'll keep him out for now. Till the babies are ready to be winged.

[Jenn]

I tried putting a couple of male feeders in with a pregnant female once and she attacked them. I don't know if this is common or not, but I can't put anything in there with her. Yet she never misses a chance to jump into my hand so she can come out and play.

[Classicrocker42o]

I gots mice again!

The female gave birth. I went over and took a closer look when I saw some stuff moving on one side of the tank while she was on the other side eating.

When I got a closer look I saw the babies. Now when I see her by them and they sqeek I think she might be eating them. But I'm sure I'm just getting worried because of the story's about them doing it. heh

Is it alright if I count them or will the make the mom mad? The mom is a little skidish. I just don't need any genocide going on in my tank.

[CntrlF8]

It would actually be infanticide..

But, whether you can check on and/or count them or not is entirely up to her. Mine are always protective, not wanting to leave the nest, but I can shoo them away without much trouble. I've only had 1 incident of eating babies in about 30 litters now, and that was because I removed the male from the tank the day they were born.