A little Concerned and curious...

[TripleMoonsExotic]

I have two colonies of mice like this. "Cow mousies" is what I call them. Though I have no problems with reproduction or health problems. :shrugs:

 

[Ryan Harvey]

Hey there!
I had the same problem with a mouse at the same age? I thought is was prego? I don't remember what happened to it. Must have been a feeder and not one of my fancys! I'll be sure to ask one of the small animal professors this morning to see what they have to say..
Ryan-Valley Pets

 

[tyflier]

I must say that this is an incredibly interesting topic to read.

I just purchased 3 mice for a breeding colony. I have 1 female PEW, 1 female spotted, and a fawn coloured male with brindle patterning on his back. Now, the interesting thing is this: last night, while letting my daughter hold the spotted female, it occured to me that she was much fatter than 2 days ago. My first thought was, "Cool. She's pregnant. Gonna get a litter soon." Now, I'm not so sure. I will need to keep a close watch...

I have a question, though. In the experience of the more knowledgable breeders here, does feeding these "sickly" mice have any negative effects on the snakes that eat them? I would hate to cause an illness in one of my snakes because of an inherited genetic defect in the food I provide. I know that ingestion of a genetic defect doesn't cause any sort of "passing on" of the defect, but it seems to me that ingesting a diseased liver or colon might cause internal issues for the snake that eats it.

Comments?

 

[Ssthisto]

The younger pied pictured will be fed off immediately, as will all future pied offspring and I'm going to start the process of weeding out the genetics of the line. I may get flamed for this, but I can't afford to just stop both colonies right now. They are actually the largest producing colonies I have - yeilding twice as many pinks as my PEWs do.

To be honest, if you have some 'good' results - like "lots of pinks" from that colony - then I'd suggest keeping the colonies going but making sure that any very heavily marked mouse (i.e. lots of white) IS culled as soon as you can identify the colour. Maybe gradually select for females who produce fewer of the heavy-marked 'duds' while keeping the large litter size - and maybe adding in solid-coloured females to breed with your marked males.

 

[Snake_Charmer]

Now, the interesting thing is this: last night, while letting my daughter hold the spotted female, it occured to me that she was much fatter than 2 days ago. My first thought was, "Cool. She's pregnant. Gonna get a litter soon." Now, I'm not so sure. I will need to keep a close watch...

Most mice with lethal spotting die at about 2 weeks old so your female is probably fine and hopefully pregnant.

I have a question, though. In the experience of the more knowledgable breeders here, does feeding these "sickly" mice have any negative effects on the snakes that eat them? I would hate to cause an illness in one of my snakes because of an inherited genetic defect in the food I provide. I know that ingestion of a genetic defect doesn't cause any sort of "passing on" of the defect, but it seems to me that ingesting a diseased liver or colon might cause internal issues for the snake that eats it.

Comments?

In this case it's not really a diseased colon but more a non-functional one. I have a colony of spotted mice and usually use them for pinks & peach fuzzies...before the development problems start.

To be honest, if you have some 'good' results - like "lots of pinks" from that colony - then I'd suggest keeping the colonies going but making sure that any very heavily marked mouse (i.e. lots of white) IS culled as soon as you can identify the colour. Maybe gradually select for females who produce fewer of the heavy-marked 'duds' while keeping the large litter size - and maybe adding in solid-coloured females to breed with your marked males.

Yep, definitely try to stick with mice as solid coloured as possible--it's the white spots that's the problem. My best producer currently is a grey spotted female. I still haven't decided whether to try to keep some of her daughters or not.

"Cow mousies" is what I call them.

OMG...TOO funny :rofl: ...can't wait to see the looks I get when I start telling people I keep cows in the basement.

Pauline

 

[Lexcorn]

Yup,

I have quite a few colonies of 'Broken' / white patch mice.

Absolutely no problems with them at all.

However, I would agree with the general opinion here, any animal that is displaying a genetic defect should be culled i.e. a propensity for tumours in the line / poor quality production of progeny / continual eating of litters etc.

A lethal gene takes care of itself, however, the pairing of the parents who have 'clicked' should not be continued.

Ironically, I have experienced a more poor production from Chocolate/tan mice & a reduced 'prototype' from the long haired varieties!

However, these are variables that one may experience within any Breeding Programme, especially when introducing new blood.

Selective breeding for strong healthy individuals is a continual process.

Regards. Lex

 

[Morph Collector]

From what I have read, it sounds like you have parent mice that are gene carriers for birth defects. It could be the "pied" gene, or a plethora of other illnesses past down through genetics. If its a genetic defect, you should be ok feeding them to your snakes, because its not an "illness" per se, its a abnormality, or defect. I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time

I would cease all breeding of that colony, and terminate the specimens which you have.

 

[spazfrank]

Frog Disection Site that was requested (OT)

Shudders.. are you trying to give me nightmares??? lol J/K.. if you find the link I'd be interested as I need to prepare my oldest for when she starts dissection in a year or two or three... depends on how the homeschooling goes.

I don't know if this is the same one, but it fits the bill. www.froguts.com