I'm starting to think this guy is going to be snake food quick! All the pinkies from the first litter were killed, it was suggested that I purchased a pregnant female and the male, not being the father killed them, reasonable. A week later I got a second litter, all but 5 were killed. This morning, the third female has given birth and I've already caught the male trying to steal one of the pinks. Do you think it would be wise to remove the male for a while to allow the pinks to age a bit? Should I get a new male? Or should I just let things take their course? Thanks :shrugs:
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Bad Male?
- Thread starter mbdorfer
- Start date
moreptiles
New member
It's fairly common with a group of mice for them to kill the first couple of litters and then to settle down and raise them just fine. But if it happens for more than about 3 litters, then you have a pathalogical serial killer in the house. It could be one of the females, and not necessarily the male. I have never had the time to just sit and watch to find out who the killer is. In my case, when that happens the whole group goes into the food bag and I start over with a new group of weanlings. I find that if I try to put a new male in with an established older group of females, then they will often kill him or he will not breed.
Mark
Mark
DAND
New member
Also, I wouldn't suggest pulling the male out either. When you re-introduce him the females will usually kick his butt, (actually they usually go for the jewels :sidestep: ) which usually ends up with him dying.
If you go with a new male I'd suggest cleaning the tank and putting him in alone for a while before adding the females.
If you go with a new male I'd suggest cleaning the tank and putting him in alone for a while before adding the females.
Gestation is usually around 3 weeks, 21 days. If your male is killing off your pups, you do have a problem. Most likely if you feed him off and try to introduce another male the females will kill him. If you take him out and put him back later, the females may try to kill him, and/or he will continue to kill pups as they are born. Mice are just nasty critters. You have a couple choices.
Kill him, buy a new male, clean EVERYTHING~ hope for the best (if you have the time and space this is more likely to work if you seperate the females into seperate tubs ALL BY THEMSELVES (one female per tub) for a week, then put the colony back together with your new male and all your females in a CLEAN tub. (I don't have the space or time to mess with that~ but it is more likely to work if your females are confused)
Leave him, hope he stops it.
Buy a new male and three or four new females. When they start producing, kill off your first colony (in the mean time, pull the pinks as soon as they are born so you can use them as food for snakes rather than the sire)
Kill off your male, hold back the pups that have already been produced. Keep TWO males and a few females of those pups. When the two males are about 3 weeks old, cull one off (you only kept two JUST IN CASE one of them didn't make it to adulthood) Eventually the male you kept will breed your original females and his sisters for you~ and is somewhat less likely to kill pups as he will have been brought up in the colony. (this is what I would do, but I keep a lot of rodents, so I can afford to have a slow start on a colony.)
Good luck!
Kill him, buy a new male, clean EVERYTHING~ hope for the best (if you have the time and space this is more likely to work if you seperate the females into seperate tubs ALL BY THEMSELVES (one female per tub) for a week, then put the colony back together with your new male and all your females in a CLEAN tub. (I don't have the space or time to mess with that~ but it is more likely to work if your females are confused)
Leave him, hope he stops it.
Buy a new male and three or four new females. When they start producing, kill off your first colony (in the mean time, pull the pinks as soon as they are born so you can use them as food for snakes rather than the sire)
Kill off your male, hold back the pups that have already been produced. Keep TWO males and a few females of those pups. When the two males are about 3 weeks old, cull one off (you only kept two JUST IN CASE one of them didn't make it to adulthood) Eventually the male you kept will breed your original females and his sisters for you~ and is somewhat less likely to kill pups as he will have been brought up in the colony. (this is what I would do, but I keep a lot of rodents, so I can afford to have a slow start on a colony.)
Good luck!
One more thing~ Just because you see him snatching babies doesn't mean he is the killer. Some male mice like to nest with the pups. Some are actually very good fathers! LOL! And the females fight over the pups all the time too. Set up a chair next to the tub where you can see them easily~ and listen for the squeeling. Even a newborn pink can REALLY squeel when being killed! When you hear the squeeling watch without disturbing them. Did he steal a pup and sit on it~ or is he chewing it's head off?
Nasty~ I know! Mice are just nasty!
Nasty~ I know! Mice are just nasty!
Cheryl, thanks for your input on this. You're right I haven't actually witnessed the killings, just found a few decapitated bodies. I hear the squealing and run to check it out. Perhaps tonight I'll set them up next to my PC(which is where I spend most of my time) and observe. For now I'm going to leave them be as I started this as a way to feed my current snakes. Wanted to get this under my belt before the actual snake breeding next year. Thanks to everyone who replied :cheers:JM :o) said:
Joejr14
Grand Bubble Burster
mbdorfer said:
Didn't even occur to me.
However, for your viewing entertainment, here is post 1500.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showpost.php?p=157397&postcount=7