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Help with crazy mouse (mother)

rip_tupac

New member
Okay well here's the deal. I got a 1.3 colony of mice and everyything was fine up until the biggest mother killed a douzen of the other mothers baby's. Now she has some baby's of her own but I seperated her in a diffrent take and gave her one baby to see if she takes good care of it (the rest are being fostered by the other mothers)

So far she has been taking great care of it, it has plenty of milk and all. So should it be safe to put her back witht he others or will she just kill their baby's again. Or should I maybe put the other 3 babies with her? I dont really want to take up two tanks but if I have to I will.
 
Is this mom a first time mother? She could be overwhelmed with to many babies.

Also if shes taking good care of this baby she has, maybe give her one or two back.
 
Personally I don't think it's ever a good idea to remove a mouse from an established colony...

If this was her first litter then that is most likely why she is eating the young. It could also be nutrition related. I give my mommies lots of fresh fruit and veggies (do a google search as to what is and isn't safe) to keep their nutrient levels up. First time moms very often eat their and other's young.
 
No its weird shes had the most baby's out of all of them, shes HUGE! Last time she gave birth was to 17 pinkys!
 
Then I would guess it's a nutritional problem (not that you are under feeding at all!)... or psychological...it's possible that she is very dominant and eating the other's young? Are you sure it's just the other's young that are being eaten?

A mouse like that, in my house, would be the next to be fed off! lol
 
I dont know because she didnt really eat them she just killed them and all she does is eat! I have to refill her food like 4 times a day. Also Im sure its the other ones babies that she killed. I dont want to feed her to my snake because She has up to 17 pinkeys per litter.
 
sometimes a more dominant female will kill another females babies if they are born Just before she is due to give birth because it cuts down on worry that Her babies wont be taken care of the best. Hope that makes sense? Also, now that you have taken her out of the group.... not sure how safe it is to return her to the colony :shrugs: the others may beat her up.
 
Cat_Eyed_Lady said:
sometimes a more dominant female will kill another females babies if they are born Just before she is due to give birth because it cuts down on worry that Her babies wont be taken care of the best. Hope that makes sense? Also, now that you have taken her out of the group.... not sure how safe it is to return her to the colony :shrugs: the others may beat her up.

Well I put her right back in now before its too late, im still supervising her but everything seems to be going like normal. What you said makes plenty of sense actually. Either way Im not too worried about her getting beaten because shes HUGE.
Thanks alot for the great advice!
 
I'm glad all went well with putting her back.. they really do seem to prefer to live in a nice group :) best of luck in about 3 weeks when they come due again :)
 
since she is such a good breeder I would hate to see that happen but yes... it could happen again :( I had a mouse do that once too... it took just the one time but after that it seemed they sorted out their cycles and the other moms always gave birth After she did and she didnt kill anymore babies. I wish you luck and hopefully she will be ok next time :)
 
It would suck to have to do that because she is such a good breeder but at the same time so is the other famale who had a douzen babies killed.
 
another thing i know this as my dad used to breed and show mice if you have to touch the pinkies make sure you rub the saw dust into your hands first otherwise leaving your smell on the babies may cause them to be killed
 
but if you knew that feel free to ignore me lol

Hey miss sassie, Im so sorry, I actually did know that but I someh0w missed your post. The guy who gave me them made sure to tell me that. Thanks for the advice and sorry again. Shes been living okay with the colony now.
 
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