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when to seperate them?

D

debcash

Austin's Mom
I had my first batch of pinkies a few weeks ago and fed off all but 4. These little guys are now hopping around (about 3 weeks old) and the 2 adult females in the colony are about to both give birth again. Are the 'hoppers' old enough to seperate out from the mother at this point? Is there any concern leaving them in when the mother or aunt gives birth again?

Thanks!
Deb
 
well Females get sexually mature at 6 weeks and males at 8. But if you are really concerned. they can be separated after being weaned. I never took mine out after one of the aunts gave birth. She was fine with it. Just be sure that if there is a cannibal find out who it is and take them out. Hope this helps.
 
As soon as my weaners are eating solid foods and can reach the water bottle, mine are separated out. Especially if more females are about to give birth.

Babies, even after supposedly being weaned, will crowd out the newborns for milk if given the chance. Which can be detrimental to newborns. Not only does it risk smothering, but the lack of nutrition is obvious.

Plus, I've had a few females kill their newborns because the still nursing older ones were stressing them out beyond belief.

If you have the room and they're capable of caring for themselves adequately, separate them into their own container. If you're holding any back to be future breeders for the colony they were born in, you can leave them in if you desire, but I usually try for no more than 2-3 at a time.

Most of the time when separating out, those mice are being raised up for larger snake food anyway. So if they breed before being fed off, its of no consequence to me. I usually leave both sexes together to save on room.

Hope that answers your question. =)
 
Thanks! You were right - the aunt gave birth this morning before I had the new tank ready and by the time I got home from work 2 pinkies were missing - (I found 1 head). I think they are all just too stressed with the hoppers in with them -(the tank seemed so crowded!). .

The hoppers now have their own tank. The mom will probably give birth tonight - she should appreciate the quieter tank too.

Thanks for the help!!
 
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