is Raising feeder mice for you?

[infernalis]

Especially to a MILK snake:rolleyes:

[Hornets23]

I honestly think the males just smell like cheerios.. LOL!!


Cheerios....hmmm.....Yep it think i see it.

[Loren]

I honestly think the males just smell like cheerios.. LOL!!
Better start checking the expiration dates on your cereal more often.
:)

[infernalis]

I have a serious question, and I hope someone here knows the answer.

One little runt mouse that Dorothy seems to have grown attached to is extremely small (lack of milk, too many babies not enough nipples)

It's hair is all scruffy (I suspect malnutrition) and it's starting to get harassed by it's siblings. I oopsed and let Samantha set up an enclosure for it, so it evolved from feed to pet.

Now I usually just feed these runts off, but the lady folks in the house have already named it:eek:

Is there any vitamin supplements or whatever to help get this little guy healthy??

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Yes Wayne, there are. You can purchase a multivitamin supplement from most any pet store that is sort of a droplet type thing that you put into their water. You could also use a bit of nutrical (its a sticky molasses like paste in a tube) for dogs and cats which contains vitamins, is an appetite stimulant, and will help bulk the little thing up! We sell both products at my store and I use them with the female hamsters that are nursing.

[Stefan-A]

Wish I could help, Wayne. Any reason why you couldn't use the kind you give snakes?

I had one of those mice in my little "experiment", but I turned it into snake food.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/extra/scruff1.jpg

[Garter_Gertie]

'Starry fur' usually, at least in cats, signifies great illness, dehydration and nearing death.

Get some Pediolyte and try and figure out what should be given a wee mouselette. I'd not give vitamins yet as the mouse is probably too weak to properly make use of them.

My vote is for Pediolyte and warmth - but not too as it will increase the dehydration. Is it possible to put Mom with baby for awhile alone? Then put her back; then back with baby, that sort of thing?

Kittens will harass the dying kitten; the mother will push it aside.

I wish you and Your Ladies luck, Dekay. But...

[Garter_Gertie]

The way to test for dehydration is to GENTLY and softly pinch a bit of skin at the back of the neck and lift up. If the skin 'stays' and does not settle down, 'flowing' back down over the shoulder blades to where it belongs - the animal is dehydrated.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

yes, thats a very important point, if the skin feels tight and sticky as opposed to loose and baggy, that's dehydtation and pedialyte would be the first step.

[infernalis]

Thanks Shannon, I'll give that a try. I also just posted on the forum for "Mice as pets" at PH, Thankfully my signature did not show from the reptile forums:eek:

I generally try to cull off the runts before the women see them, its hard when I am the only guy in the house.

We had one last week that was the size of a pinkie, with hair. I knew it's prognosis at first glance, Gave him to the corn snake.

The mom is preggers again, and freaking huge, I will probably take half of the pinks right away, so the others will have a fair chance at getting fed by mom.

With bags of frozen pinks in the freezer, right now hoppers and adults are more useful to me.

Wow several posts as I was typing... You guys rock

[Loren]

I will probably take half of the pinks right away, so the others will have a fair chance at getting fed by mom.
Thats the best technique in my opinion. Thinning out litters helps babies grow much better and faster. When different aged litters are being nursed at the same time by multiple mothers, its really important to watch for to much competition by the older babies, and thin out as needed. Either cull the oldest few in the pile, or just feed off the new pinks.

[infernalis]

For the last couple months, we have separated the mice into 5 breeding pairs.

2 adults per tote, it seems to have a better balance.

This particular gal is one fertile momma, she has around 10 babies a litter.

Strange question, I could research it, but how many nipples does a mouse have??

Oh and I just walked in there to check on her, 10 more babies within this last hour, so I set up another box, and took out the male and the weans so mom can focus on the newborns.

[Zephyr]

Okay, both of my females are pregnant again.
Will they just bunch up the babies and care for them all?

[infernalis]

Okay, both of my females are pregnant again.
Will they just bunch up the babies and care for them all?

Most likely Kyle.

When I had about six adults in one tote, they would group all the babies together and multiple moms would nurse the tots.:D

[infernalis]

update....

The little mouse just got adopted by a new mom, been suckin' nip for a while now.

Seems I had a mom with only 4 babies left, So I put little "Guinea" (The scruffy hair makes it look like a micro guinea pig) in with her, and she checked it out for a minute or two, gave it a bath and laid down for some good ol suckle time.

Should be fine:D

Here is the preggo mom, just before she burst.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/preggo.jpg

[Hornets23]

I had a mouse that used to have a lot more than ten babies but some of them didnt make it either time. Sorry wayne...not too sure how many nipples they have.

[infernalis]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/nips.jpg

Maximum occupancy at this restaurant is 10

[infernalis]

This morning I found the "new" family all snuggled together.

The mice took that little one right in.:D People could learn something from this behavior.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/guinea.jpg

[Lori P]

I found a very young mouse-- I guess fuzzy size-- in the water bowl yesterday morning, almost dead. :-( (The one tank I haven't gotten a water bottle for yet....) Anyway, I dried him and held him for a long time to warm him up, then tucked him under one of the mommas... no idea if it was his momma, but she immediately started grooming him all over and in no time he was dry and more mobile. This morning I can't even tell which one he was.

Of course, on the flip side, last week I caught a young mother in another tank not only finshing off her litter---- but later, stealing other newborns and eating them!!!!!! She was part of Fluffy's dinner that night....

[Zephyr]

Well, ma picked off a couple babies here. The tan and white one burst last night. :P
There's a good... I'd say 4-5 babies left though, all looking healthy with milk spots. :)

[Loren]

This morning I found the "new" family all snuggled together.

The mice took that little one right in.:D People could learn something from this behavior.



Yeah, careful about learning too much from them though- remmeber Lori's story-
" last week I caught a young mother in another tank not only finshing off her litter---- but later, stealing other newborns and eating them!!!!!! "

:D

[infernalis]

Well I didn't really want to say it, but the little one didn't make it.

[Loren]

Sorry Wayne.
Oh well, you tried.

[infernalis]

Getting the 12 year old to understand was interesting.

I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, to console her I gave her a sibling (A healthy one)

I do feedings at night after the kids are down for the count.

[Garter_Gertie]

Dekay, I love you so much. "I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, to console her I gave her a sibling (A healthy one)"

You're not a glutton, you nutcase! You're a sweet, loving dad. Bless you. You are just a LOVE!

I didn't want to say I didn't think the widdo one wouldn't make it... But when they get to the stage as you described, you need to take extreme measures and do 24-hour care - and lots of times that doesn't even work.

Dekay, you are just a moosh and so wonderful! I love you to death!

[jitami]

Sorry to hear that Wayne :(

[Lori P]

Ummmm.....

I lost a rat.

I big brown one.

SURELY he'll turn up... I mean... I can't BELIEVE my dogs haven't found him yet. Or the cats.

Don't think I'll tell hubby that there's a rat running amuck somewhere in the house.... :o

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol woops that sucks lol

[Lori P]

Yeah... well, there's certainly plenty of food and water for him around, and maybe he'll hang out around the other's tanks. I just can't believe he disapeared so completley-- I mean-- rats are big!

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol better figure out how he escaped.........:eek:

[Lori P]

Oh, I see how he escaped. It's called "Lori can be VERY blonde some days". If you feed and water them and then leave the top off the tank....:rolleyes:

[Zephyr]

Oh, I see how he escaped. It's called "Lori can be VERY blonde some days". If you feed and water them and then leave the top off the tank....:rolleyes:Well that's an effective way to lose a rat. XD

[Loren]

so let your ball python out for a while- problem should be solved.

:)

[Lori P]

Wow!! What would I do without you Loren?? LOL

And that concludes my lesson to everyone for the evening... to recap, always put the lid back on the rat tank. (bowing) Thank you. Thank you very much.

[infernalis]

OK here is an observation, over the course of a month.

I recently moved my mice pens into the reptile room.

Suddenly I have a hyper active Ball Python who roams all the time, tries to escape and has slammed into his screen when I get close.

The Corn and Pueblan Milk are out a lot more often also.

The scent of those mice in the same room has converted my boring snakes into interesting ones:eek:

Carmella still just sits in her hide until I lift it off her, she eats and goes back up under it. (Yawn)

[Loren]

would make sense. Mine are kept in the same room too, but have been for so long that I'm not sure if they still act different. I'd imagine they get used to it to some degree. My snakes are decently active, but not overly. Kinda like i didnt think the dairy smelled when I had lived there for years...

[Hornets23]

I was thinking about the same thing when i got my corn snake recently. Its cage is in the same room as my pet mice. I guess there is nothing wrong with it right? He doesnt ever try to bite me or anything so the smell might even make things kind of interesting for him eh?

[infernalis]

Most of my "bigger" snakes are usually hiding, or just sitting there.

Since I have moved the mice, they are all far more active.

The BP is most noticeable, and it is a tad unsettling that he is in this "feed mode"

He has struck at me more than once. He smells mice, and the heat pits pick up my motion resulting in a response.

When he hits my arm, Its like getting punched.

[Zephyr]

Off-convo question: Does Kroger sell dry ice?

[Lori P]

This link says they sell it at Kroger's...

http://www.airgas.com/content/products.aspx?id=9002008002008

[Loren]

In my area, Save Mart (grocery store) sells it.

[Garter_Gertie]

Wow!! What would I do without you Loren?? LOL

And that concludes my lesson to everyone for the evening... to recap, always put the lid back on the rat tank. (bowing) Thank you. Thank you very much.

And remember, everyone - she's here until Tuesday. Try the roast beef sandwich!

[Loren]

Wow!! What would I do without you Loren?? LOL

And that concludes my lesson to everyone for the evening... to recap, always put the lid back on the rat tank. (bowing) Thank you. Thank you very much.
Well Lori, we all do it eventually... :)

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I made a big oopsie similar to yours not too long ago lori... I was in a BIG hurry to get to my little brothers Bday party and I was feeding Ra... the SIX FOOT king rat snake... and well... I left the tank open. luckily, I keep my bedroom door closed at all times. Luckily, Ra is a good, good boy who behaves very well when his cage is open and even overnight, Ra does not leave!

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Rats/583017.jpg

[GartersRock]

Lol! Good boy Ra!

My rats have "gotten out" several times with the old cages. But I would walk into the room and there would be 10 of them walking around on top of their tank (they have wire cages now) and begging to play. WE WHERE WAITING FOR YOU MOM! :D:D

[Lori P]

I'm SO careful with the snakes... guess it just hadn't carried over to the rats and mice tho... I've left the mouse tops off a few times but they haven't gotten out.

Shannon, what a great snake. He looks like he'd just climb out, grab the remote, and lie on your bed and watch tv all day... LOL

[infernalis]

Had to reduce the population of mice yesterday, they were getting to be too many to manage, So....

Chomper had a feast, he's getting quite big anymore so he was a good boy and lets just say I have a dozen less mouths to feed.

Next up was Cain (The BP) he's big and eats a lot, so another half dozen were swiftly consumed.:D

The corn snake is in shed, so he will have to wait for his...

The Pueblan Milk ate 3 and lost interest in any more.

[Lori P]

Had an interesting experience with Desdemona, who I just mentioned has not been eating... well, yesterday seh was cruising her tank for the first time in a couple of weeks. I put two hoppers in with her, and she struck at them a couple of times but missed-- weird for her. Then she went back into her hide, so I took them out. This morning, she was cruising again... so I put some fuzzies in with her (she hasn't eaten fuzzies in ages!!) and she devoured them. Like... well.... the hoppers were too much work, but oh, look, those fuzzies are just kind of sitting there...

Wayne, the looks the momma mice give you when you take their babies... aaarrggghhhh!!!! It makes me feel like such crap!!!

[Zephyr]

Fuzzy mice... Are too... FREAKING... CUTE!!!!!!
I'm keeping one. I just can't not. It's a leetle black guy. And I held him today. And petted him. THEY ARE SO SOFT. AND ADORABLE. I want to love them to pieces. ):
I just have to be thick-skinned; If mice don't die snakes don't eat.
But keeping one will make me feel not guilty. :)

[Aundrea]

awwwwwwwwwwwwww take a pic!!! I wanna seeeeee :D

[Zephyr]

I'm 100% sure it's a girl too, so she can live happily with mommy, daddy, and auntie. XD
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1186/img1424zk4.jpg
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/696/img1425mb6.jpg
SO CUTE!!!

[olive oil]

Oh my goodness. How sweet is that.

[reptile3]

Kyle that is soo sweet!!!

[Zephyr]

Omg.
And they make itsy-bitsy squeaky noises!!!
Eeeeeeeehhh!!!
I love them.
But they must die. D<

[Aundrea]

OMGGGGGGGGG HOW CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT ONE LOL!!!!! That is just a sweet little girl there. Whatcha gonna name her? I am defosting a pinky for Swiper and I looked at the poor little dead pinky and said poor little guy.. :( I know im a wimp UGH but I cant help it lol. But that little fuzzy girl is just too damn cute!!!!

[Zephyr]

I'm like daddy mommy to her.
lol
I'm getting used to finding the "nape of the neck" to move them around. It's like I'm the dad. XD
Speaking of dad, lucky player would've been food for some python if it weren't for me. :)

[Zephyr]

And of course I was wrong. Did some more research on sexing; Looks like that one's a boy. ):
Oh well, there's another special baby who's silver. She's got little nips, so I'm 200% sure this time. :)

[infernalis]

And of course I was wrong. Did some more research on sexing; Looks like that one's a boy. ):
Oh well, there's another special baby who's silver. She's got little nips, so I'm 200% sure this time. :)


Kyle, we just "spared" one who was silver.

Pretty color for a mouse:D Blonde, cinnimon brown and calico are all "cute" too.

I like the diverse colorings, Have a male that is black and white, Named him "Cow" and use him as a stud.

These are the things that keep me breeding the mice even though the freezer is full of frozen food.

[Hornets23]

Man, I keep thinking how much better it would be to just let my mice breed and have pinkies instead of paying a dollar each....but darn it, I know good and well that I would think that they were ALL cute.

[Snake lover 3-25]

very cute kyle:D good luck with the whole keeping one form every litter deal:p

[Snake lover 3-25]

so i went into my garage a few hrs ago and saw what looked to be a small bird hopping across the floor well it was a little mouse..... it was JUST that color SOOOO cute:D the last one that made it's way into my garage raced out from under a board and got very unplesently stopmed on by my dad.....:( i opened the garage door and let him out:D he was too cute to risk:D maybe now he'll find a better home in a place where no size 13 feet walk:D

[infernalis]

Great job Shanley:D

Here is a picture I took last night.

The brown mouse is a sister to those pinks, and she is NOT feeding them, she is too young, not even making any milk.

This little girl is "babysitting" while mom is eating.

I saw this and had to get my camera out.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/sister.jpg

[NetBSD]

Great job Shanley:D

Here is a picture I took last night.

The brown mouse is a sister to those pinks, and she is NOT feeding them, she is too young, not even making any milk.

This little girl is "babysitting" while mom is eating.

I saw this and had to get my camera out.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/sister.jpg


my older female is doing that with the new mice i got a few days ago, she huddles over top of all 3 and takes care of them

[infernalis]

Snake food or otherwise, these little critters are amazing to observe.

It's things like this that keep me breeding them.

[olive oil]

That is so sweet how she is protecting them.

[infernalis]

I still cannot bring myself to harming the pinks, so I always keep hundreds of them in the freezer;) (purchased that way)

Heck we are off to the pet store today to deliver a batch for the pet trade......

The store credits come in handy:D

[crzy_kevo]

well i got some extra money this month so i think today maybe i will start off with a pair finally does anybody have a good link to a caresheet for mice as well as sexing

[Aundrea]

awwwwwwwwwwwww that is such a cute pic!!!!!! They are all really cute :D

[infernalis]

well i got some extra money this month so i think today maybe i will start off with a pair finally does anybody have a good link to a caresheet for mice as well as sexing


Kevin, try pet hobbyist dot com. (The mother site of Kingsnake)

They have a whole forum dedicated to mice only, not as chatty as we are here, And it may be best if you say nothing about snakes, you will be talking with folks who love mice as pets.

Care is super easy, just make sure the food dish stays full, and the water bottle never runs dry.

The mice threads here are full of information as well:D

[Zephyr]

Wayne, my dad does that for the litter while the moms are out eating. He's incredibly devoted for a male! :O
When I uncover the babies to handle the silver one, he pulls all the bedding back onto them. XD

[infernalis]

Kyle - the longer you do this, the more you will notice the strong family values, Let me rephrase, COMMUNITY values, I have seen totally unrelated mice care for each others litters.

I didn't go into details, but the mouse that had bad malnutrition, I found it brained in the tote.

The adults sensed something was wrong, and they "euthanized" the sprout to end it's pain.

[crzy_kevo]

wow that is rather amazing

[NetBSD]

well i got some extra money this month so i think today maybe i will start off with a pair finally does anybody have a good link to a caresheet for mice as well as sexing



this is how i learnd to sex my mice, its REALLY simple and if they are old enough you can just see a males "junk" hanging out the back but they do have the ability to suck it back in unless they are calm.

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20081014192859/www.peteducation.com/images/articles/tfh_sexing_mice.jpg

[crzy_kevo]

thnx for the sexing pic i picked up a pair of mice today i put them in the 10 gallon tank for now here are some pics

male
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7049/picture059ly7.jpg

female
http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/4360/picture061gm3.jpg

and both of them and better shot of set up
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/1909/picture058nw5.jpg

[Lori P]

I love the grey one!! Kev, give them a little box to hide in and they'll feel much more secure. :-)

[crzy_kevo]

good idea thanks too bad i already threw out the box they came in

ill go look for another one now

[infernalis]

Kev - I like to use dog food bowls, they have lots of room to hide under them.:D

[Lori P]

But make sure they're lightweight plastic bowls-- I used a ceramic one once because I don't always think ahead. A mouse got trapped under it and almost died before I moved the bowl one day to discover a very skinny mouse. :-( I guess when they moved the bedding around, the ceramic one was heavy enough to settle down and he couldn't move it to get out.

[infernalis]

Great point, I use the little blue ones from the dollar store, they have an opening on either side, make great snake bowls too.

[Lori P]

Here's one of my best mommas... about to burst again! She was upset that I took this pic first thing in the morning before she had a chance to comb her hair or put on her makeup. I told her we liked the natural look and to relax. Altho, she certainly could clean her windows now and then... :D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Preggers_11_08_002_crop.jpg

[infernalis]

Looks like her "ray gun" eyes are charging up, stand back!

[Lori P]

ROFL!!!! She is the one who strikes at my hand when I snatch babies. :-( So you're right on with the ray gun!!!

[Zephyr]

this is how i learnd to sex my mice, its REALLY simple and if they are old enough you can just see a males "junk" hanging out the back but they do have the ability to suck it back in unless they are calm.

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20081014192859/www.peteducation.com/images/articles/tfh_sexing_mice.jpg
The easiest way I've found to sex babies about 3 days old plus is to look for nipples. It's a lot less confusing, but most mice you buy are older so...

[Zephyr]

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6618/img0001eu5.jpg
lol
Dad.

[jitami]

Awww, they all look very content :)

[crzy_kevo]

thats a great pic did you give them paper towel intentionally to make a bedding area?

[Zephyr]

I gave them the paper towel. They did the rest. :)

[infernalis]

Woo hoo, Just got back from the pet store, traded a tote full of my surplus mice for the following.

feeder fishies
crickets
a big bag of mouse food.

The owner was very pleased with my quality stock, and the timing was perfect, she was almost out of mice.

Since I traded for store credit, I got more than I would have in cash:D

Time to up production;)

[GartersRock]

That's awesome Wayne!

How many breeders and raisers do you usually have at one time?

[infernalis]

six colonies going now.

Each tote has 2 females and a male.

I use frozen pinks, so I never "slaughter" until at least hopper stage.

But if I can sell live mice for twice what frozen ones cost me, I really should not have to kill them at all anymore.

and that's OK with me;)

Trade for food and bedding, then they cost nothing to produce at all:cool:

[crzy_kevo]

thats awesome wayne my 2 are settling in very well i woke up this morning and they had all the bedding pulled around their box lol im thinking of getting a second female in march after i bring the girls out of the fridge and i may decide to get a few colonies going because the local pet shop will send people wanting feeders to me

[infernalis]

Kevin, why not just keep a female or two from your litters??

I have had brothers/sisters/sons/daughters and even grandparents wind up producing, its hard to control once they start.

Never had a deformed mouse yet;)

[crzy_kevo]

that is true wayne and i was originally planning on doin that however ive read that inbred females temd to have lower number litters and long pregnancies and i am planning to possible sell some

[infernalis]

Kev you heard wrong, I have a brother sister pair that have 10 perfect babies at a time.

She is preggers again right now, and her current litter are not even weened yet.

[crzy_kevo]

i was going off what i read from what looked like a very good mouse care and breeding website

[infernalis]

What is the web addy, I'd like to go see.

Number 5 likes input:D

http://www.dcs.shef.ac.uk/~mark/blog/blog_files/misc/luxo/johnny5.jpg

[crzy_kevo]

ill have to check it when i get home im out right now typing this up on m cell

[reptile3]

Awwww so very peaceful!!!



http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6618/img0001eu5.jpg
lol
Dad.

[infernalis]

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for making my thread so popular!

Even Scott Felzer stops in and reads it:D

Never thought back when I made that first post everyone would want to discuss mice to this degree.

Your continued interest is appreciated, Thanks gang!

[GartersRock]

Scott Felzer? lol

[infernalis]

Scott Felzer? lol

Yes Amanda, Scott is a "silent member" of our community, zero threads, zero posts and no PM info.

He does log on from time to time and read our posts.

[ssssnakeluvr]

Yes Amanda, Scott is a "silent member" of our community, zero threads, zero posts and no PM info.

He does log on from time to time and read our posts.
I will be emailing him regarding that......he called me the other night and couldn't post an ad, wanted to know how....gonna let him know he has to get on her and actually do some posts to get access to all stuff (James let me know as I emailed him on why him and my son Keith didn't show in the members list....gotta post!!!!!)

[GartersRock]

Oh, interesting. I wonder why he doesn't want to post here. Maybe he will?

[ssssnakeluvr]

I emailed him...hopefully he will get on here!!!! :cool:

[GartersRock]

That would be super cool!

[drache]

so Wayne - I'm curious
how do you know what Scott reads?

[Stefan-A]

so Wayne - I'm curious
how do you know what Scott reads?
Click "Currently active users". :)

[drache]

Click "Currently active users". :)
that just tells me that there are guests and what they are looking at, not who they are

[Stefan-A]

He's a registered user. When he's around you can see what he's looking at, too.

[drache]

what's the difference between a registered user and a member?

[Stefan-A]

No difference. Same thing.

[drache]

okay - thanks

[crzy_kevo]

ok wayne sorry it took me so long to get back to this lol i have been out alot the past few days so here is the link Fancy Mice (http://www.fancymice.info/breeding.htm)

[infernalis]

Great link Kev. Thanx!!:D

Saved it on my favourites..

[crzy_kevo]

yeah they really seem to know what they are talking about so it is a great resource for newb mice breeders

[infernalis]

Been at it a while, and I learned a bit.

Fascinating that if you mention its Herp food in the UK, it's considered illegal to sell the rodent live.

Some laws are weird, Probably OK if the shop keeper kills it prior to selling it, go figure.

[crzy_kevo]

ya i found that wierd as well however its not illegal as long as the animal only accepts live food wtf

[Stefan-A]

ya i found that wierd as well however its not illegal as long as the animal only accepts live food wtf
We have that law here, too, but it only applies to feeding, not selling. Here it applies to vertebrates, so you can still feed your animals live invertebrates. :)

[crzy_kevo]

well i gave the mice a little peanut butter for a treat also because i read its better to feed pregnant mice a litle more fatty foods to help with feeding the babies while pregnant and during nursing

anyways the female(named Pinky) is loving it she darts out of her box every 10 seconds to eat some more

it looks rather funny especially because she spends the majority of the day in the box

[infernalis]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/bad_day.jpg

[Zephyr]

I have officially seen it all.
Momma tan mouse is giving birth... While nursing the other momma's babies.

[crzy_kevo]

haha thats funny

[Zephyr]

Yeah, they never cease to amaze me.

Also, momma tan's babies just weaned today.
What perfect timing for a new litter.

[infernalis]

I have one tote right now that has 2 moms in it.

One gal is preggo, the other already popped, I look in there and they have the pinks split up in 2 nests, and whenever one goes to eat or drink, the other kidnaps babies!!

It's kinda funny, they seem to keep transferring the pinks back and forth without fighting.

[Zephyr]

I have one tote right now that has 2 moms in it.

One gal is preggo, the other already popped, I look in there and they have the pinks split up in 2 nests, and whenever one goes to eat or drink, the other kidnaps babies!!

It's kinda funny, they seem to keep transferring the pinks back and forth without fighting.I love it when they leave the babies with dad to go eat.
He's just like...
*Waking up.* "Whut huh? Hey! Who left these durn'd pink things with me!"

[infernalis]

I had to put dad in solitary, he was feeling randy and the gals wanted to be left alone, so he's kinda stuck reading "mouseboy" magazine for a while:D

[Zephyr]

lol
I unno... I never see my mice fight.
Odd?

[infernalis]

Sorry if you missed the point...

Randy = "In the mood for some sugar" "Wantin some lovin'"

Thats all, he was trying to hump her while she nursed babies:eek:

[GartersRock]

I have had to move male rats because they wouldn't let up on the poor nursing females. LOL At LEAST wait until she is finished! Let her eat and drink and nurse. I mean come on. :rolleyes::p

[Zephyr]

Sorry if you missed the point...

Randy = "In the mood for some sugar" "Wantin some lovin'"

Thats all, he was trying to hump her while she nursed babies:eek:I got your drift... It's just from personal experience women who aren't in the mood tend to be a little... scrappy.
Eh wot.

XD

[Lori P]

I have a question on rats. Are they less aggressive to each other than mice? I ask because, I have only one male and 5 females. Three females were given to me and are housed seperately from the male and 2 females. One gave birth right after I got her and the babies are 2 weeks old.

So... can I eventually move the male between the 2 tanks, or, should I find another male? Or, if I get them a big enough home-- right now they are in 55 tanks, but looking for something bigger-- can I move them all in together? I guess my question is, do rats kill newcomers or welcome them with open arms??

[infernalis]

From our own experience, I cannot say it is a rule or anything, since I only have the one encounter to go on.....

We purchased a female rat first, we had her a few weeks and then picked up a male, we placed the male in with her, and she tore right into him, like "you are not man enough for me" so we had to remove him, a few weeks later she rejected another male.

That ended our rat breeding experiment, our daughter keeps Diamond and Cole in her room in separate cages.

"Cow" the smaller male had a long intereting meeting with Cain, and Cain ruled that "Cow" should be sentanced to death by constriction followed by consumption.

The female has a big ferret cage, and Cole has a guinea pig cage.

[Loren]

Lori, I have not had near the social problems with rats as I have with mice. I move male rats in and out as I please, and havent had anyone kill anyone yet. Usually, I run 1 male to 3 females, full time, but I have been sharing a male between 2 of my female groups for a while too.

[Lori P]

SWEET Loren, thanks. I thought I had heard they were easier. I don't know if I can do this rat thing, tho... I already have 3 babies picked out as pets... lol!! They are so damn cute!!!! I think if I can stick to freezing the pups within a week, I'll be ok....

[Lori P]

I mean... WOOK at him!!!!! (Or her)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Kringle_004.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Kringle_002.jpg

What a little kissey face!!!!

[Stefan-A]

I mean... WOOK at him!!!!! (Or her)
You know, when I first read that, I thought WOOK was meant as a portmanteau of WOK and COOK.

[Loren]

Yeah Lori, its gonna be hard for you because you are breaking the "dont play with your food" rule. :)

My rats get clean cage, food and water. Thats the only regular interaction I give them other than removing babies.

[Lori P]

You know, when I first read that, I thought WOOK was meant as a portmanteau of WOK and COOK.

Sorry, Stefan, I was talking baby talk... lol. I had to look up portmanteau... great word!!!

Loren... I know.... but.... so cute... must snuggle and play!!!! :o Probably will get over it with subsequent litters... this was my first.

[Aundrea]

OMG Lori!!! That little rat is soooo CUTE!!!!!!! :D Is that one of the rat pups in the pic your keeping as a pet?

[Zephyr]

I haven't been feeling guilty about offing my mice... I just kept the one silver gal and it makes me feel better. :)
White mama's gonna pop again... I have to take her babies right after they're born though, seeing as I've run out of pinkies and I have hungry mouths to feed. ):

[crzy_kevo]

im expecting in about 2 weeks i think cant wait im going to be keeping a male and maybe 3 females from that litter

[Lori P]

OMG Lori!!! That little rat is soooo CUTE!!!!!!! :D Is that one of the rat pups in the pic your keeping as a pet?

Yes!! I do try not to handle the ones I'm not keeping. This one is just too adorable!!! We're going to try and make him and one other office pets. One of the vets said we could... so we're taking that as a yes from both. LOL

[Zephyr]

Yes!! I do try not to handle the ones I'm not keeping. This one is just too adorable!!! We're going to try and make him and one other office pets. One of the vets said we could... so we're taking that as a yes from both. LOLAh, but he never said you couldn't bring two. ;)

[infernalis]

im expecting in about 2 weeks i think cant wait im going to be keeping a male and maybe 3 females from that litter


Congrats Mr. Breeder:D

[crzy_kevo]

thanks wayne she is now starting to look bigger every couple of days

[Lori P]

Crap. These ^$$^$&* rats are so cute.

Nursing on momma!
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Nursing_baby_resize.jpg

[olive oil]

That is sooo sweet!!!

[Zephyr]

Okay, albino momma mouse popped the other day... She didn't look as big as she did last time but... She had an ASTOUNDING 15 babies!
I never see fights either, and because the mice are so used to human presence, interaction, noise (their tank is near the computer stereo) they never eat their babies anymore. I feel like everything that has gone right has. :)

[Loren]

She had an ASTOUNDING 15 babies!

I feel like everything that has gone right has. :)

Better knock on wood Kyle!

Just kidding, glad its going well, and glad you are the one with mice next to your computor rather than myself! (holding nose)

15 babies is great. I have had litters in the area of 15-18 many times- its always hard to tell for sure though because my mice so often have babies together in a big pile. More typical is probably 9-12 though.

[Zephyr]

Also... Does any one know if father mice show aggression to their sons? I'm thinking about pairing the little silver with one of the males from the new litter, and I want to know if they can stay in the same tank for a bit before I get some new tanks and whatnot.
Also, seeing as the new litter is albino... And I really only want to make guesses on sex based on the whether or not you see nipples when they're in the fuzzy stage... How does one mark out a specific male baby? Paint or marker on the tail? I want to be able to hold/handle him a bit so when he grows up he'll be as used to me as the silver girl is.

[Zephyr]

Just kidding, glad its going well, and glad you are the one with mice next to your computor rather than myself! (holding nose)

I actually have yet to get a complaint from either my parents, family, or friends about the smell. (Believe me, my Aunt would complain BIG time. lol)
I attribute this to my once a week cleaning and the fact that the tank itself must have enough smell after cleaning that the male doesn't feel the need to mark any more.
More win.

[infernalis]

Also... Does any one know if father mice show aggression to their sons?

Sons and brothers are the only males a "Buck" will allow in the enclosure WITHOUT showing aggression.

And even with brothers, they have to be raised together, if you separate them and return them, they will fight.

Based solely on personal observations.

[Lori P]

I actually have yet to get a complaint from either my parents, family, or friends about the smell. (Believe me, my Aunt would complain BIG time. lol)
I attribute this to my once a week cleaning and the fact that the tank itself must have enough smell after cleaning that the male doesn't feel the need to mark any more.
More win.

Mine don't smell anymore either. I clean once a week also, and have been using the carefresh for them as well. My older males just don't mark like they used to. I love it.

The rats don't have an odor, either, that I can tell.

[crzy_kevo]

what are the signs of a mouse about to give birth or in labour because pinky is running around and shoving more bedding into her hide but running around like crazy

[Zephyr]

what are the signs of a mouse about to give birth or in labour because pinky is running around and shoving more bedding into her hide but running around like crazyFrom what I've seen, they pic a spot, sprawl out a bit, and start licking down there.

[crzy_kevo]

ok but also have you noticed excessive nesting behaviour a few hours before that

she is breathing hevily and still running around grabbingmore beddin stopping occasionally for a bite to eat or drink then going back to the nesting

[infernalis]

She's getting ready......:D

[Loren]

ok but also have you noticed excessive nesting behaviour a few hours before that

she is breathing hevily and still running around grabbingmore beddin stopping occasionally for a bite to eat or drink then going back to the nesting
That, combined with her body looking really wide- would mean babies are soon to come.

[crzy_kevo]

ya she looks fat
ok so i should hav babies by tomorrow sweet :D

[infernalis]

Congrats "Daddy"

[Lori P]

Awww bummer... one of my best mommy mice, who I've had since May, has a tumor on her side. It's come up very quickly. She is getting around like normal, but, I should probably put her down before it gets painful. Is this a side effect of overbreeding, you think?? Or are these white mice prone to tumors?

[Lori P]

And also, what's up with these rats! I'm tired of getting bitten... what am I doing wrong? These suckers HURT when they bite. And I love the rats. I give them treats every day. I don't hurt them. I do steal their babies tho...

I'm actually getting jumpy about reaching in now, lol. Do you all have agressive rats??? Or are mine defective??

[Hornets23]

I dont know lori...my rats never bit. How old were they when you got them though? If they were mostly grown and not socialized at all..that could be the problem.

[Loren]

Lab type mice are prone to get tumors- some strains more than others. Inbreeding doesnt help, of coarse, and ultimately its probably a main cause as all the common types of feeder mice are pretty much inbred. Time for her to be put into the circle of life.

As for rats, Lori- if they have babies in the cage, they will bite you if you give them the chance(unless they are super tame, maybe). After getting bit twice, I decided it was enough.
I move them by their tails. I hold them as close to the body as possible, and move them as quickly as possible, to avoid injury. The only time I have to do this is when I clean, I transfer the rats into an already clean tub which I set right up to theirs, so I barely have to lift them.
I use my 24" hemostat to retrieve babies from under the mothers- or block them with their food dish (or the hemostat) or something. My hemostat is my favorite all around tool. I reach into the back of the rat tubs, grab a pinky, turn around, and reach it right into the far back of a snake cage right to the snake- done.
I know you like everything to be a pet- but if they have babies- they will likely bite you if you put your hands near the teeth end.
I suppose you could wear some good leather gloves if your dont want to stop handling them.

[NetBSD]

i have 2 rats and i have yet to get bitten, my female is now pregnant but still lets me hold her when i clean the tank, the male on the other hand doesnt liek to be held and tries to run all the time but doesnt bite. ill have to see how the female reacts after she gives birth

[Loren]

well, I should point out that I never have really handled my rats anyways, as far as taming- so mine are really bitey. I dont know how much taming will help- probably some

[NetBSD]

i didnt tame mine at all, for a week i would stick my hand in and rub their necks thats about it. i also give the rats one chocolate chip a day to help prevent RI and its a treat for them, they eat it right out of my hand

[infernalis]

We have 2 rats, the female bites, the male does not. He's a real goofus.

[Zephyr]

I don't have rats. :P
I don't have biting problems with my mice though.

[Loren]

I've never had a bite problem with mice. cant say I've tried to let them bite me either- but then again, I didnt try to get bit by the rats and it happened twice. And I have rasied far more mice than rats- so my deduction is that rats bite more than mice. :)

[infernalis]

I have one momma mouse, she's "retired" now that was a biter from hell.

She went out of her way to bite.

Prolly cuz I kept stealing her children.

She still gets taken care of, she provided me with snake food for almost a year. So I let her have a "retirement"

[olive oil]

That is so kind of you! How sweet :)

[Loren]

You are nicer than me Wayne :) My retired breeder are simply known as xl feeder mice. I couldnt begin to keep retired rodents as pets, I have already retired hundreds of them.

[infernalis]

She was the first mouse I ever bought for this purpose.

Most mothers get fed off or sold to the pet store before they are 6 months old.

Funny thing is, the closest she ever got to a name was "top mom"

She always had BIG litters, never "culled" a single baby, she has been a true "top mom" so she gets to live out her days comfortably.

Hell she even fed other moms babies, and was a great "foster" mom whenever I had problems with other mice.

all in all, she's earned her keep.

[Lori P]

I've gone out and bought a suit of armor with full face mask, steel mesh gloves, tongs, a lance, a large club, a cattle prod, and some purple socks (well, they were cute.) I'm ready to tackle the rats. LOL

[infernalis]

If nothing else, That should scare them into submission Lori.

[Loren]

Now thats funny, Lori. :)

[Zephyr]

Lori, you're missing a Medieval flail.

[Lori P]

Don't be silly, Kyle. Why, that would be overkill. And I don't want to look rediculous, now, do I?

:D:D:D

[infernalis]

You look rediculous, Nah never happen.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/lori.jpg

[Zephyr]

Hmm... Was gonna say where's the codpiece but...

[Lori P]

ROFLMAO Wayne!!!!!! I'm printing it off and hanging it on the rat tanks!!! You are a hoot!!! :D

Kyle, that's known as an easy-access suit of armor. :rolleyes::D

[jitami]

:D lol :D

[Loren]

haha
should have cut and pasted Lori's face onto it though. :)

[infernalis]

Unlikely friends..... Our cat "Silver" will sit and stare at my mice colonies all day, yet has never even attempted to harm one.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/1silvera.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/1silver.jpg

[crzy_kevo]

thats cute wayne i wonder how my cat will react to the mouse colony he is currently living at the Gf's moms because we cant have cats here but we can at the new place wow just a few days left till the move

[brain]

Now that mouse wouldn't have a snowballs change in h#@! around my cats. I trained them with mice to hunt around the house. Keeps the moles, field mice and rats population down. ;)

[crzy_kevo]

:mad:well i am starting to think i have a defective female i have had her for over a month and no babies yet so either the male isnt doing his job or she gave birth to a small litter and ate them without me knowing:mad:

:confused:maybe i should take the wheel out to get them doing some business:confused:

:eek:also the male is wierd he likes to pick up poop and put it on the sides of the tank:eek:

[Zephyr]

:mad:well i am starting to think i have a defective female i have had her for over a month and no babies yet so either the male isnt doing his job or she gave birth to a small litter and ate them without me knowing:mad:

:confused:maybe i should take the wheel out to get them doing some business:confused:

:eek:also the male is wierd he likes to pick up poop and put it on the sides of the tank:eek:I thought my momma was defective too... I guess they just reproduce at different rates, seeing as the albino ma has had 3 litters in the time it took the other ma to have 2 and be pregnant with one.

[crzy_kevo]

well i have read that some will go 3 weeks for a litter and others can go as long as 10 days longer than that but i have had her long enough to have had a litter by now so i dont know why there hasnt been one

[Zephyr]

well i have read that some will go 3 weeks for a litter and others can go as long as 10 days longer than that but i have had her long enough to have had a litter by now so i dont know why there hasnt been one
Temps are?

[crzy_kevo]

temps are mid 70's

[Zephyr]

temps are mid 70'sHmm...
Older male?

[crzy_kevo]

well he might be he is a much larger than the female

[crzy_kevo]

however i did see him a few times try and get some about 3-4 weeks ago

[NetBSD]

i didnt have luck with mice but from what i have read you will have great chances with a young male and 3 young female. good luck and hopefully you do better then i did. ohyeah you might try lining the entire outside of the tank if you are using one with newspaper so they arent distracted by the movemtn in the room. and remove any toys like wheels and such, i hear it takes their mind off of mating

[Loren]

:eek:also the male is wierd he likes to pick up poop and put it on the sides of the tank:eek:

Now just teach him to put it in a little basket for you.

[Loren]

I do get colonies that dont produce at all sometimes. I recently had to put down 3 colonies that were not producing at all- all while the 2 colonies next to them, with the same conditions, were producing heavily. I hate to bring new animals into my rodent colony for fear of bringing in parasites or sickness, but fear it is time to get some fresh blood. I think they are getting so inbred that fertility is starting to suffer.

[crzy_kevo]

well i took out the wheel this is their last chance to produce or i wil have to feed them off george is just about big enough to tackle the female ill problably have to split the male for checkers to eat it

however i dont want to do that i like these ones

[Zephyr]

My male is currently on his death bed.
I bought him as a feeder, so he was probably a "retired" breeder in the first place... So it's not a huge shock... But it's so sad to see him like this.
The other mice keep checking on him... I took him out to give him some last pets to wish him off, and now he's off to himself. It's really touching. ):
On the other hand, 3 of his mature and almost mature children are in there with him, and the momma mouse just had 17 more babies 3 days ago... So it's a mixed ending.

[Lori P]

Aw... sorry Kyle. It is sad when one of the breeders pass. He worked a hard life. Er, I mean, a long life. Um, I mean.... well never mind, glad he got to retire with you!!

[Zephyr]

Aw... sorry Kyle. It is sad when one of the breeders pass. He worked a hard life. Er, I mean, a long life. Um, I mean.... well never mind, glad he got to retire with you!!
He's got kids now too. :)
And some of them won't be on any menus. :P

[infernalis]

I recently has a similar run in with "top mom" she appeared to be going blind, but she snapped right back to health in about 2 days.

I almost tossed her in with Chomper.......

[Zephyr]

He's gone. ):
He lived a good life. He's got tons of kids. :)

[infernalis]

Condolences Kyle....

[Zephyr]

I thought I'd be upset, but I'm not. He has plenty of children, and he himself is goin' back to the great circle as food for one of my corns, who'll in turn make babies next spring, and so on. :)

[infernalis]

Understood.

I quit keeping the adults past six months, then I sell them to the pet store.

"Top Mom" is the last one I will ever allow myself to get attached to.

[Aundrea]

awwww Kyle im so sorry about your male :( Glad that you got some of his kiddos around :D

I didnt know you have corn snakes :D

[reptile3]

sorry to hear, sending my condolences!!!

[ssssnakeluvr]

I didnt know you have corn snakes :D

I'm still waiting for him to post photos of the snow corn he got from me...... :cool:

[Zephyr]

Don, when Blanky is in a photogenic mood I'll take some pics. XD

So today I got a new male. He's a lovely light tan/orange color; The females did not like him at all. The orange/white ma and the albino ma both attacked him; So he's in a tank with the most ridiculously rigged water container I've ever crafted. (ANY ADVICE ON HOME MADE WATERERS IS APPRECIATED!!!)
I've moved the little silver female in with him; now all I have to do is wait for babies. :D

[kbear]

I do get colonies that dont produce at all sometimes. I recently had to put down 3 colonies that were not producing at all... I think they are getting so inbred that fertility is starting to suffer.
I've had pet mice for years, but never tried to breed them until recently. I'm pretty sure they're not of the same blood line but they still won't reproduce! It's so annoying! I keep telling them to get some steamy stuff going on in there, but they don't seem to agree with me on that subject... I think (*think* being the key word since like I said I've never tried this before) it's really a very chancy kind of thing.:rolleyes:

[ssssnakeluvr]

Don, when Blanky is in a photogenic mood I'll take some pics. XD


good luck!!! bit of a feisty snake!!!! :cool:

[Zephyr]

good luck!!! bit of a feisty snake!!!! :cool:Huh, I haven't found him to be so. He never strikes at me, except when I'm holding dinner. :P

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

hmmm, home made water containers? why not just a bowl? :D:D:D

yea yea i know all about that.... they fill their water bowls with bedding every day! We use bowls at work for the feeder mice, I must change that thing out 6 times a day!

[infernalis]

hmmm, home made water containers? why not just a bowl? :D:D:D

yea yea i know all about that.... they fill their water bowls with bedding every day! We use bowls at work for the feeder mice, I must change that thing out 6 times a day!


How well I know that one Shannon. I have watched them start shoveling bedding into a water bowl SECONDS after changing it.:rolleyes:

[brain]

How well I know that one Shannon. I have watched them start shoveling bedding into a water bowl SECONDS after changing it.:rolleyes:


My male gopher snake does that. I clean it he dirties it with bedding just minutes after I put it in.

[ssssnakeluvr]

Huh, I haven't found him to be so. He never strikes at me, except when I'm holding dinner. :P
hmmmm...he must like you better..... :rolleyes:

[Zephyr]

How well I know that one Shannon. I have watched them start shoveling bedding into a water bowl SECONDS after changing it.:rolleyes:I've kinda deterred them... there's a platform of Popsicle sticks above the little "reservoir" with just a small hole for them to drink from. However, I do see a few pieces of bedding... Ugh...

[NetBSD]

i tried water bowls when i first started keeping feeder mice and rats (cheaper to buy by bulk) and it doesnt work. all the mice/rats would walk thru the bowl and pack it with bedding.

so now i use cheap water bottles found at walmart and havent had a problem yet, the female rat has chewd thru the plastic holder but i fixed that by hanging the bottle from the screen top with steel wire :D

[brain]

i tried water bowls when i first started keeping feeder mice and rats (cheaper to buy by bulk) and it doesnt work. all the mice/rats would walk thru the bowl and pack it with bedding.

so now i use cheap water bottles found at walmart and havent had a problem yet, the female rat has chewd thru the plastic holder but i fixed that by hanging the bottle from the screen top with steel wire :D


I had to get a glass water bottle because the rats chewed hole in he bottle. I also throw in the cage a plastic Tums container and a stick of wood. It seems to help with the need to chew.

[crzy_kevo]

well its official the mice have 1 week to produce before i feed them off and get a new pair

[drache]

I had to get a glass water bottle because the rats chewed hole in he bottle. I also throw in the cage a plastic Tums container and a stick of wood. It seems to help with the need to chew.
try poster mailing tubes also
it's a really hard thick cardboard which takes them a while to demolish, and they like to nest in the tunnels
I've gotten good at sawing up the longer pieces

[brain]

Good idea I'll try that TY

[infernalis]

Here is an interesting litter.

http://www.dekayi.info/cool/cutemice.jpg

[Snake lover 3-25]

OMG COWS!!!!! lol i would NEVER be able to hurt those lol much too cute:)

[infernalis]

Oh Shanley, They will not be snake food, Probably breeding stock for more of the same. They sell better at the pet store.

One looks like it's thumb sucking.

[Snake lover 3-25]

i know lol:D but i mean all of them lol i could never do it lol:)

omg!!!!! sooo cute!!!!

how come that one on the left has less fur than the others?

[Lori P]

LOL, Shanley, cow mice! Too funny. Wayne, they are cuuuuuuuuuute. I might have to bring home some extra cute mice this summer!!!!!

[infernalis]

how come that one on the left has less fur than the others?


Brown Cow;):D

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol :D

[Hornets23]

Wayne the black and white ones are my favorite. I'm thinking about coming over and stealing them!

[infernalis]

The brown cow a couple days older.

http://www.dekayi.info/cool/browncow.jpg

[Snake lover 3-25]

OMG he is a brown cow!!!! how cute!:D he's my fav:)

[olive oil]

He is so cute!!!
Lovely babies.

[infernalis]

What I find rather curious, this thread started life as a FEEDER discussion?

Guilty as charged.....

[Loren]

Ha ha, too much playing with your food. Now you've got pets. :)

[infernalis]

Ha ha, too much playing with your food. Now you've got pets. :)

The pet store has pets, I have money.

Little tiny "cash cows":D

[bkhuff1s]

Man when I bought my snakes at the beginning of last fall feeding mice were only one dollar, and now they've jumped to over 2...anyone know what's going on. Or do you think the local pet store has caught on that I only buy from them?

[infernalis]

I have found that the most cost effective way is to buy 400 frozen mice at a time.

It's around a hundred bucks, but you won't even have to think about it again anytime soon.

[infernalis]

http://www.dekayi.info/cool/skull.jpg

Found an old picture from last year.

[diamondsirtalis]

I miss Skull:(

[Lori P]

Aw bummer Wayne. He was one cool looking mouse.

I still have my oooollllldddd momma mouse with the tumor. It is getting huge, tho she still eats, runs in the wheel, and takes care of babies. But I know I need to euth her because the thing is growing so fast and I don't want her to suffer.

And I can't feed her to someone; it seems wrong to feed a tumor to a snake. Anyone have thoughts on that?? It just seems... gross. lol

[ssssnakeluvr]

the tumor would be digested just like the rest of the mouse....

[Hornets23]

It does SEEM a little gross.

[Lori P]

Yeah, but do I really want to feed the snakes a mass of abnormal cells?? That's the part that grosses me out. It seems like it would be feeding them something toxic, you know??

[adamanteus]

Tissue is tissue. The snakes don't care what shape it is.

[ssssnakeluvr]

even tho tumors kill living things...they are just as digestable as other tissues.....

[infernalis]

Tissue is tissue. The snakes don't care what shape it is.


and........


even tho tumors kill living things...they are just as digestable as other tissues.....

What they said.

[Loren]

Well Wayne, its nice you have a petstore that will buy from you. I thought I had sources for my rats- bred a ton of them, then found out no one needed any right now. I had one buddy buying them, but he didnt need nearly what I was producing.
Now I breed for myself, and every so often purge the freezer of old stuff by selling them cheap to buddies, or on craigslist- or doing a heavy snake feeding.