[littlekaori]

As said in my introduction, I accidentaly own a male and a female, but they are 3 months old have have not yet reproduced. However, since today, by female has got an awfully big belly. She's always the skinnier of the two, but now she definatly outeighs the male. However, when I look up pictures of pregnant mice, there are clearly two lumps, whereas mine has one big belly. Could it be that this is simply an early pregnancy? I also added some birdseeds to their diet two days ago because they aren't too eager to eat the rat/rabbit food otherwise and the male had slightly runny poo. They loved it, that's for sure. I also added a small bit of burlap sack for them to play with, and the shredded it to bits in a very short time (unlike their toilet rolls and paper )

Is she pregnant or not? Here's two pictures.

 

[Rhasputin]

Looks pregnant to me.

 

[littlekaori]

even without the tell-tale twin bellies?

If she's pregnant, and we assume she;d had this belly for about a day (maybe 2), how long till she will get her litter? Does the 21 day rule count from the moment she's pregnant, or the moment she's got a belly?

 

[Rhasputin]

The moment she got pregnant. She's pobably going to have babies in a week or so. You should seperate her.

 

[The Village Mousery]

well looks pregnant to be but yet again i think all mice are pregnant lol

 

[littlekaori]

ooooooh d**n.... that's sudden....

Okey, here comes the questionbrigade! (don't worry, I checked all the sites, I just want some additional know-how)
1. I only own one small terrarium. is a shoebox also okey? She's not much of a knibbler anyway
2. I got rat, rabbit, mouse food and additional birdseeds. I can also get some doogfood. What is the proper amount of what? If bread such a good idea?
3. I see that there are different opinions on the addition of toys such as a wheel. My female LOVES her wheel, will she miss it badly?
4. I use woodshavings as bedding, the two love to dig in it. Is it a proper litterbedding or is it too dusty? I also got straw and hay.

Jees, I should never have kids... if I'm THIS nervous with my mouses' babies......

 

[The Village Mousery]

lol ok
1. Shoebox really isnt suitable, do you have a plastic storage box you could use instead?
2. all the food you said is good , just put in a couple or dog food kibbles 3 times a week and bread should be a treat.
3. mice love wheels dont take it from her unless you think it could be a danger to the babys once born.
4. woodshavings are fine if the wood is aspen, pine and others CAN make your mice react to the sap not always tho.

hope that helps

 

[littlekaori]

whew. Thanks. I'll update regularly with.. wel... the latest updates. I'll give her the much-loved expencive mouse food to make sure she eats enough XD

Thanks again!

 

[windyhill]

Looks pregnat
Agrees with what Art said

 

[littlekaori]

^.^lol.

I now got one more problem. I can't own more then two mice, and this means I have to 'fix' my male. I know a vet in my neighbourhood that has done thing several times, but I'm worried that the operation might have long-term side effects. Will he become less active or will his character change in any way? It's either that, or give one of them away and since they are my lovelies, I'm not o much in favour of that

 

[SarahC]

I had my dog done on Monday and have the same concerns you mention.However he is now able to live a life free of searching for sex,something that wasn't going to happen. He'll be a loved pet and won't be any the wiser.

 

[littlekaori]

It's just that my male is very active and investigating, and I love that. I don't want him to lose that... I think it's pretty hypocritical of me to force him to live a drowsy life just because I can't take care of his offspring. However, there is no other choice but I still don't like it. Basically, I need some convincing that his is good for him XD

 

[CatWoman]

His life will be as enriched as you make it. Whether he's got his manly parts or not has very little influence on that fact. ;-)

 

[ccoryjohnn]

I agree with CatWoman

 

[littlekaori]

Has anyone done this before? I'm curious ^.^

And now for something completly different: can baby mice drink from the water bottle as soon as they stop drinking milk? Will the mother teach them this?
I seperated the male and female, bought a big curverbox for her and she seems very much okey with it. She's unusually friendly and relaxed, and the male is also a lot more relaxed now that he's alone in his own box (I put them together for a couple of hours to make the transition to a new box easier for her, but he got all skittish and nervous). In short, they both seem content and a small nest has already been made. ^.^

 

[WoodWitch]

can baby mice drink from the water bottle as soon as they stop drinking milk? Will the mother teach them this?

Don't worry....
They will learn all they need from mother

 

[littlekaori]

Okey! The big day has arrived! Last night my mouse got the babies, and she went from being as wide as she is long back to almost her lean self again (there's still a bit of a belly, but that's okey for now). The little ones are being kept in a laying flowerpot, stuffed with hay. I just saw them a little bit by gently pulling away the hay, and they look absolutely adorable! Like pink jellybeans with tiny wiggeling paws! They squeek quite often, but not the entire time, and the mother seems very relaxed. Overall good news! Tomorrow I will go and check how many there are and if there are any dead ones. Till then!

 

[WoodWitch]

Congratulations

There's few things better than the sound of a nest of squeaking pinkies. I LOVE that sound! Especially when I have alot of nests, all squeaking.