Sorry for the disgusting topic title, I didn't know what else to put...
I have recently got two groups of 1:3 mice, some of which were pregnant when I got them, a week or so ago. Three have since given birth, two in one group, one in the other.
In the first group, I only ever found one baby, and one half eaten, then the live baby was gone. Now another doe in that group has given birth last night, and I am worried about her babies. I haven't looked, but I could see the babies from the bottom of the tank when I moved the tank to feed them this morning. I was very careful to do so quietly, and didn't disturb the nest at all.
The female from the second group gave birth 2 days ago. Again, I just looked under the tank yesterday, not disturbing the nests, and could see the babies, which had milk bands. This morning I fed them quietly, and noticed one or two half eaten babies just outside the nest.
Is it normal for this to happen, or am I doing something wrong? The mice are temporarily in large, flat faunariums until I can get to a shop to get stuff to convert 50L RUB's for them. (we are miles from civilisation! :roll: ) They have a couple of 'hides' in each tank, both big enough for all four mice to use at once.
Could the fact the tanks are to small cause them to do this, or the fact both groups have males in them that are not the father to their litters? Could he be doing it? Or might it just be the stress of the move so close to birthing?
Any help or advice is appreciated, if I am doing something wrong, I'd prefer to know. Thanks.
I have recently got two groups of 1:3 mice, some of which were pregnant when I got them, a week or so ago. Three have since given birth, two in one group, one in the other.
In the first group, I only ever found one baby, and one half eaten, then the live baby was gone. Now another doe in that group has given birth last night, and I am worried about her babies. I haven't looked, but I could see the babies from the bottom of the tank when I moved the tank to feed them this morning. I was very careful to do so quietly, and didn't disturb the nest at all.
The female from the second group gave birth 2 days ago. Again, I just looked under the tank yesterday, not disturbing the nests, and could see the babies, which had milk bands. This morning I fed them quietly, and noticed one or two half eaten babies just outside the nest.
Is it normal for this to happen, or am I doing something wrong? The mice are temporarily in large, flat faunariums until I can get to a shop to get stuff to convert 50L RUB's for them. (we are miles from civilisation! :roll: ) They have a couple of 'hides' in each tank, both big enough for all four mice to use at once.
Could the fact the tanks are to small cause them to do this, or the fact both groups have males in them that are not the father to their litters? Could he be doing it? Or might it just be the stress of the move so close to birthing?
Any help or advice is appreciated, if I am doing something wrong, I'd prefer to know. Thanks.