New mice need advice !

[willywonka45]

I purchased 5 mice from a local petstore. I asked the worker to give me one or 2 males and 3 or 4 females. After I got home I inspected them and it appears I have 4 males and one female -__-. I was hoping to do a 1:4 herem or 2 different housed pairs. But now I do not know what to do. They are young although im not sure how young (very small guessing around 3 weeks). But all of the males have a visible "sac" between their anus and urethra. 2 of the males have large testicles. I am assuming the female and one of the more mature males should stay together to get them to breed the quickest ?
I know male littermates can live together but I do not want them to harm each other because there is a female present ? Also I am scared any more then one male and a rival may kill the does pups ?

[Vladina]

Why are you trying to breed mice?

[willywonka45]

Genetics experiment. Coat color - ear size- tail length. Fertility of offspring. I have a thesus for my class that inbreeding has effected various traits in isolated feeder mice populations. But M/F (babies) WILL be seperated and 5 atleast have good homes. The rest will get fat and die in big cages with me . Anyone have any advice ?

[willywonka45]

ok guess ill go ahead and cull males since i cnt find much info

[Vladina]

Well I don't personally know about mice as I have only had rats and gerbils as pets, so sorry I can't give you any help in that area.

But if you are doing a college thesis, I would assume you would have other resources to go to for advice on this, and not just rely on a pet forum.


If you are seriously planning on culling your male mice just because no one has answered your questions, rather than having a solid plan to seek out information from internet or library articles, as I assume one would do if they are seriously looking for information in regards to a thesis project, then that sounds a bit hair-trigger and ominous, yes?


Just as an FYI, this forum is actually very friendly, and also helpful, for questions people have about their PET mice and rats. Not really for people who are obtaining rodents and breeding them as part of a science experiment, so your questions may have been a bit off putting to the rat and mice people on the forum. Just saying.

[LittleLadyBug]

I am the owner of 2 amazing 'science experiment' ratties, and I love them dearly, so I understand where you are coming from, however...it took me about 1miunte to go to google and find information on what you're looking for....with that being said, please see this website: http://www.afrma.org/cullingmice.htm

[haberry2]

You can also just go back to the store and tell them they gave you to many males instead of the females you asked for. They will exchange the males for females free of cost.....