RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Sun Feb 15, 2004 5:22 am

Well, I went to the shelter on Friday to look at the rodents, and they had several mice.... The females they had were all pregnant (VERY big pregnant), so even though I didn't want males originally, I saw these 2, and got them any way.

The boys were originally for my friend that I went with to the shelter... She got them, and already had mice so she wanted me to quarantine them over here, but she said that since I liked them so much, I could just keep them if I wanted to.

They are very shy, but they are cute anyway. One of them is fawn with a blaze on his face, and the other is black and white... I didn't really get any good pics of them, but I'll post the best 3 of the ones I took.

I don't have names for them... So, please help me think of names!!! Wave

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-Cori-

Last edited by molucass on Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:38 pm; edited 2 times in total

Sun Feb 15, 2004 5:40 am

Congrats on your new mice!! And a BIG THANK YOU for taking them from a shelter and not going to a pet store. Where all the mice there from one surrender?

Just a note about the pregnant females. It isnt as overwhelming as it seems. When ever I take in pregnant females I just think of it as taking in two groups of mice, not one. The mother and all the females will live happily together and all of the males, being litter mates, will (99% of the time) live happily together. The same applies if you take 2 pregnant females, both mothers and all the girls will live together happily then you have two male groups, one from each litter.

Im just so glad you took them from the shelter, thats made my day!!!

Monique

Names - what about Scout and Maverick?

Sun Feb 15, 2004 5:51 am

They had 2 different groups from owner surrenders... One had about 10 mice in the group (7 of them were pregnant girls), and the other group had about 30 mice in it (about 13 of them were girls and most of those were also pregnant).

I got these 2 boys because they were the only calm ones... They were asleep together in the corner... Lol

For now, is a 10 gal. aquarium big enough for my 2 little boys?

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-Cori-

Last edited by molucass on Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:29 pm; edited 1 time in total

Sun Feb 15, 2004 7:32 am

Dumb question, but how big is a 10 gallon aquarium?

If you dont have other animals or small children the large storage boxes on rollers, 80 to 110 litre, what ever that is in gallons, work well. They are light weight, easy to clean, cheap, and quite deep so you do not need a lid on them, if you dont have cats ect.

With the pregnant girls, if they look pregnant they will probably give birth within a few days. They arent just old and fat are they? A heavily pregnant mouse will often look "lumpy", and you can actually see hips and head lumps of the babies.

Its a good idea to get the females before they have the litter. One problem Ive encountered is if you have several females together and they all have babies all of the females will care for the young so you dont know who is a litter mate to who. The problem comes with the males, and often if you cant keep them in their right litter groups you will have a whole bunch of fighting males. Ive had this happen a few times when people have surrendered several nursing mothers with their babies all mixed in together.

Monique

Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:42 am

a 10 gallon aquarium is 23"W x 11"D x 20"H.,,, I do have cats though, so the aquarium has a lid, and its sitting on top of my big TV in my room.

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-Cori-

Last edited by molucass on Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:06 am

Here are some new pics I took of them.

What would their markings be called?

_________________
-Cori-

Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:10 pm

Congratulations on your new mice! I'm glad you were able to give them a good new home. Mr. Green

I love their markings, though I don't know what they are.

_________________
Linda and the RMDs

Many have forgotten this truth but you must not forget it. We remain responsible forever, for what we have tamed.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:39 pm

I think the black one is a black varigated, and the "fawn" (looks more argente with the pink eyes) is a broken marked. Congrats! They are so cute!

Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:48 pm

Oh they are very handsome. I love their coloring. Congrats on your new little guys.

Maddie

Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:43 am

Molucass, I think you already know what their markings are from another forum (I am also a member of it). So, the fawn is a blazed banded (gosh, I hate that "blazed" word! Confusing) and the b/w is a broken marked.

Mon Feb 16, 2004 3:05 am

Good for you. The black and white one looks like my Nick.

Not that it really matters, but I think your tank is a twenty gallon. I worked with fish for years and a standard ten gallon measures about 20"w-10"d-12"h. So your boys have a better home than a 10. Mine are in a 15 gallon, which is like yours, just shorter, and have plenty of room for toys, though I'm still planning on adding on at some point. I did add a tube and lookout tower out the lid. That makes peeking in on them while they are resting a breeze.

Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:30 am

I know Im going to sound paranoid but......the glass tank with a lid on top a TV? Its OK in winter but in summer could get really hot up there.

I have often placed cages with towels over them on top of TV's in winter to keep a sick animal warm, it does keep them warm quite effectively.

Your boys are cute as buttons! Do you have names yet?

Monique

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The world would be a happier place if there were no mirrors.

Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:06 am

I don't ever use the TV.... It doesn't even really work anymore...

thanks for your concern though.

_________________
-Cori-

Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:20 pm

I decided to name the black/white one Smores, and the fawn/white one Fraidy (because he's a fraidy cat...

)

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-Cori-