bites, mites, or something else?

Question
hello my pet mouse snowdrop lives with 3 other female mice her babies is it possible they are biting her she keeps getting scabs on her back, it is not mites or anything i have previously got rid of that problem so im just wondering, there  was 3 of them closely together and now there is a bigger one

Answer
Dear Robyne,

It would be unusual for her daughters to start biting her if they have lived together all their lives.  It sounds like a skin problem.

If it isn't mites I can't give you a home remedy; a vet would need to test a skin sample to diagnose it.

However, if ALL the mice and the entire cage weren't treated at the same time-- TWICE (7-10 days apart)-- then it could still be mites.  Healthy mice carry mites and give them to other mice, so if you just treat the mouse with mites, it will get them back from the others.  Also, you have to treat twice because eggs aren't affected; the eggs that survived the first treatment will hatch into new mites.

best of luck.

squeaks,

Natasha