Tubes and Danger/ breeding cages

Question
I have a fancy mouse right now (Ginny) and am planing to breed her with another mouse.   I have asked a similar question before but I would like to expand on it. (I don't mind if you can't answer this thoroughly because I know you are not a breeder)  

This coming weekend I am going to get a male (Harry) and a new cage.  This one will be with tubes and multiple stories.  This will be Harry's cage and I want to put Ginny in there oppose to putting Harry in Ginny's cage where there might be fighting because Ginny will try to protect her territory from him. If I keep her in there and they mate will she attempt to kill her young when I move her to her old cage when she is pregnant?  (Bad experience with rabbit, had 15 bunnies and ripped their heads off (literally), later had 8 (with my other rabbit) bunnies and she didn't kill one. I think she might have killed them because we bought her when she was already pregnant, therefore, moving her to a new cage, and I was wondering if the same goes for mice.)

Also I have read that the baby mice might get stuck in the tubes and I was wondering if this is true.

(Once again I fully understand if you can't answer all of these questions, for you are not a breeder or a rabbit expert, just please answer what you can)

Answer
Dear Jenn,

This kind of breeding question I can answer.  It is genetics that I can't claim expertise in.

You are right to put the two mice in the fresh cage with nobody's scent in it.  A tip for reducing friction between the two mice is to place a very tiny dab of REAL vanilla extract by their butts and on their necks.  This way they will smell the same.  If it seems like Ginny is going to be too aggressive, then take her out and let the male have the cage for a day or two before putting Ginny back in.

To make sure Ginny isn't upset when moved while pregnant,  put her in her cage which she was already in for a week, without cleaning it, so she will feel at home.  Move her by the end of her second week so she has time to feel her nest is ready. It might really be best to put the two mice in the small cage after they have gotten to know each other, and then it is the male that you will be moving and not the female.  That way she will not be disturbed.  

By the way, mice who are pregnant for the first time can also get confused and eat their young-- very rarely-- so perhaps this happens with rabbits too.  However, you are right that the move may have caused the upset.  

Baby mice can't get physically stuck in a tube, but it is certainly possible that you won't be able to lure one out to handle it, which is why it's not the best beginner cage.  It's hard to pick up skittery baby mice as it is, without that problem.  The exception would be a cage where the only access to the tubes is vertical and too high up for the babies to reach.

Have fun with the babies.  Baby mice must be the cutest thing in the world!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha