one picked-on mouse

Question
QUESTION: I've had Ginny ,my fancy mouse, for about 2 weeks now.  I've wanted to get her a guy for about a week now. I hope that she may have a litter.  I wanted to known what the outcome of breeding a fancy red-eyed fawn and white mouse with a fancy black eyed black and white mouse that carries the trait of red eye color would be.  I'm not going to be completely sure of the genotype of the mice but I will look at its siblings and the other mice living with it (at the pet store) for clues of any genetic disorders (kinked tail, short life) and for clues of unappealing/unwanted traits (small ears, short tail, bad temper)
Also I wanted to know if I could keep the male with the female until she looks like she swallowed a pear (that should be about some 5 days before birth of pups to prevent a second litter). I also wanted to know if I should put the female in the new bigger cage with tubes attached while she is pregnant so that she can have her pups there or should I keep her in her currant small tubeless glass cage (and yes it is properly ventilated.) Also (yes another also) i was wondering if it is true that when raised together and put in a big enough cage (with no female) brothers will be able to live quite peacefully with an occasional um... lets call it... "spat".  Also I wanted to now if the father will live peacefully with his sons. I am a first time breeder (and yes i have been reading up on these things in case you were wondering but i never had these questions satisfyingly answered ;-) (I will probably be getting the male next weekend.

ANSWER: Dear Jenn,

I am not a breeder, and if we still had our breeder I would send your question to him.  However I seem to be the only mouse person left right now so I will answer as much as I can, requesting that you please not rate me as unknowledgeable for doing so (instead of refusing the question).

All I or I think anyone can tell you about the combination of those two descriptions is that you will get a Fancy mouse!  Mouse phenotypes are quite complex; besides my own experience of breeding a grey mouse and a brown mouse, both of whose parentage I knew, and getting 2 of each of 5 colors never seen in the family before, I also always laugh when my own breeder says he is giving me a Blue and the mouse is light orange; he goes by the genotype and I go by the phenotype : ).  

Large as opposed to small ears, and long as opposed to short tails, are English as opposed to American traits.  It's true that most shows, etc, look for the English traits, but the American versions are no sign of any genetic defect.  

The male can stay with the female as long as you like; removal on day 20 is ok (so long as you are absolutely sure when they mated) to avoid another pairing.  If the small cage is at least as big as a 10 gallon tank it's fine for breeding and will be easier to keep track of the pups when they become more active.  

Brothers can sometimes stay together if they are never separated, and the same goes for a father and son pair (however, yours will have been separated), but the operative word is *sometimes*.  Always separate if there is blood.  In that case each male must have his own cage; of course, no cage should ever be without its own wheel.

These past answers of mine will answer many other questions you may have about mouse upbringing:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2008/8/mouse-reproduction.htm

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2008/2/mouse-babies.htm

You will find links to YouTube videos of baby mice of various ages here:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2008/8/mouse-reproduction-mating-babies.htm

Please feel free to write with more questions.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha  



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help it was great!
I do now have another question.
If my mouse does have pups and i put them in the same cage and they live peacefully together all EXCEPT ONE that seems to get picked on is it possible to only move that mouse to a new cage? OR will they all need new cages?

Answer
Dear Jenn,

If there is a cage of mice and one is getting picked on, the best thing to do is take that one mouse out and put her with the meekest of the other mice (one who wasn't attacking her).  Mice don't like to live alone.  However, it is sometimes necessary; in fact, usually so, for boys.  

A mouse who lives alone needs a lot of love and quality people-time.  You would plan on giving it an hour of love a day (it could also sit on your shoulder as you read or watch TV, for instance).  The cages should also be as near to each other as possible because mice do communicate in high pitched squeaks that we can't hear.  

Best of luck and have fun!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha