Fighting males: Keep them?

Question
QUESTION: I've had two mice, Dan and Ollie, for a few weeks now.  They're young mice, so I figured they were scrapping the past four nights to establish dominance.  However, something has changed today that has me worried: Ollie won't let Dan come out of his coconut home.

They sleep together, and sit in the coconut fine enough, but if Dan tries to venture out to run on the wheel or get food etc, Ollie is right there biting Dan's tail until he goes back in or on the coconut.  Should I intervene in some way, or will this blow over before Dan gets malnourished?

ANSWER: Dear Rochelle,

First I would take Ollie out of the cage for a few hours to give Dan a break.  

Then when they are in the cage, hang around to see what happens.  Because mother mice, just like mother cats, swat their kids on the top of the nose to tell them they are bad, a tap on the nose of a mouse insults it but does not hurt it.  Thus whenever Ollie bites at Dan, tap him gently but quickly on the nose.  Do this as long as you can, until Ollie gives up.  I hope he will.  I would alternate these two actions, with time in between for them to sort themselves out (i.e., when you sleep), for about three days or until the behavior stops.

However, if blood is drawn besides a small nip to the tail, then this is a more serious matter.  Male mice often can not get along.  Often male mice have to live in separate cages.  If blood is drawn then this pair is not right together.  If you have two cages, be sure to put them as close to each other as possible, because they do 'talk' in high squeaks that we don't hear, and they get very lonely living alone.  

This is the lot of a male mouse in a cage.  They want a lot more territory than that, and thus don't want to share.  When a mouse is alone, however, it needs lots of love from its human friend.  A single mouse should get at least an hour of intense and physical human-time a day.  You may actually find you can hold the two at once, though it can be difficult to keep track of two mice at one time!

I hope Ollie just decides the nose taps are too embarrassing and stops intimidating Dan.  Do let me know what happens!!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha



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

QUESTION: Thanks for your help.  I separated them overnight, and Dan was doing much better.  This morning I noticed that Dan has several wounds on his bum, so I guess they're not right for each other.  They are still new enough that I could exchange one of them and see how the other does with a new mouse; is this an option?

Answer
Dear Rochelle,

The chances of two male mice who did not grow up together, getting along, is not very great.  Thus replacing Ollie is likely to mean another male will come in and want to be dominant over Dan.

If you aren't fond enough of them to be able to let them go, you can trade them in for two or three girls.  Girls generally get along fine after an introductory period.  They also smell better.  I always keep three so that when one dies there isn't one broken-hearted mouse left alone; then I soon replace the third one.  But maybe that is too many mice for you.

I have to be honest:  The pet store will put Dan down if you return him.  They do not have the time/space/etc to care for sick or wounded mice.  But they will do it as painlessly as possible.

Another option is just to keep one of the boys and have him live alone (or, as I wrote before, keep both in separate cages).  You will have to give him extra love because he doesn't have a friend.

Whatever decision you make, you'll end up with at least one wonderful mouse friend.  Mice make fabulous pets!

squeaks,

Natasha