pregnant mouses cagemate

Question
QUESTION: How can you tell if your mouse is pregnant?

ANSWER: Dear Tiffany,

Here are some ways to tell that your mouse is pregnant:

1) she was with a male for more than 5 minutes ; )) less than 3 weeks ago

2) she has been getting fatter

3) she looks like a pear from on top

4) her round sides are firmer than just mouse sides (compare)

5) she is taking a lot of interest in nesting

6) she might be a little more territorial and bad-tempered with you or other mice.

She is not pregnant if you have been wondering for more than 2 weeks (they are only pregnant for three weeks).  She is not pregnant if she has not been with a male in less than 3 weeks.  

She WAS pregnant if you hear tiny little squeaky noises coming from the nest!

I have written a few good, long answers about pregnancy and mouse rearing; if you don't find what you need in my archives, write back and I will help you out if you DO have an expectant mother.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha

PS I once wanted babies from a pregnant silky mouse in the pet store but I had to wait till she had the babies and they got old enough.  I didn't get there often, but it always turned out I had missed the babies; but since she was pregnant again, I would again plan to come back.  The third time I asked if I could just buy the pregnant mouse.  It was a bargain to get a whole mouse full of babies for the price of one mouse!  So I waited.  One week.  She looked like she was going to burst.  Two weeks.  They'll be born in seconds.  Two and a half... Three weeks and I had to admit I had an OBESE MOUSE!  I loved her though and she was a wonderful companion.



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

QUESTION: If my mouse is pregnant should I seperate her with from the other female mouse?

Answer
Dear Tiffany,

There should be no reason to separate the two mice.  In fact, the mother mouse will be happy to get a little extra time out of the nest when the other mouse is in there.  The other mouse may even take great interest in the babies and help care for them.  It's nice to have an 'aunt' mouse in the nest.

If in the extremely unlikely case that the extra mouse show some aggression towards a baby, remove her immediately.

Good luck with your little ones and check my archives for a few long articles about pregnant mice and raising babies.  As always, feel free to ask more questions.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha