I started breeding a small group of mice to satisfy the appetites of my smaller snakes who refuse f/t.

I tried one trio and they all died within a week. I'm not sure why. Their symptoms included: lethargism, weight loss, ragged-looking fur, then eventually blindness and death.

I attempted a second trio and within a week, they started showing the same symptoms of the first group. Although I tested the water bottle to see if it works, I decided to place a small water bowl in the cage. They all improved significantly within a 24 hr period.

Of course, while I am elated that my mice are doing well, this creates a gradually-escalating level of irritation:.....that water bowl gets so dang nasty!!!!

How can I get these stupid mice to drink out of the water bottle?
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Also, a somewhat separate issue....

When I first selected this 2nd group, I like to think I've been involved with the pet trade long enough (10+ yrs) to know how to tell a male mouse from a female one.

Its been a few weeks, and all mice seem to have grown. I am not sure if this is from pregnancy or simply a diet of hi-quality dogfood...or both. But lately, I have not seen evidence of any "manhood" on any of these mice. Its almost as if I have 3 females now. Do males.....retract their balls or somethin' if they've been with girls too long?
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I dunno....I bred mice several yrs ago and never had any of these problems. I'm about ready to ditch them and start force-feeding my snake f/t pinkies.

Have never had a rodent have a hard time finding water but perhaps you need a different type of nozzle on your bottle?

As for the males -- Boys will pull them back up under a variety of circumstances but if you just let them run around for a while you'll see them drop. As well it's been known to happen that girls will gang up on and chew the testicles off the boys. You should still be able to tell by the distance between their pooper and their pee-er if you can't see testicles.

:yessir:

I would try a different water bottle if they are improving when you put a water dish in with them...I have never had a problem with mice and a water bottle either.

Males will retract :yessir:

Sounds like dehydration. Best is to use the old fashioned steel sipper tube for mice ie a sipper tube without a ball bearing in it, at an accessible height for all stages of growth.

You should still be able to tell by the distance between their pooper and their pee-er if you can't see testicles.

:yessir:

:lol::lol::lol:

Never heard it described that way before.

:yourock:

Ditto with all the post....never had a problem with them not finding a regular ole water bottle. What was the place you got them from using?

Another thing to look at is temps. Mice are optimal breeders at around 65 - 70. Too hot and they wont breed and dont live long...

Another thing to look at is temps. Mice are optimal breeders at around 65 - 70. Too hot and they wont breed and dont live long...

Good point Ron, mine don't do well with extreme temps, no water and dirty cages. Mice can be finicky, if they don't like something they will eat the babies and health will go down quickly. :yessir:

Ive never had a problem with mice and a water bottle either. Like Desert already mentioned I prefer the sipper bottles to the ones with the balls in them commonly sold in pet shops. Those balls clog up and get stuck.

Another thing to consider is where you got them from. I can tell you from my own experience it can be a daunting task to find healthy breeding stock. Sure, it could have something to do with the water but its also possible you just got some bad mice. After many deaths I finally have a decent group going.

And yeah you should be able to see the frank even if you cant spot the beans :D

Look for nipples. Males ain't got them but females show them fairly young. When i have one in question, I put it in a clear deli cup and wait to see if anything drops. On the rare occasion, I have had non sexually distinguishable mice pop up in a litter. Females with no nipples , females with nipples and a deformed ( almost non existent ) vagina, Males with no balls. Dunno why, but they grow up fine and make snake poo just like normal mice.

If you can't find a sipper tube type water bottle, try a ball bearing type with the smaller tube. I've had mice in the past that just couldn't spin the larger ball bearing to get water. I've also had mice grown up in a tub with a auto water nozzle and dehydrate after being moved to another tub. Mice are born stupid, gotta find that one or 2 little things that keep that inherent stupidity from allowing them to die stupid.

I would maybe try a lab grade diet instead of the dog food. Mice are very finicky and the last thing you want to do is cut corners on your diet.

Ditto with all the post....never had a problem with them not finding a regular ole water bottle. What was the place you got them from using?

They came from the LPS I work at....where they use the same bottles I'm using.

We do keep that room a little warm, but I actually plan to move them soon to our garage where its a little cooler.

And checked the mice again this evening...I do indeed have 1.2 and I also added a ball-less sipper bottle.

Hopefully things will improve. Thanks for all the advice.

If you can't find a sipper tube type water bottle, try a ball bearing type with the smaller tube. I've had mice in the past that just couldn't spin the larger ball bearing to get water.

Very small weanling mice can have trouble even with the mouse sized ball bearing tubes, and end up having to wait and piggy back older mice drinking. The secret is a tube, at accessible height for them, no bearing, with a chamfered tip. Yes, unfortunately ball-less tubes are messier and they contaminate more quickly. Big Apple Herp retails plastic bottles (w/ green coloured stopper, straight chamfered tube and bottle design very easy on the hands) that work well and are small capacity thus forcing frequent water changes.

Very small weanling mice can have trouble even with the mouse sized ball bearing tubes, and end up having to wait and piggy back older mice drinking. The secret is a tube, at accessible height for them, no bearing, with a chamfered tip. Yes, unfortunately ball-less tubes are messier and they contaminate more quickly. Big Apple Herp retails plastic bottles (w/ green coloured stopper, straight chamfered tube and bottle design very easy on the hands) that work well and are small capacity thus forcing frequent water changes.

I've never had a problem with them using those bottles, I guess everyone has different experiences. :yessir:

I've never had a problem with them using those bottles, I guess everyone has different experiences. :yessir:

Same here mine go right from nursing to the water bottles bottles the adult mice drink from and I have yet to have a problem....just gotta make sure they can reach them good.