breeding novice

[greydawnbreaking]

So I've decided I'm going to breed my first litter, and I've read as much as I can get my hands on. I just wanted to ask if anyone had any suggestions or hints? The mice are: Zen Poseidon, standard bone fox, and GG Cherry Atomic, longcoat mock chocolate fox. The goal for the breeding is to improve Cherry's eyes and temperament--she's gentle but skittish--and to see if a longhair gene will improve a standard coat in any way. Poseidon was previously a victim of bullying and had some injuries but they seem completely healed now.

By the way, just to test myself on my expectations of the genetics: Cherry should be a(t) c(ch)c or c(e)c (probably this one), and Poseidon should be a(t) c(e)c or c(rs)c (probably this one). I'm expecting to get two kinds of mock chocolates, bones, and albinos. Unless Poseidon's carrying longcoat they should all be standard. Either or both may be carrying manx genes, but I'm not expecting any in the litter. I'd estimate 50% of the litter should carry a(t), at a minimum, although of course the albinos won't show it.

I'm going to put Cherry into Poseidon's cage after doing a light clean on his tub, and leave them together for about 3 days to start, since that's supposed to be the period between heats for females housed near males. Niobe, Cherry's cagemate, will be flying solo during this time, I'm hoping there won't be a problem but if I see her getting stressed and lonely I may do 12 hour "shifts" and move Cherry back and forth. The mice have been getting introduced through wire and with shared furnishings so I hope there won't be a problem with aggression, but if there is I plan to stay around for the first few hours they're together.

Can anyone suggest anything to make this a successful mating?

[andy]

How exciting your first litter! The wait is the worst part I think, I'm expecting my first litter in a while and I have been checking first thing every morning lol. It's lucky mice have such short gestation so not as long to wait as many other pets.

Are you going to keep your girls together when Cherry has her babies?

[greydawnbreaking]

That's the current plan, but I'm a little nervous. Niobe is a more dominant mouse than Cherry, so I'm worried she might "steal" the litter or harass Cherry. On the other hand, I don't want Niobe to be solo for four weeks while Cherry sits out the last week of her pregnancy, has her litter, and rears them to weaning age. I'm going to make up a separate nesting tub (I'm sure it'll come in useful at some point regardless) and move both of them into it when the time's close. That way I can just move Niobe back to the big main tub if she's getting too bossy, and since it'll be unfamiliar it might even out the dynamic.

[andy]

Any luck so far with your first litter?

[greydawnbreaking]

Well it didn't end up going like this, I ended up using two Mousekateers males for stud and both Niobe and Cherry are with their respective studs right now. [nervous fidgeting] Should be one litter of longhairs and one litter of mostly manxes born roughly at the same time, both will show a variety of c-dilute genes and there's some recessives in there that might come out. I'm so scared the litters won't turn out okay, though. I can't read breeding guides right now, the section on the mother culling the newborns is too nerve-wracking.

[mousekateers]

Janette, don't be nervous, they'll be fine! Regarding the culling, in 7 years of breeding, I've only had that happen a couple of times, and I don't think your girls will be like that.

[greydawnbreaking]

I appreciate the reassurance, thank you! It's good to know that it's a rare thing. I think it's just first litter nerves, you know? I'll be fine once they arrive, and hopefully when I breed again I'll be a little more relaxed about it.