How to breed domestic mice? - briefly
Provide a spacious, well‑ventilated cage with nesting material, balanced diet, and a 12‑hour light/dark cycle; introduce an unrelated male and female of breeding age, allowing them to mate for several days before separating the female. After a 19‑21‑day gestation, remove the mother, house the pups separately, and wean them at three weeks.
How to breed domestic mice? - in detail
Breeding pet mice begins with selecting healthy, genetically compatible adults. Choose individuals free of visible defects, respiratory issues, and external parasites. Prefer animals with known lineage to maintain desired traits and avoid inbreeding depression.
Provide a cage that offers at least 0.1 m² floor space per mouse, solid flooring, and adequate ventilation. Include nesting material, a shelter, and a separate area for the breeding pair to reduce stress. Maintain temperature between 18 °C and 24 °C and humidity around 40‑60 %.
Feed a balanced rodent diet formulated for growth, supplemented with fresh water at all times. During gestation, increase protein content to 20‑24 % and add soft foods such as moistened pellets or small pieces of fruit to support the female’s nutritional demands.
The reproductive cycle proceeds as follows:
- Detect estrus by observing lordosis behavior or by vaginal cytology; females enter estrus every 4‑5 days.
- Introduce the male to the female for a 24‑hour period; successful copulation is indicated by a copulatory plug.
- Remove the male after mating to prevent aggression and to allow the female to focus on gestation.
- Gestation lasts 19‑21 days; monitor weight gain and provide additional nesting material.
- At birth, litters range from 4‑8 pups; keep the dam with the litter for the first 3 weeks, providing extra protein and calories.
- Wean pups at 21 days, separate by sex to prevent premature breeding, and relocate to individual cages.
Maintain detailed records for each animal, documenting dates of pairing, litter size, pup survival, and any health issues. Perform regular health checks, including weight measurement, coat inspection, and fecal screening for parasites. Replace breeding stock every 12‑18 months to sustain vigor and reduce the accumulation of hereditary defects.