I just got a harem group to start breeding again - 1 white male, 2 white females and a brown female. All from the same tank from my LPS.

Supposing that breeding is successful, when the future breeders grow up and begin to breed, is there going to be a problem with inbreeding?

My thoughts are that since most of the young will become food, this probably isn't going to be an issue.

However, would you suggest that about once every six months or so introducing a female from different stores around my city to keep the gene pool more open, or does it really matter? From what I understand, the white feeder mice have been inbred for years and years anyway.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. You make me a better Herp keeper .

I would suggest introducing a new male every 3-6 months. One male could service many females. Use him for a few months, he becomes food and then you get a replacement. Remember to hold back a female or two from the litters to replace the original females as they get older. Hope this helps.

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Colleen

If I wanted to keep the same tank, not start other tank colonies, is it better to introduce/replace new females, or take the male out and replace him among the established females? If I do this, then I just need to hold back females, of course.

I know I read the answer to this somewhere, but I am too lazy to go looking for it right now and surely one of you knows the answer off the top of your head (in other words, don't waste your time doing my research if you don't LOL).

I've had breeder mice with growths on them from inbreeding. I would also suggest replacing the adults every now and then. It's not like they're expensive or anything.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

You are absolutely right. Such a simple answer to a simple problem.

I guess that's the great thing about breeding mice - 90% of the cost is in the bedding from the stinking little buggers ...

Another question...

I have my 4 mice in a 20 gallon long. Is that overkill? Should I just put them in a 10 Gallon to save on bedding costs?

Does it make that much of a difference with 4 mice/3 litters?

Thanks!

I raised all my (years ago) in 10 gallon aquariums as I didn't have anything else. I'm trying to think back, I think I had about 4 adults in a cage. I would also throw in some pieces of paper towel and or toilet paper roll into the cage. They love to make it into bedding when they have litters. But I don't think a larger tank would hurt them either, it would give more room for the litters. If the tank get too crowed then the adults will start eating the babies. Make sure you handle the adults, so they get use to you, that way when you go into check out the babies they won't feel threatened.
Interesting side note, my cat could tell the difference between pet mice and wild mice and would only attach the wild mice. But she was an odd cat, she would also pick up baby bunnies and cuttle with them, to keep them warm, if they would fall out of there cage also. Hope this helps.

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Colleen

Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts with me. That helps.
I have a couple of hides with toilet paper in them. I rarely see the mice, so they must like them.

I think, perhaps, 2 of my females may have been pregnant when I bought them. Either that, or they are just fat little buggers.

Fingers crossed.