Please Help

[Rikki]

We purchased two fuzzies (mice) today for my cousins BP who we are trying to get to feed. My snake turned them down (he is currently sick and we are working with him). Now I am stuck with these two cute rodents, they are moving around though their eyes are still shut, they have full white hair and are doing good so far, they are sleeping together and kicking in their sleep, i guess they are dreaming. Im attatched now, can they survive with out their mother at this age? How can I feed and water them? If possible...

[thunder]

If their eyes are still closed, they won't survive without their mother unless you feed them an appropriate milk substitute many times a day. They will slowly starve to death, and in the mean time they will become less and less nutricious, as their bellies will be empty. If I were you, I would euthanize them and put them in the freezer for future use. I can understand if you don't feel like you can do this, but aside from finding a mother who will accept them, there really isn't anything you can do.

[Rikki]

Thank you, I dont have the heart to slam them to the ground or anything. Would it be possible just to through them in the freezer?

[peterm15]

yes.. its possible.. not entirely humain but it will do the trick.. imo. its more humain then killing them by banging them on something..

[Ciddian]

you can raise them on kittens milk and a dropper.
But!!! only if you can get up every four hours or so to feed, lol thats the hard part.
I persoanlly love doing this everyonce and a while....Raise all my rats from pups that where suposed to be feeders.
You also have to rub their privates with a wet warm cloth or tissue...this will make them pee or poop, what ever they need to. Mum would usually do this ...so if you dont you'll find your lil guys will get really really swollen and upset.
As anyone would.. :)

Dont feel bad if you cant do this to raise them. Pop them in the freezor or get your neighboor to do it.. (i personally cant to it myself...gotta get the bf) So your not alone!

Good luck
~*jess*~

[thunder]

the freezer is actually extremely inhumane. it causes their internal organs to freeze into sharp ice shards that slice them up inside while they are still alive. whacking, in which you put them in a plastic bag and whack it hard against the edge of a counter or tabletop, is the best non-co2 option. the second best would be drowning, because unlike adults, they drown really quickly. only downside is that they get all waterlogged. whacking is best.

[spidergecko]

Or how about if you just bring them back to where you bought them. That seems to be the most "humane" option. Someone else can buy them.

[Ciddian]

I second that if you dont mind the drive.
But most pet stores dont have the females avail. The smaller ones do however... Maybe you'll be lucky to slip them back in with a batch.

I really gotta aruge the drowning method...being one who almost drown myself. Ever take a breath and breathed in a bit of spit or some sort? Pain!!! And nothings worse when you cant take the breath in order to cough. lol...panic, pain...etc etc.

I had a friend come over to put down rat for me.. He did it quickly and what seemed to me as an instant death. He did it by smacking him off a table's edge, but right at the back of the skull.
Its hard to get it right the first time. Little pinks you can place in a baggie into the corner and aim that way. Yuk... hate doing it eather way.

I know the freezor method is inhumane.. like all ways of dying pretty much except with euthinization. Even C02 can be inhumane...if you dont know what your doing. The freezor is an easy way to not deal with it... and one of the only choices a person may have. Not all of us can put a lil mouse into a bag that we have also grown attached to and smash it off a table.

Eather way Rikki these are options for you. I personally love to raise them myself, otherwise you have some choices.

Hopefully the store will take em back. Cheers! ^^

[mykee]

Peter, did you just say that it's more humane to freeze a food item than to whack it on the ground?

[Peter Ludwig]

Put them in a sealed enclosure like a jar. they will slowly use up the oxygen and go to sleep and die.

[Rikki]

We havnt done anything with them but place a plate of water (shallow) in there for them, they are still alive and playing together, the pet store wont take them back. I guess ill find some way to do the trick...

[Rikki]

Their eyes are open by the way, should i put some bread soaked in milk in there with them?

[Rikki]

Snake ate them finally.

[greenman1867]

Well thats a good thing. Mice are horrible little creatures. Of course thats just my opinion, I am sure someone out there with no sense of smell could like them.

[Gen Stryker]

Not horrible.. but I can't stand rodents.. I find them disgusting, and freaky.

[Rikki]

They are very clean animals...

[Ciddian]

Good to know rikki! Happy the snake finally came through.
I really hope he/she is doing better as well. (wasnt sure if it was your cousins one or yours that fell ill...but i have been following the posts)

In the furture things should so more smoothly for you. Once your snake gets settled in and such.
I just started to keep a log myself, of feedings/waterchanges/bedding changes and poops.
its really been helping me out feel out a rythem for the snake. Try it if your not, makes things easier :D

Luck to you in the future! :)
~*jess*~

[Rikki]

Thanks, im sure we are going to get him back to great health.