Can I add another mouse?

[daver676]

I currently hace one live feeder mouse getting fattened up for the next feeding. Could I add another mouse in with the first without the risk of them fighting?

[Auskan]

Male or female? Males tend to fight more, however females can also be quite territorial. Best thing is to put them in "neutral" territory for an introduction first (bathtub?) and leave them together for several hours, then put them in the enclosure together and supervise closely to see if they fight over the next few hours. If you have a nest in there, you might want to change out the bedding and give them new nesting material so they can make a nest together.

[mykee]

Two males will fight, a male and female should co-habitate just fine, and you might end up with an even bigger female.

[Auskan]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that. I meant that 2 males together and 2 females together can be territorial, but male/female should be ok.

[daver676]

Hmm.. Not sure on the sex. Since I haven't a male AND female to compare them, is there a way to sex without comparing.

[Linds]

Since there are only gong to be two mice, you shouldn't have any problems. Males can be mixed with males, females with females, and one male per group of females (unless they are crowded). One may express its dominance for a little while, but that is it. If you are worried, clean the cage out first.

Originally posted by mykee
Two males will fight, a male and female should co-habitate just fine, and you might end up with an even bigger female.

Males are fine together, unless you start mixing both sexes then they may become possessive and territorial. Males will not fight if they are crowded and there is a female, or if it is just males.

[Auskan]

Originally posted by daver676
Hmm.. Not sure on the sex. Since I haven't a male AND female to compare them, is there a way to sex without comparing.

The males have balls.

[daver676]

Originally posted by Auskan
The males have balls.

Well DUH Auskan. The only actual physical distinction I've seen in some pics on the web is the distance between the genitals and anus. Testicles arn't visible.

[Auskan]

They may not be visible in newborns but they become very obvious very early on.

[daver676]

Originally posted by Auskan
They may not be visible in newborns but they become very obvious very early on.

This is a full grown male. Obvious???

[Cruciform]

Heh, it's like the goatse.cx website, except for rodents.

[scalawag]

When you see little sacks of potato's draging between the legs, it's a boy.

[mykee]

That looks like a female to me, or maybe my males are just well-hung...

[marisa]

The males can pull their testicals in at times, they are in diffferent positions on different situations, much like a human's I'd guess.

And you use the space between the genitals and the anus. Females have a small space males have a much longer space.

Marisa

[daver676]

Here is where I got the pic from. Scroll down about 3/4 down the page.