random death

KORBIN5895 · 03-23-12, 04:30 PM

So today when I entered my rodent shed I was greeted with the stench of death. I had four dead females in one segregation enclosure, one dead in another segregation and one dead in general population. No idea why. All were bloated when I found them. I also found two dead fuzzies in with the four dead females. The feed was different for two of the enclosures so I haven't got a clue what was wrong. Unless it got too hot. .......

Snakefood · 03-23-12, 04:42 PM

how do the rest seem, that could be viral

exwizard · 03-23-12, 04:53 PM

That IS odd. The only thing that ever came close to that was when we were dealing with that RI bug late last year shortly after importing all those rats from 4 different locations. That incident was stress induced but I have no clue what caused these. I understand how frustrating that is though.

KORBIN5895 · 03-23-12, 04:57 PM

All of the others seen a okay. I haven't heard any weird noises when the breath and I haven't seen any mucus .........

exwizard · 03-23-12, 05:00 PM

Its probably not an RI but it is odd.

Snakefood · 03-23-12, 07:34 PM

yes, very!!

Swany · 03-23-12, 08:40 PM

Sincerely hope this isn't serious man. Fingers crossed ;-)

KORBIN5895 · 03-24-12, 08:01 AM

Pretty sure I figured it out. First off I had moved a female from on segregation tank to the other a day or so ago because I segregated a female and didn't want her by her self and secondly I had just returned a female from them main segregation tank back to general population. So I am sure all those females had been together a couple three days ago.

Now the problem. I bought some dog biscuits from the pet store awhil back. Well I was out of feed and needed something for the mice to eat. I gave some of those biscuits to those females. I had given these biscuit to my mice six months ago and a few died. I was suspicious of these biscuits but forgot my suspicions. That connection just dawned on me last night.

Next step? I may segregate a male ( they are what I sell first) and feed some of these biscuits to see if they will kill it.

exwizard · 03-24-12, 08:06 AM

We'll see if that happens. Another idea would be to see if you can find a Kent dealer somewhere near you to get a 50 lb bag of rodent chow. You might be able to fiond out if there even is a dealer by going online.

lumpbump · 03-25-12, 01:47 PM

How often do you check on them? After an animal dies it doesnt start smelling for a couple days and to be bloated from bacteria growing unchecked in the gut takes time too. Temps over 100f can cause heat stroke.

KORBIN5895 · 03-26-12, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumpbump

How often do you check on them? After an animal dies it doesnt start smelling for a couple days and to be bloated from bacteria growing unchecked in the gut takes time too. Temps over 100f can cause heat stroke.

A couple of days huh? Are you familiar with death at all? I usually check them twice a day. Around noon and around 9-10 pm.

Snakefood · 03-26-12, 09:39 AM

Yup, the smaller the animal the faster decomp and bloating happen.

I had a litter stillborn and I put them in an yoghurt container while I was cleaning the cage, got called away and left them there, one hr later I was back and when I opened the container, the MOST DISGUSTING SMELL assaulted me, I almost yakked!

KORBIN5895 · 03-26-12, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakefood

Yup, the smaller the animal the faster decomp and bloating happen.

I had a litter stillborn and I put them in an yoghurt container while I was cleaning the cage, got called away and left them there, one hr later I was back and when I opened the container, the MOST DISGUSTING SMELL assaulted me, I almost yakked!

Why are you raising yaks?

Snakefood · 03-26-12, 10:12 AM

cuz my back field swamps 3 seasons of the year??

lumpbump · 03-27-12, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

A couple of days huh? Are you familiar with death at all? I usually check them twice a day. Around noon and around 9-10 pm.

Pretty familiar with death. I see it in my colony of rats and i see it in humans. But ive never seen any of my rats dead and bloated. In fact ive never seen any of my colony die natural death. I have seen a handful of rejected or still borns, possibly one a week later, but no bloating. Perhaps my smell is desensitised due to smelling dead people. Ive seen hours old suicide, people dieing before my eyes, and up to basically 6 months or more exposed. All kinds of death, human that is. Kinda creapy when you see a human rotted to tendons and bone first thing in the morning. No offence meant korbin just been my experiences thats all.