Male mouse with pregnant female? He's protective and they're inseparable. Is this normal or okay?

Question

After more than a month, the female is finally pregnant. I figured I should remove the father and put him with my other males, but neither he nor the female took very well to that. He was aggressive with the other males, and she was acting very anxious and edgy. They both were, actually. Once back together, they both calmed back down. They sleep side by side, share their food, run in the wheel together, etc. The male even made a nest for the two of them, where one or both of them is often camping out.

She has not given birth yet (she's about 1/2 thru the pregnancy), but he has become very protective. When I reach my hand in the cage, the male puts himself between my hand and the female--and attacks my hand (he used to be the cuddly one). He acts very possessive.

Should I just leave him in there with her? He attacks the other males when I try to put him in their cage, and both he and the female are MUCH calmer when together...

but will he turn on his kids? What should I expect

Answer 1

Usually mice take good care of their babies, but the real danger is that after they give birth, mice go through a post-partum estrus, meaning they can get pregnant right after giving birth. This is extremely stressing on their bodies and the babies (both litters) and any responsible breeder should never let this happen. You should remove him before the litter is born. If he won't go back with the other males, he'll just have to live on his own, or you could have him neutered and let him live with the female (just make sure to wait 3 weeks after the neuter for all sperm to disappear).

Answer 2

Upsetting the female is what would cause her to eat her babies. If removing the male upsets the female then removing him could cause her to eat her babies. Males usually don't care about babies one way or the other. The biggest problem with keeping the male in the cage is that the mother mouse will immediately get pregnant after giving birth. He will not give her time to recover. That isn't fair to her or her babies and puts a lot of strain on her body. You could try a cage divider that they can sniff each other through and add extra food and water for the other side of the cage.

Answer 3

Mice could be stored jointly.... they're going to stay jointly quite fortunately - it truly is amazingly no longer likely the male will harm the doggies. yet - mice pass by using submit partum oestrus = this means that as quickly because of the fact the female has given beginning, she will mate and get pregnant back as we communicate. If the male is contained in the cage together with her right this moment, there's a good risk you will finally end up with a 2d muddle 3 weeks later. ultimately, please do no longer breed unnecessarily - there are already a good number of small furries wanting residences, and mice produce a great form of doggies!

Answer 4

If they get too stressed seperating them, start with a small amount of time with a divider, say 1/2 hour and keep upping it. Otherwise you'll end up with the female always pregnant, and the high risk of her eating the young. Most males only eat the young when they sart to get bigger, because they can be percieved as a threat.

Answer 5

this i think is just normal because he thinks you are going to hurt the female when you put your hand in the cage. he will not turn on the kids, cuz he is very proective and if anything, he will be very protective of his mice babies.

Answer 6

It's more that OK. It's marvelous. We humans could learn a thing or two from our rodent friends. Good luck.

Answer 7

my female killed her partner when she was about ready to give birth. if she gets too nervous she will eat her babies. so i would separate them.

Answer 8

put him in a different cage, when she gives birth he will kill the babies.
:)

Answer 9

Why do you have so many rats?