Post by bindiferret89 on Aug 19, 2009 16:34:53 GMT -5
I set up a feeder breeding cage back in early July with one male and two females. Both females became pregnant, but the one died suddenly last week. The other gave birth to her first litter today--FOURTEEN BABIES! I'm soooo excited.
So to celebrate...I decided to set up two more breeder cages, each with one male and one female (they're slightly smaller cages than the other one). I bought them from a local pet store where I've purchased feeder mice before. Both females are the typical white feeders, but I paid a little extra to get fancy males because gosh, they were just so darn cute!
They seemed good in the pet store. Bright eyed, plump (but not obese), clean, no fur missing. They were a little timid, but the males let me handle them for a bit.
Then I brought them home and started handling the males some more, and I noticed that one of them has two patches of scaly, flaking skin near his bottom. My first thought was, "Oh GOD! NOT LICE AGAIN!" because I had a horrible time for months with lice when I kept rats as pets. I actually lost several of my rats to the lice infestation because they lost so much weight so suddenly before I realized what was going on. That was ages ago though.
But I don't think this is lice. Lice are big enough to see and I'd be able to see them clearly on the one mouse if he had them (he would, they were in the same cage at the store) because he has a lot of black patches which would make the lice stand out.
I don't know if mice can get dry skin/eczema, which would be the best thing it could be. I'm assuming it's mites though. Grr. Im keeping them FAR away from my healthy mice and their babies, but they've already come into contact with the females I brought home today, so if it is mites, all four of them have them.
I got online, looked around, and since it doesn't seem severe (no missing fur, no bloody patches, I haven't even noticed any excessive scratching in the store or in their cages since I brought them home) I was going to try treating it with a spray like they make for birds or one of the small animal mite sprays. I've read on several fancy mouse/pet mouse sites that these are appropriate treatments to start with and may help; if not, then ivermectin from the vet will be necessary.
What do you think? Anyone have experience with this? We always had to do ivermectin shots for my rats and it cost us a FORTUNE because I was taking them to the closest vet to me who charge an arm and a leg for everything. I'd take them to my ferrets' vet, but it's 20-30 minutes from here and I'd rather not make the drive if there's an over-the-counter remedy I could try first.
My other question doesn't relate specifically to this group of mice because I'm not intending on feeding them to my ferrets or snakes, just their offspring, but...how long would I have to wait between treating the mice and feeding them to one of my animals?
I've also read that this can be a problem that goes on and on for a long time and can be difficult to cure, even with frequent bedding changes and cage cleanings plus medication. What should I do if they are mites and I can't get them to go away? I know there are several mite varieties that can affect mice, and I assume from their description that they are the same or similar to the kind that reptiles get, so I can't give them to my snakes. I'm wary of feeding them to ferrets as well because well, really, who wants to eat parasites for lunch? My ferrets have had problems with ear mites as well, but they were treated with Revolution.
*deep breath* OK, I'm done rambling. LOL Thanks for your help!
So to celebrate...I decided to set up two more breeder cages, each with one male and one female (they're slightly smaller cages than the other one). I bought them from a local pet store where I've purchased feeder mice before. Both females are the typical white feeders, but I paid a little extra to get fancy males because gosh, they were just so darn cute!
They seemed good in the pet store. Bright eyed, plump (but not obese), clean, no fur missing. They were a little timid, but the males let me handle them for a bit.
Then I brought them home and started handling the males some more, and I noticed that one of them has two patches of scaly, flaking skin near his bottom. My first thought was, "Oh GOD! NOT LICE AGAIN!" because I had a horrible time for months with lice when I kept rats as pets. I actually lost several of my rats to the lice infestation because they lost so much weight so suddenly before I realized what was going on. That was ages ago though.
But I don't think this is lice. Lice are big enough to see and I'd be able to see them clearly on the one mouse if he had them (he would, they were in the same cage at the store) because he has a lot of black patches which would make the lice stand out.
I don't know if mice can get dry skin/eczema, which would be the best thing it could be. I'm assuming it's mites though. Grr. Im keeping them FAR away from my healthy mice and their babies, but they've already come into contact with the females I brought home today, so if it is mites, all four of them have them.
I got online, looked around, and since it doesn't seem severe (no missing fur, no bloody patches, I haven't even noticed any excessive scratching in the store or in their cages since I brought them home) I was going to try treating it with a spray like they make for birds or one of the small animal mite sprays. I've read on several fancy mouse/pet mouse sites that these are appropriate treatments to start with and may help; if not, then ivermectin from the vet will be necessary.
What do you think? Anyone have experience with this? We always had to do ivermectin shots for my rats and it cost us a FORTUNE because I was taking them to the closest vet to me who charge an arm and a leg for everything. I'd take them to my ferrets' vet, but it's 20-30 minutes from here and I'd rather not make the drive if there's an over-the-counter remedy I could try first.
My other question doesn't relate specifically to this group of mice because I'm not intending on feeding them to my ferrets or snakes, just their offspring, but...how long would I have to wait between treating the mice and feeding them to one of my animals?
I've also read that this can be a problem that goes on and on for a long time and can be difficult to cure, even with frequent bedding changes and cage cleanings plus medication. What should I do if they are mites and I can't get them to go away? I know there are several mite varieties that can affect mice, and I assume from their description that they are the same or similar to the kind that reptiles get, so I can't give them to my snakes. I'm wary of feeding them to ferrets as well because well, really, who wants to eat parasites for lunch? My ferrets have had problems with ear mites as well, but they were treated with Revolution.
*deep breath* OK, I'm done rambling. LOL Thanks for your help!