Need help on seperation and what to do?

by LittlePixie2.o Mon 21 Jan 2019, 1:31 pm

Good evening,

I know the title will make a few people question about the separation or even to jump onto the bandwagon about the situation, But I need some help as I'm not sure on what to do. Friday 18th January 2019 I went to my local pet store as me and my partner were planning on gaining our first pet to extend our family. We fell in love with two little boys who we have Named Riff (the white one) and Toby (the dark brown one) we were told that these boys were from the same litter as the breeder had said this to the staff. They were cuddling in their little home and grooming each other and we thought result. However, it is now three days later and they are starting to fight(?) I've been keeping a close eye on them in case it goes further but I cant bare to hear Toby squeak whenever Riff goes near him or when things get loud, I've examined each one and no visible wounds or marks. My question here is, should I separate them? I know mice are very social animals and do tend to get depressed and lonely which is why I haven't acted on it yet. I was thinking getting each boy neutered and then introduce females if I do decide to separate them. I'm in a confused state as I want to know what the best step could be, I know I made the mistake on getting two males I have now noticed and I feel terrible. I need some advice on what to do and I don't want to upset anyone or to be slanted. Thank you

by MouseLover Tue 22 Jan 2019, 11:57 am

Male mice from the same litter will often get along fine when they're babies and juveniles. It's as they mature that the problems start and they start to see each other as rivals for the same territory. Often everything will be fine and they will never even fight, until one day a switch seems to go off and one of the mice gets hurt, seriously injured, or killed. I've heard of brothers who seemingly loved each other and got along great, only for the owner to find one of them killed overnight with no warning.

Yes mice are sociable and get lonely. But keeping males together truly puts their lives at risk. Even neutering them can be very risky as they are such tiny creatures. I have known people who attempted to have their mice neutered, but they didn't survive the anesthetic. Then you have to question whether it's worth risking their lives in surgery so that they can have company. This is your decision to make. If it were my mice, I would separate them, and keep them alone. Most people who keep males keep them alone, and provided they are given enough love and attention, most do fine alone. Having lone bucks means spending lots of time with them every day. I would give them lots of toys that I would change regularly on a rotation, and do whatever I could to make their lives enriched and interesting enough so that they're not bored, sad or lonely.

by LittlePixie2.o Tue 22 Jan 2019, 8:13 pm

MouseLover wrote:Male mice from the same litter will often get along fine when they're babies and juveniles. It's as they mature that the problems start and they start to see each other as rivals for the same territory. Often everything will be fine and they will never even fight, until one day a switch seems to go off and one of the mice gets hurt, seriously injured, or killed. I've heard of brothers who seemingly loved each other and got along great, only for the owner to find one of them killed overnight with no warning.

Yes mice are sociable and get lonely. But keeping males together truly puts their lives at risk. Even neutering them can be very risky as they are such tiny creatures. I have known people who attempted to have their mice neutered, but they didn't survive the anesthetic. Then you have to question whether it's worth risking their lives in surgery so that they can have company. This is your decision to make. If it were my mice, I would separate them, and keep them alone. Most people who keep males keep them alone, and provided they are given enough love and attention, most do fine alone. Having lone bucks means spending lots of time with them every day. I would give them lots of toys that I would change regularly on a rotation, and do whatever I could to make their lives enriched and interesting enough so that they're not bored, sad or lonely.

Thank you very much, I've given your advice much thought and separated the two, me and my partner has had a little separate play time so they can get used to us. I've put Toby in the starter cage we received with them for the night and going to upgrade him to a cage riff has at some point, the starter cage is quite small and doesnt have much room to put any toys other than a wheel but that will change soon.

by MouseLover Wed 23 Jan 2019, 5:12 am

I think it's for the best. I've just heard too many horror stories about male mice killing each other out of the blue. Another group I was part of once did a poll about what happened when people tried to keep male mice together. It wasn't a massive sample size, only something like 120 people, but still an interesting poll. There was maybe 20% of people said it was fine, 40% had to separate them because the fighting got so bad, and another 40% said that one or more ended up dead Sad

I wouldn't like those odds. Keeping them alone means more work for you and being more dedicated to them and spoiling them, but I've also heard it's much easier to form a strong bond with a lone male and it really makes it worth the effort.

by LittlePixie2.o Wed 23 Jan 2019, 7:08 am

MouseLover wrote:I think it's for the best. I've just heard too many horror stories about male mice killing each other out of the blue. Another group I was part of once did a poll about what happened when people tried to keep male mice together. It wasn't a massive sample size, only something like 120 people, but still an interesting poll. There was maybe 20% of people said it was fine, 40% had to separate them because the fighting got so bad, and another 40% said that one or more ended up dead I wouldn't like those odds. Keeping them alone means more work for you and being more dedicated to them and spoiling them, but I've also heard it's much easier to form a strong bond with a lone male and it really makes it worth the effort.

I dont like those odds either and its actually quite scary, anyway toby the quiet one definitely came out of his shell last night after the separation with Riff. He always used to hide now his happily playing

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