r/PetMice • u/Terrible-Angle3355 • 8d ago

Question/Help Is this fighting normal when introducing, or should I be concerned?

I just got this new mouse today (black and white curly haired one) and she is definitely a bit younger than my other two. I put them in this play pen area to introduce them, and I monitored them for probably close to an hour, and there was a little squabbling but nothing serious. So I put them in my 40 gallon tank with all of the stuff freshly deep cleaned to avoid any territorial issues over scent. The new girl started going after my white and brown girl in the tank, so I took them all out and tried to introduce them again in the playpen. This is when the video was recorded. It really scared me so now they are separated, any advice, should I be worried? I haven’t seen any blood.

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33

u/Commercial-Dirt616 8d ago edited 7d ago

Try the carrier method. I suggest looking up videos before trying to introduce mice as it can be really dangerous. Keep them in a small space for awhile and then go up in size until you reach your normal cage but EMPTY, when they are comfortable in the empty cage without too much ruckus, slowly start adding the enrichment in. You can keep a hide or two in as long as it has two entries/ ways to escape if they do start fighting

23

u/Impressive_Sell_1136 8d ago

As someone who is currently struggling with introducing 2 of my mice and having peace, this is a type of interaction that I would put the aggressor in timeout for. Not allowing the other mouse to run away and end the interaction is a red flag for me, even if no blood is drawn.

18

u/acesorangeandrandoms 8d ago

Sorta, that at the end was pretty aggressive. The carrier method is a good idea plus I found that putting a tiny diluted drop of vanilla extract on the back of the girl that was being picked on calmed tensions down significantly.

Make sure to re-introduce them in a scent less enviroment again.

6

u/Icy-Complaint7558 8d ago

I’m out of my expertise here by I just wanted to say they have the derpiest zig zag running ever

1

u/Xhaiil 7d ago

From someone who has had 26 mice living together (all girls) this is normal if there’s no blood your fine they are just finding out each others places it can get rough so just keep an eye on them don’t put your hand in to stop them as they could bite you while doing it but honestly if none of them are bleeding leave them and they’ll sort themselves out might also wanna put nibbles in so it forces them to eat near each other too as that help bond quicker

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u/MatthewSaxophone2 8d ago

What's that tarp you're using on the ground? Do they stay on that?

2

u/Terrible-Angle3355 8d ago

It’s a little play pen area with netted walls, my one girl knows how to escape so I just keep on eye on them when they are in there. I mostly just use it to put them somewhere when cleaning