Breeding Zebra Mice
Breeding pairs have more stability than trios as the latter can be more volatile however some European keepers advocate keeping them in larger colonies for better breeding success although unless the habitat is large enough it is likely only the alpha pair will breed.
Egg food is a good addition to the diet of a breeding pair of Zebra mice and a constant source of protein should be available.
Females are sexually mature at around 4 months, and males at 7 weeks. The female remains in season for 3-5 days and has a gestation of 21 days. Some keepers have had success with placing the female in with a male just during the time she is in season, however this will vary according to temperament as some Zebra Mice can be extremely aggressive. Fighting can occur during mating and animals should be separated if blood is drawn. Zebra Mice females should not be bred after the age of 14 months.
The father should be left in with the mother since re-introductions are extremely difficult, so it is advisable to have two nests so the male has somewhere to sleep if the female forces him out of the birthing nest.
A gap between litters should not be longer than 3 months, as this could lead to birthing problems. However your female Zebra mouse will need 1-2 months of rest after every 3 litters since these can be occurring every 3 weeks. Sometimes your Zebra mouse may delay implantation if her body needs time to recover after a litter.
Litters
Litter size can be anything from 1-12 with an average size of 2-5. When born pups have been likened to mint humbugs due to the prominent striping. Like a lot of rodents, mum will come into heat soon after giving birth.
Sexing
Male pups should be separated out by 8-10 weeks of age although females can stay with their parents until around 4 months providing your habitat is large enough.
Eyes open between day 6-8 and they begin to wean at around 14 days. When handling pups, ensure you place them back in the nest after handling even if they are mobile. The pups will become full-sized at 6 months of age.
You can make your first attempt at sexing at around 4 days, but this must be repeated as it can be easy to make mistakes early on. A male zebra mouse has a larger distance between the genitals and the anus than the female, and should have a darker pigmented patch of skin at the base of the tail where testes will be. Nipples can be seen on the girls from around 5 days just as belly fur is beginning to grow.
Mutations
There are currently two colour mutations in Zebra mice, a banded Zebra mouse that is born with white "spot" and silver zebra mice that are born with normal colouring and then develop the white spot as they get older. These variations are sometimes called banded, or pied.
Introductions
Zebra mice can be a very aggressive species and it is very hard to introduce two adult mice. Introductions to make unrelated pairs for breeding may require a split-cage.
Zebra Mice Behaviour
Zebra mice behaviour can be quite nervous, especially at first. Try to keep their cage in a darker section of your room and ensure they have plenty of items or nests to conceal themselves in.
Zebra mice are best kept in same sex groups with females tending to get along better than males. Introducing Zebra Mice is extremely tricky, since they can be very vicious towards each other. It is much better to start off with littermates to keep a stable group.
Zebra mice may not accept another mouse as introductions can be difficult. Some keepers have mentioned co-habiting Zebra mice and spiny mice together in this instance, to avoid the Zebra mouse being solitary. However this can be dangerous and lead to miscommunication, and can never substitute fully for company of their own kind. It is also something that should only be attempted by experienced keepers.
If startled, Zebra mice can jump up to two feet off the ground so be careful with disturbing them. Like all rodents, it is important to make sure they are used to your voice and movements so it will not be stressful for them when you are cleaning them out or changing food or water. They are active at different times throughout both day and night.
Although handling zebra mice is not always easy, some Zebra mice behaviour can seem affectionate and keen to be held. This will vary by temperament and it is important to find an ethical breeder to increase this possibility.
Overview of Zebra Mice
Zebra mice are also known as Barbary or African Striped Grass Mouse and are native to regions of Africa. Of the eleven or so different species of striped grass mouse it is the Lemniscomys barbarus that is both smallest at an average length of 3-4 inches and weight of 30-40g, and the most frequently found in the exotic rodent trade. They are best obtained from an ethical breeder and kept in a pair or small same-sex group.
They have prominent black stripes along brown fur and live on average for 2-3 years. Male Zebra Mice become sexually mature at around 10 weeks, females at around 5-6 months. Gestation is 21 days and an average litter size would contain around 5 pups. Although the young are born blind and hairless the prominant striping becomes apparent very early on.
A Zebra Mouse's behaviour is sometimes nervous and not all are possible to tame. Some Zebra Mice can become accustomed to handling but this is best done by someone familiar with exotic rodents. As they age, some Zebra mice may become more affectionate to their keepers especially if they have lost their cagemates.
The Zebra Mouse environment should consist of a large tank with mesh or otherwise well ventilated lid. Plenty of climbing material and other natural enrichment such as logs, branchs and nests should be provided. They are keen climbers and generally very active and curious, being a good exotic rodent to observe during the day.
Zebra Mice can be quite volatile and aggressive towards each other however, so it is important to keep a close eye on them, provide a varied diet and ensure they have plenty of space to prevent overcrowding.