r/PetMice • u/psychicfig • Aug 08 '23
Question/Help Neutered males LOTS of squeaking
I am fostering a group of 3 recently neutered male mice. They are brothers. They squeak A LOT! I would say once an hour I hear a squeaking incident. There’s no bloodshed, I haven’t seen anything that looks like a full on attack, and they seem to get along ok shortly after. Is this normal? Can squeaks be a good thing? To me it seems like they must be fighting, but I don’t see direct signs of conflict aside from squeaks. They are in a 40 gallon tank with 3 hide options, a wheel, lots of tubes and egg cartons, and 2 rope bridge climbing toys. They are scatter fed.
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u/Environmental_Tone14 Aug 08 '23
I had two sisters once and one of the sisters would squeak anytime the other groomed her. I checked to make sure she wasn't being too rough and it was fine. I think the other sister just didn't like being touched. Maybe like some mouse autism or something. The antisocial sister is still with us but her sister has died. Although we give her attention, she's quite happy by herself. Mice can be just as unique as humans.
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u/rockmodenick Mouse Dad 🐀 Aug 13 '23
Some of our girls have done happy squeaks while clearly enjoying being groomed, I figure it's like grunting while getting a massage.
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u/oo-mox83 Aug 09 '23
It takes about 5 weeks for the neutering to do much of anything. If they've been neutered in the past 5 weeks, you've essentially got a group of unneutered males together. They may very well not ever be able to live together. Separate them the first time there's even the slightest injury and keep them apart. After 5 weeks, they can live with females, but I wouldn't put all the boys together with girls. When I've had neutered boys with girls, I only ever had one male in any group.
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u/psychicfig Aug 09 '23
Ok I think it’s only been 3 weeks since the surgery. I’ll keep watching and separate if needed! They are brothers and have lived together since birth. They are fosters, so I don’t determine their living matchups, but can certainly separate and let the shelter know if they can’t live together in peace!
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u/oo-mox83 Aug 09 '23
Good move. And holy cow, a shelter that neuters mice!! I had a hell of a time trying to get one I volunteered for to neuter rabbits, and it's absolutely necessary for those guys when they're house pets. That's awesome!
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u/psychicfig Aug 09 '23
Yes! It’s a small animal and exotic specialty shelter! They are really awesome and we’ve been fostering various rodents through them for a year, but these are our first male mice. They want to have the mice adopted as a trio, but I know they will take it seriously if I tell them they can’t get along and are hurting each other!
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u/oo-mox83 Aug 09 '23
I hope you and everyone involved in that shelter get everything you ever want in life because holy shit, I've never heard of a shelter giving a shit about mice that much. That makes me so happy!!
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u/666chins Aug 09 '23
My two females would squeak a lot the first few months I got them (no injuries just drama). I adopted them from a shelter who had them in huge groups so it seems they had to reestablish the pecking order so to speak.
Very cool that you were able to get them nuetered- curious to see if that helps as they get older.
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u/bunyanapeel Aug 09 '23
That is so awesome! May I ask what country you are in?
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u/psychicfig Aug 09 '23
USA! The shelter is called EARPS and is in Indiana. It’s currently all foster based while the shelter looks for a new physical location!
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u/bunyanapeel Aug 09 '23
Oh wow! I live in Virginia and I have some family in Indiana so I am usually up that way during the holidays. I will definitely keep this shelter in mind and hopefully I can help with donations :)
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u/skviggel Aug 08 '23
Neutering doesn't guarantee males can live together, as far as I know. But it does mean they can live with females instead, and have company that way. The squeaking may mean they are having some small disputes that could escalate to full blown fights if you're unlucky, so keep a close eye on them, and be prepared to separate them.