How do you tell the difference between male mice and female mice?

Question

I want to get 2 female mice but I have heard stories that one of them turns out to be a male and the female becomes pregnant. I don't want that to happen so how can you tell the difference between male mice and female mice??

Answer 1

The space between the tail and the bum.

Females have a smaller space than males.

Females also have noticable nipples, that's how I tell.

Females have testicles, pretty noticable ones too :)

Glad to help!

Answer 2

hope this helps!

The most common visual method is comparing urogenital distance. This is the distance between a mouse's genital area and its a**s. If you are careful and well-versed in this process you can determine the s*x of a mouse at a very young age.

   1. Take the mouse by the scruff of its neck, and turn the mouse on its back. If it's not comfortable with that position, hold the animal in your hand with its rear end facing you , and holding onto the base of the tail, lift so that the genitals are in clear view and the legs are lifted somewhat off of your hand. Examine the openings located near the tail.

   2. A female mouse (doe) has a genital area (the v****a or urethra) that is much closer to the a**s (the opening directly under the tail). The urethra is usually within about 1/4 inch. A male mouse (buck) has a genital area (p***s) much farther away from the a**s than in females. To validate the sexing, you may want to compare two mice side-by-side.

[edit] Other Methods

   1. On close examination, you may observe the rows of nipples on the female's stomach, but these may have been obscured by the fur on her stomach. If you or a partner can, try to part the fur on the belly to see if you can spot nipples. These will be more apparent if the female is nursing a litter, but then you have a much more obvious method of s*x determination.

   2. Another way to validate that a male mouse is indeed a male, is to look for the presence of testicles. You may have to be patient, because a male mouse can withdraw his testicles into his body, or he may not have 'dropped' them yet. One way to get a good look is to wait for the mouse to eat while 'standing' on the rim of its food bowl. Most of the time his testicles will descend during this position.

   3. Pregnancy is usually an easy visual determination of s*x, as female mice will typically gain "saddlebags" around the hip area. However, not all mice will be as obvious, and for some strains, obese males may look just like pregnant females. Try gently palpating the "saddlebags"; sometimes you can feel distinct nodes, which are likely the pups!

Answer 3

when you get the mice have a look how close the a**s is the the genitals. also with a male mouse if you gently put a small amount of pressure on the abdoment the balls should pop out and show. the pet shop should know the difference and the breeder should have told them. i use to breed mice and i could tell from when they were old enough to be weened.

Answer 4

Male mice are normaly bigger than females.

When you go to the pet store to buy your female mice, always ask is you can hold the mouse you choose.

gently lift its tail up, so that you can see it's bottom.

if there are 2 holes, and they are close together (about half a centimietre apart), then they are a girl.

Is they are far apart from each other than they are a boy.

Also, make sure you by females that have been seperated from males at 5 weeks+

This means that they won't be pregnant.

I made the horrible mistake of buying a pregnant mouse. Luckily, she only had one baby.

anyway, is you're still not sure google it.

find pictures that show the difference and bring them to the pet shop with you so you can compare.

Good luck          =]

Answer 5

If you want to be absolutley sure look at the mice's 'bits' if it is a boy a little thing will be more obvious than the girl, also the pet shop should know. Boys also have large Testicles.

Have fun with your mice!

Answer 6

well it depends how old they r when you get them.see u might want to check there butt because the hole and where they pee from are a little more spaceded apart. as for females they are closer together.