Mouse..fighting.....

Question

i have 5 girl mice and one of the mice (my favorite) keeps fighting with the others. i think its fighting. the other mouse would always squeak really really loud and just stand there for a lil while with its paws up by its chest. i dont no what to do. i dnt want to get rid of it or feed it to a snake. what should i do. or how can i tell if there not just playing.

Answer 1

I had that exact same problem with my Dwarf hamsters!!!

They either are tickling each other or trying to establish dominance, which is what mine were doing. If it is the latter, it passes in a while. Soon they get used to having one in control, and the other one not.

Good luck! :o)

Answer 2

As long as no one is getting bit or prevented from eating/drinking, I  wouldn't worry about it.  I just introduced 2 pairs of girls together into a new cage, and there was a lot of squeaking but that's just as they sort things out.  Maybe you could try taking the 'troublemaker' out for a little bit whenever they start at each other?  (Either in a ball or in your hand if they're friendly enough.)  Mice are social, and usually if I hear about  mice fighting so bad they need to be separated, it's boy mice.

Answer 3

Mice are social animals, and like many other social animals, they need to establish their rank among the group. The one female that seems to keep fighting might just be more dominant than the others.

When mice really want to fight, you can tell. They have long and strong teeth, and wouldn't be affraid to use them. So as long as no blood is shed, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

Just make sure their living space is big enough for all of them (cramped space can spur more aggressive behavior) and that they have plenty of toys, food and water.