What is needed for comfortable mouse housing? - briefly
Adequate cage space, nesting material, chewable enrichment, stable temperature (20‑26 °C), 30‑70 % humidity, fresh air exchange, and routine sanitation are essential.
What is needed for comfortable mouse housing? - in detail
A well‑designed mouse enclosure must meet several physiological and behavioral requirements. The cage should provide adequate space, proper bedding, enrichment, environmental control, and sanitation measures.
- Space: Minimum floor area of 200 cm² per mouse; vertical height of at least 15 cm to allow climbing. Group housing increases total floor area proportionally.
- Bedding: Absorbent, dust‑free material such as paper pulp or aspen shavings; replace weekly to prevent ammonia buildup.
- Enrichment: Nesting material (e.g., shredded paper), chewable objects (wood blocks, cardboard tubes), and tunnels or hideouts to stimulate natural foraging and exploration. Rotate items regularly to maintain interest.
- Environmental parameters: Temperature maintained between 20 °C and 26 °C; relative humidity 30‑70 %; 12‑hour light/dark cycle with dim lighting during the dark phase. Provide a stable airflow system that avoids drafts.
- Ventilation and air quality: Cage ventilation rate of at least 10 air changes per hour; use filtered air to limit odor and pathogen spread. Monitor ammonia levels, keeping them below 25 ppm.
- Food and water: Continuous access to nutritionally balanced pellet diet; water delivered through an automated, leak‑proof bottle or sipper system, cleaned weekly.
- Cleaning protocol: Full cage cleaning bi‑weekly; spot cleaning of soiled bedding daily. Disinfect with an approved, non‑toxic agent and rinse thoroughly before reuse.
- Safety: All components must be free of sharp edges, toxic coatings, or loose parts that could be ingested. Materials should be autoclave‑compatible or able to withstand chemical disinfection.
Integrating these elements creates a stable, low‑stress environment that supports normal growth, reproduction, and experimental reliability.