Tub cages

[locusta]

Hello all

I just had a question about tub cages as I notice that many of you use them for your meeces. After eleven year break from keeping mice, I am now in the process of getting three female mice. I've been looking at different caging options and I love the idea of tub but then I read on the fun mouse site that "while bins have a lot of great features, there is a high risk of mice chewing out of them. Mice can chew flat surfaces and plastic. Bins are made of rather soft plastic, making it even easier for a mouse to chew out...Additionally, some plastics are toxic".

I was wondering what your experiences had been with tub cages and if they were actually dangerous? Also for those who do use tub cages, what brands and/or material would you recommend to ensure that my little ones remain enclosed and safe from toxic poisoning?

[sharky]

Hi,

I have only ever housed mice in tubs and I find it the best way to keep them (in my opinion of course). I don't think the plastic is particularly toxic...I always disinfect the tubs before putting mice in with a vinegar and water solution.

As far as what brands to buy I just buy the 20 liter tubs for $6 at cheap as chips. Any type of tub is good as long as it isn't the really flimsy plastic or has holes.

I have never had mice chew through plastic surfaces...they will only chew their way out if their is a hole in the tub as far as I have seen.I have a tub with a hole the size of the a dress-makers pin and one of mice chewed their way out overnight I also find they will chew around the holes if you have anything hanged on the sides (ropes, peg baskets, etc.) You can drill an hole and place an eyelet around the hole to prevent them chewing their way out

My tubs are set up so they only have ventilation coming from the lid. This is more convenient for me as my mice are housed in the shed and if they had mesh on the side the draft could cause resp. problems (and it makes my routine of cleaning easier )

Tubs are a fantastic way of housing mice if you make them right Also make sure you use 0.7mm mesh or smaller otherwise they will squueze out! I use 0.65mm mesh

[greydawnbreaking]

I've used 1cm mesh for my tubs, which is way too big for babies (I've got solid-side tubs for them) but the adults love it. The mesh is too small for an full-grown fancy mouse to get out, but it's a heavier gauge with more room between the wire, so it's easier for the adults to get purchase for climbing. I put mesh on two sides and the top; they love to race horizontally across the wire and climb around on it, plus it's super easy to hang stuff off the sides and top in any configuration you want. Using long bolts gives the mice extra climbing opportunities and is a bit easier on your fingers during construction, but it can be a nuisance when cleaning.

Alternatively, you can use a very small mesh to cover any holes you cut in the plastic, and bolt a piece of larger mesh to the inside of the tub without cutting away the plastic underneath. That way they can climb on it with no possibility of escaping through it. That gives you the best balance of security and recreation. The most important thing is to attach the mesh on the inside of the cage, so it physically prevents them from gnawing the edges of the holes you've cut. I also overlap at least 3 cm on all sides, to make sure that if they nibble a bit it won't do them much good.

I've used 15 and 60L tubs from Kmart, plus 35L tubs from a dollar store, they all seem to work fine. If it's well ventilated, I don't think the mice would have any problems. And if you keep the cage well stocked with distractions and enrichments, the mice won't be so bored they'll be desperate enough to chew the walls.

[mousekateers]

I've been keeping mice since 2007 and have always used tubs because of the easy access to the mice, setting up, cleaning etc. Because I breed for pets the tubs I prefer are the 30 litre Starmaid brand easily purchased in Woolworths, Big W and other stores that sell the Starmaid brand. These tubs have the same floor area as the 60 litre huge, deep tubs but they are far more convenient. You can comfortably sit the tub on your lap and inspect or play with the mice, that size is deep enough for wheels, hammocks and layering enrichment toys.

I've never had a mouse chew out of a tub. The 5mm rodent wire we use is inserted on the inside of the tub so there is no way a mouse can chew out of it. I always have mesh in the lid, not the sides of the tub. If you insert mesh in the sides of a tub you're asking for a lot of mess, mice like to shut out drafts and I find that they will push the substrate up against the wire in an attempt to block the draft.

You can view the tubs I have made on my website.

[greydawnbreaking]

I agree with Mousekateers, having open mesh on the sides is definitely messy and you wouldn't believe how much litter a single mouse can move when they decide to dig. Since I only have a few cages and little space, it's worth it for me to be able to see them through the sides and stack them on top of each other if necessary. I also don't mind sweeping up scattered litter every day. Someone else might have a different set of needs, though.

If you want side openings with no mess, building a "letterbox" opening panel higher up on the wall, several inches above the normal litter level, might be a good compromise.