I am thinking about getting 1 or maybe 2 mouse colonies. My question is what is the best way to house them? I don't want to do the rack thing with only a few mice. Can I put them in steralite tubs, or would they chew out? I don't want to really deal with any live rodents, however they would be nice to have for the picky eaters in the spring.

I am thinking about getting 1 or maybe 2 mouse colonies. My question is what is the best way to house them? I don't want to do the rack thing with only a few mice. Can I put them in steralite tubs, or would they chew out? I don't want to really deal with any live rodents, however they would be nice to have for the picky eaters in the spring.

Probably a 10 gallon aquarium with a screen lid.....

I was hoping tubs would work, so I could just stack them to the side. I didn't really want to find spots for tanks. If that what it takes though I will go that route.

I was hoping tubs would work, so I could just stack them to the side. I didn't really want to find spots for tanks. If that what it takes though I will go that route.

Most of the pre-made tubs with lids have edges the mice can chew. One ten gallon tank you you run one male mouse with 5+ females if you want to start a small group. One tank won't take up too much room, plus with a screen lid they are pretty escape proof.

You can easily use sterilite tubs. You can even use one that is deep enough to put a wheel in it, which I would recommend. That keeps them busy. Another thing I would do is place a ton of hides in the bedding. They love to burrow and have there litters well deep in the bedding for security. If the mice do not feel safe or secure they will eat their young. I personally use a 10 gallon tank with metal lid and a 20 gallon long with metal lid for grow out.

Bill

Most of the pre-made tubs with lids have edges the mice can chew. One ten gallon tank you you run one male mouse with 5+ females if you want to start a small group. One tank won't take up too much room, plus with a screen lid they are pretty escape proof.

How many tanks would you need to grow out the babies though?

I highly recommend not using plastic tubs like sterilites. Mice will chew through them very easily because of the edges. I would go with 10 or 20 gallons personally.

How many tanks would you need to grow out the babies though?

Well, that depends on what sizes you feed etc. If you have stuff that will take smaller mice than you could keep your supply lower and only need one tank for a grow out. If you need all adults then you will need more space.

Before I switched them to lab cages and 10 gallon tanks with modified lids, I used to use a big Sterilite tub. Make sure it's got nothing in there that they could get a tooth into, or they'll chew out. I cut a square out of one side and fitted a piece of 1/4" hardware cloth over the hole, then attached a feed hopper and water bottle to the outside where I could get to it easily. It worked very well for the months I used it.

I can't add pictures or links, since I have few posts, but perhaps I can come back and edit to add them later.

In the freezer.... :rockon:





Or as Bill said.... 10 G with a screen top.

In the freezer.... :rockon:
This is how I roll now! :wamma:

Probably a 10 gallon aquarium with a screen lid.....

I use a 10 a gallon tank with a screen lid for spill over from the rack....They will breed just fine in there :yessir:

Try to find some old lab cages at a show. You can usually find them for a couple bucks and they work great. The ones I have are not too big so finding a spot for them should not be a problem....

I can't add pictures or links, since I have few posts, but perhaps I can come back and edit to add them later.

Here's a couple pics.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/kachinahl/BP%20Pics/mousetub1.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/kachinahl/BP%20Pics/mousetub2.jpg

Holds a decent sized colony. I've been using it lately to hold the ones I'm growing out to feed later.