Housing

There are many different types of housing that you can use for your mice. Each type has good and bad aspects. It is up to you as to what type you choose to use. To help you, I have described the pro's and con's of some of the most popular cages used.

Aquariums:

Pros:

1. Easy access. Aquariums can be bought anywhere and aren't too expensive.
2. Escape proof. Realizing that nothing is escape proof for
some mice, I mean with the proper top, it is next to impossible for most critters to get out.

3. Semi-easy cleaning. With smaller aquariums cleaning is pretty easy. Just use water, wipe with a paper towl and with a little elbow grease it's easy to clean.
4. Temperature tolerance. Drafts do not bother the temperature inside the aquarium usually. This cuts down on sniffles and sick mice due to cold drafts. If you have no drafts then you have no problem.
5. Less mess. By mess, I mean outside of the cage. With the wire cage the mice can throw bedding outside, but the glass sides of an aquarium holds in bedding from making too much of a mess.
Cons:

1. Poor ventilation. If an aquarium isn't cleaned often, the smell can get pretty rank for the poor little guys. The smell could make the mice sick. Cleaning often is the key.
2. Bigger aquarium, harder to clean. Some aquariums, most above 10 or 15 gallons are awkward to carry and heavy to handle when cleaning.

These are the two biggest problems with aquariums. So if you have a big aquarium you might want to consider another cage type for your pets. The aquariums must be cleaned often, but if they are too big and heavy you might not do a good cleaning job.

Wire Cages:

Pros:

1. Good ventilation. Mice are sensitive to amonia which is the main ingredient in urine. Keeping a cage clean and having ventilation is important.
2. Can be purchased with more than one level. Like the picture to the left, many wire cages can have 2 or even 3 levels. This extra area encourages exercise, and gives the mice more room to play, sleep, etc.

3. Easy cleaning. Most cages of this type have a plastic bottom which is easily removed and cleaned.
Cons:

1. Spacing between wires. Sometimes wire cages are difficult to find that will successfully contain a mouse. Mice can squeeze themselves through very tiny holes. Just be sure when buying a wire cage, that the wires are close together.
2. Messy bedding. Some mice like to push the bedding around which can often fly out of the wire cage and onto your floor. The picture above shows a wire cage with a higher bottom than normal. This can help reduce (not prevent) bedding messes.

It is just as important to pick the perfect bedding for you cage as it is picking which type of cage you will use. You will need to know that cedar bedding can cause serious respiratory failure to rodents due to the chemical called phenol that it produces. DO NOT USE CEDAR BEDDING! I have had problems with pine bedding also, so I just avoid problems by not using the pine either. I have used Carefresh brand bedding with good results. Any bedding with a paper base can be a good absorbant. Aspen bedding also absorbs and reduces odor. I have also noticed that different types of bedding work differently for each group of mice. You can experiment with different types to find which works best for you.