Post by Flora on Aug 23, 2023 15:08:35 GMT -2
Requirements
Floorspace
According to the Mouse Care Forum care standards a single male mouse or group of 2-3 female mice should have at least 360 sq. in. (2325 sq. cm.) so the area of a cage should be that or above (Read the Basic Mouse Care Standards article for more information).
Bedding capacity
The cage should be able to hold 4-6 inches (10-15cm) of bedding (Read the Basic Mouse Care Standards article for more information). You should also account for your mice possibly kicking bedding out of the cage as well.
Ventilation
A cage also needs to be properly ventilated to prevent dust build-up and eventually respiratory illness. Make sure that there is proper airflow in the cage you choose. The best ventilation comes from bars or mesh and you should avoid anything that solely relies on small holes for ventilation purposes.
Bar Spacing
Mice are small so you have to make sure they can’t slip out of a cage. This can apply to any cage but is especially important if you have a barred cage. The best way to prevent mice from escaping is to have bars that are ¼ inch apart (around 7mm). For mesh, it should be no more than ½ an inch wide gaps (around 14mm). Keep this in mind when picking out mesh for DIY cages.
Enclosure Types
Tank/Glass
Glass cages make it easier for you to watch your mice inside their cage! They can have issues with proper ventilation though. It is very important to choose a low dust bedding and monitor the airflow if you choose a glass cage. Aquariums with mesh lids can work great, as long as floor space requirements are met. There are other options as well.
Barred
Barred cages are great for ventilation but can be tricky when trying to find one with small enough bar spacings. Many bar cages are too small for mice such as critter trails or tiny tails. Stay away from almost any that are sold in large/chain pet stores. Also, make sure to remove any levels made of wire or mesh as this is uncomfortable for your mouse to walk on. If levels are included in your cage make sure they are solid and not mesh.
DIY
There are many ways to go about building your own custom cages. From Ikea furniture to bin cages; they can fit any budget, any space, and any look. Some people build enclosures from scratch or start off with a base. The ability to create your own cage can be great as you can get more floor space for less! Bin cages are cheap, customizable, and pretty simple to make. Most are made out of large storage bins and mesh. There are many different options and tutorials on how to make these and we have an article on how to customize them so that they are safe for your mice! (Read it here: Making A Bin Cage For Mice!)
Recommended Enclosures
Tank/Glass Cages
Niteangel Bigger World ($176-$250)
On the pricier side, but if you’re looking for a non-aquarium tank-esque cage it is one of the best options. The floor space ranges from 520 square inches to 831 square inches. It also has plenty of height for bedding, wheels, and climbing toys. Ventilation could become an issue due to the lack of an open mesh lid.
Bucatsate ($166)
While on the pricier side, it has an easily cleaned metal base, points to mount wheels or water bottles to the sides, and 776 square inches of floor space. It also includes a front-opening door which allows easy access for taming, but limits bedding height. Ventilation might be restricted by the non-mesh lid, however, the side slits may make up for it.
Barred Cages
Prevue Pet 528 ($190)
The bar spacing for this cage is a little bigger than ¼ at ⅜ but most mice shouldn’t be able to get out. If you have a smaller mouse we wouldn’t recommend this cage. There were also some complaints about the corners bending and inconsistencies in bar spaces. The inside dimensions are 16x30.5 which gives you a floor space of 488 inches squared.
Savic Mickey 2 ($150)
The dimensions for the outside of the cage are 31.5x20 which gives a floorspace 630 square inches. However, the final floor space would be smaller due to a taper of the base. The level would need to be taken out, and the wheel would have to be replaced. The bar spacing is very slightly over ¼ inch, but there were some issues with mice escaping in the reviews. Assembly instructions are not included. Materials also seem to be a bit cheap accessory-wise, but you shouldn't have to use those anyway.
DIY Cages
110 qt Sterilite Bin Cage ($17)
The inside dimensions are 31x15.5 which gives a floor space of 480 square inches. The floor has no disruptions for possible chewing and the latches are durable. Not the biggest bin you can find but a great option and meets all the criteria. There is not a single pack sold on Amazon so if you’re outside of the US you might need to find your own link
IKEA Linnmon (~$100)
The general idea behind this build is using the table tops as the back, and 1 for both sides. Then you add plexiglass to the front and build your own lid. It does require power tools and a bit of work but the end product looks great. It ends up having a floor space of slightly under 930 square inches. The ventilation should be fine as long as the top has enough open/meshed spaces. Tutorials are available on YouTube (Link here). Another option from IKEA is the Detolf which is very popular with hamster owners.
Floorspace
According to the Mouse Care Forum care standards a single male mouse or group of 2-3 female mice should have at least 360 sq. in. (2325 sq. cm.) so the area of a cage should be that or above (Read the Basic Mouse Care Standards article for more information).
Bedding capacity
The cage should be able to hold 4-6 inches (10-15cm) of bedding (Read the Basic Mouse Care Standards article for more information). You should also account for your mice possibly kicking bedding out of the cage as well.
Ventilation
A cage also needs to be properly ventilated to prevent dust build-up and eventually respiratory illness. Make sure that there is proper airflow in the cage you choose. The best ventilation comes from bars or mesh and you should avoid anything that solely relies on small holes for ventilation purposes.
Bar Spacing
Mice are small so you have to make sure they can’t slip out of a cage. This can apply to any cage but is especially important if you have a barred cage. The best way to prevent mice from escaping is to have bars that are ¼ inch apart (around 7mm). For mesh, it should be no more than ½ an inch wide gaps (around 14mm). Keep this in mind when picking out mesh for DIY cages.
Enclosure Types
Tank/Glass
Glass cages make it easier for you to watch your mice inside their cage! They can have issues with proper ventilation though. It is very important to choose a low dust bedding and monitor the airflow if you choose a glass cage. Aquariums with mesh lids can work great, as long as floor space requirements are met. There are other options as well.
Barred
Barred cages are great for ventilation but can be tricky when trying to find one with small enough bar spacings. Many bar cages are too small for mice such as critter trails or tiny tails. Stay away from almost any that are sold in large/chain pet stores. Also, make sure to remove any levels made of wire or mesh as this is uncomfortable for your mouse to walk on. If levels are included in your cage make sure they are solid and not mesh.
DIY
There are many ways to go about building your own custom cages. From Ikea furniture to bin cages; they can fit any budget, any space, and any look. Some people build enclosures from scratch or start off with a base. The ability to create your own cage can be great as you can get more floor space for less! Bin cages are cheap, customizable, and pretty simple to make. Most are made out of large storage bins and mesh. There are many different options and tutorials on how to make these and we have an article on how to customize them so that they are safe for your mice! (Read it here: Making A Bin Cage For Mice!)
Recommended Enclosures
Tank/Glass Cages
Niteangel Bigger World ($176-$250)
On the pricier side, but if you’re looking for a non-aquarium tank-esque cage it is one of the best options. The floor space ranges from 520 square inches to 831 square inches. It also has plenty of height for bedding, wheels, and climbing toys. Ventilation could become an issue due to the lack of an open mesh lid.
Bucatsate ($166)
While on the pricier side, it has an easily cleaned metal base, points to mount wheels or water bottles to the sides, and 776 square inches of floor space. It also includes a front-opening door which allows easy access for taming, but limits bedding height. Ventilation might be restricted by the non-mesh lid, however, the side slits may make up for it.
Barred Cages
Prevue Pet 528 ($190)
The bar spacing for this cage is a little bigger than ¼ at ⅜ but most mice shouldn’t be able to get out. If you have a smaller mouse we wouldn’t recommend this cage. There were also some complaints about the corners bending and inconsistencies in bar spaces. The inside dimensions are 16x30.5 which gives you a floor space of 488 inches squared.
Savic Mickey 2 ($150)
The dimensions for the outside of the cage are 31.5x20 which gives a floorspace 630 square inches. However, the final floor space would be smaller due to a taper of the base. The level would need to be taken out, and the wheel would have to be replaced. The bar spacing is very slightly over ¼ inch, but there were some issues with mice escaping in the reviews. Assembly instructions are not included. Materials also seem to be a bit cheap accessory-wise, but you shouldn't have to use those anyway.
DIY Cages
110 qt Sterilite Bin Cage ($17)
The inside dimensions are 31x15.5 which gives a floor space of 480 square inches. The floor has no disruptions for possible chewing and the latches are durable. Not the biggest bin you can find but a great option and meets all the criteria. There is not a single pack sold on Amazon so if you’re outside of the US you might need to find your own link
IKEA Linnmon (~$100)
The general idea behind this build is using the table tops as the back, and 1 for both sides. Then you add plexiglass to the front and build your own lid. It does require power tools and a bit of work but the end product looks great. It ends up having a floor space of slightly under 930 square inches. The ventilation should be fine as long as the top has enough open/meshed spaces. Tutorials are available on YouTube (Link here). Another option from IKEA is the Detolf which is very popular with hamster owners.
