There are all kinds and sizes of plastic tanks available
from tiny show boxes to Ferplast Duna -boxes. "Habitrail" hamster homes with all
kinds of different rooms and tubes can also be included in this section. When choosing a
tank you should pay attention to the floor space available. The height is not that
important (although the mouse has to be able to stand up tall and preferably climb), but
it is much easier to build additional floors and ladders to a higher tank.
Plastic tanks are light to move and easy to clean. Furthermore, they
come with lids. You are able to put a large amount of beddings in a tank for the mice to
play in and hide small cardboard boxes and tubes under the beddings.
However, the small plastic tanks are unsuitable for mice as homes
and if the tank is not high enough, the mice can gnaw their way out through the lid. A
determined mouse can even chew itself to freedom through the wall. With a tank you should
make sure that sun does not shine in the tank - sunshine can raise the temperature in the
tank to deadly hot. If the beddings get even a bit too dirty, the ammonia levels in the
tank get so high it will damage the respiratory tracts of your mice. In the long run, the
bottom of a plastic tank may get a bit stained from the mouse urine.
| Good Points |
Bad Points |
- Square or rectangular plastic tanks are easy to clean - just wash them in the sink
- Light and portable.
- Mice love tunnels, hiding places, and exploring, so modular systems provide a lot of
opportunities.
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- Modular systems can be fiddly to dismantle and clean.
- Ventilation may be inadequate - a few holes bored in the plastic will not induce much
air circulation. Better to replace the lid with wire mesh if ventilation is poor, or fit a
mesh panel.
- If you have a determined chewer it may escape.
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