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Old 11-12-2018, 09:08 AM   #1
Oobee35
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Default Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

Hello! I’ve been looking to get 3 female mice and wanted to know what cage size I should have. I already have a 10 gallon but if it’s not suitable I will definitely go out and buy a bigger tank. Is a 10 gallon suitable for 3 mice? Thanks
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Old 11-12-2018, 09:12 AM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

No, mice need much more room than 10 gallons. I hear they're supposedly content in smaller cages but it doesn't make any sense to give them a smaller enclosure than what you would for hamsters. A bare minimum would be 20 gallons anyway, for 3 I'd go with 40 gallons or larger as they do like lots of toys and things to climb on.
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Old 11-12-2018, 04:30 PM   #3
Oobee35
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Default Re: Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

ok cool. Thank you for letting me know. I can’t wait to get my mice.
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Old 11-12-2018, 04:32 PM   #4
Rosemary12Aspen
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Default Re: Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oobee35 View Post
Hello! I’ve been looking to get 3 female mice and wanted to know what cage size I should have. I already have a 10 gallon but if it’s not suitable I will definitely go out and buy a bigger tank. Is a 10 gallon suitable for 3 mice? Thanks
I think the "minimum" suitable size considered for 3 female mice in the US is a 20 Gallon Long tank. So anything with around 360+ square inches of interior floorspace, and as much height as you can manage.

But don't forget that barred cages are an option! Mice love to climb, and a lot of climbing toys can only be attached to bars and not the mesh of tank/terrarium lids, so using tank-style cages can be limiting.

Whichever you choose, the aim is to get something you can fit a bunch of enrichment into. Cramped cages are generally good for mice; but 'cramped' doesn't necessarily mean the cage itself has to be small, it's just a matter of how you fill it up
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Old 11-13-2018, 07:30 AM   #5
Oobee35
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Default Re: Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

Ok cool, thank you so much! I was just confused on a lot of the websites that were saying you could put at most 4 in a ten gallon which I now see as a bit absurd with the size and all.

The reason why I’m not going to get a barred cage is because I have cats and they would see that as a free opportunity for fast food. Tanks seemed to work well for my hammies ( the cats couldn’t figure out how to get the lid off) so I’m basing my assumptions for a tank off that. I also have the clips on the lid for extra safety. Thanks again!!
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Old 11-13-2018, 11:51 AM   #6
mzwiwy
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Default Re: Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

Post pics when you get them! Can't wait to see them.
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Old 01-04-2019, 06:34 AM   #7
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Default Re: Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

Tanks with secured lids to stop cats from gaining access can be badly ventilated for the mice! Mice can suffer from respiratory problems (mainly due to a mycoplasma bacteria they carry in their airways) and this can be `set off` if they become irritated by ammonia or anything to claustrophobic.

Mice are a natural prey for cats so if the cats are allowed into the same room as the mice, you need to be 110% secure and safe. Tanks can sometimes look okay to us, but we don`t live inside one 24/7. You need to consider if mice living in a tank with a build up of urine scent and a secured lid is going to be healthy for the mice?
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Old 01-04-2019, 10:11 AM   #8
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

I don't know much about mice - I have seen on a mouse forum a 10 gallon possibly being the minimum but 20 gallon would be better. I also think it said cages are better than tanks, for the reasons Racinghamster says - the difficulty is finding cages with small enough bar spacing. Which should be 6 to 7mm maximum. The Savic Mickey 2XL is a mouse cage with mouse bar spacing - 7mm bar spacing - it's a great cage and I use it for a dwarf hamster.

However, there are places where the spacing is slightly bigger than 7mm so they would need blocking off or cable tying. And even then mice have been known to squeeze through 7mm (especially baby ones) so really 6mm bar spacing is needed.

Are you in the Uk or US? I am guessing in the US by mention of the 10 gallon tank. The Savic Mickey 2XL is available there but it costs about $140! I don't think there are any other cages with mouse bar spacing - possibly the Marchioro Kevin but that is just as expensive and very hard to find now.

There are a couple of cages in the Uk with 6mm bar spacing If that helps! Both of which would be good for mice.

I think most people do end up using tanks due to problems with cages and bar spacing. so the lid would need to have lots of ventilation - 6mm mesh is mouse mesh and would be better than something with very fine mesh which would have less ventilation.

And as RH says - the cats mustn't be in the same room really. Mice like climbing and wrapping their tails round things so a taller tank and a wood branch in it are good I believe.
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Old 01-04-2019, 01:34 PM   #9
Oobee35
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Default Re: Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

racing hamster- Thank you so much for all the info. I thought that it was alright to have the mesh lid and it would ventilate enough. I will check out the other mouse cage that you said might be a good idea and see how everything works with that cage if it looks like a good option. I was looking around in the US for more cages but the cage sizes were either too big (by the bar spacing) or too small. I was planning on getting 3 females instead of one male. Thank you for all your helpful information!
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Old 01-04-2019, 01:40 PM   #10
Oobee35
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Default Re: Mice in 10 gallon? Is that ok?

Sorry, I forgot to add - my cats aren’t really allowed downstairs because of my hamsters and the fact that they always liked to bring me presents and tear them apart downstairs. I have installed a baby gate at the top of my stairs and I leave it closed when I go out or when I’m not in the house so they can’t get downstairs into the room with my hamsters. I also leave my door closed, I just preferred the thought of the tank for extra precaution because I really wanted to make sure that my hamsters and future mice are safe.
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