mouse set ups

Hi im new to breeding mice and i have 3 of them in a big plastic tub(41 inches long, 21 inches wide and 18 inches tall). They are on cedar substrate, it doesnt have any added oils in it or anything, just plain cedar chips. They have 2 hides one on each side of the tank, a wheel, a water bottle and food bowl on one side and a water bowl and another food bowl on the other side. I hvae two all white females in with 1 all black male.

Is this a good set-up. Temps are around a constant 78-80 and they get light 14 hours a day now cuz its summer. Does this sound like a good set up for them. Im new to this and need some tips, i feed them mouuse food from petsmart.

Can you guys post pics of your enclosure/set ups for breeding mice, thanx!

I'm pretty sure wheels are not great for mice, I don't use them, but I thought I read they easily get caught in wheels as opposed to hamsters. I also don't think water bowls are good, you should be using the drip type bottles. Cedar a no-no with mice try aspen or carefresh. Don't add heat they get warm pretty easy, overheated. You only need one food bowl, they tend to scatter food, two bowls will only give them more to scatter. Toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes make good hides and chew toys for the mice. I add a little tissue for the females to nest in. In the plastic you need a very well ventilated lid, like sreen. Your food choice is sound however. Sorry don't mean to fault everything you've done but you asked. A 10 gal tank with a screen lid will work great for your mice. If they get too cold or too hot they will slow down on breeding, better to have an up and down temp. i.e warm days cool nights like other mammals. hope this helps some, susan

so should i move them into a smaller 10 gallon? I just checked and its not cedar, its aspen the brand is kaytee. The water bottle i have is for mice and hamsters i will take the bowl out then along with the extra food bowl. I just put doubles of everything cuz the tub is pretty big. i don't add heat either i was just saying my room is a little on the warmer side like low 80's cuz i have my reptiles in there. i dont have a lid on cuz its 18 inches tall and they can't climb out.

No the tub is good but believe me they can and will climb, you don't want a pregnant mouse running around your house. Just try to keep them under 85 put a fan on if you have to, but your snakes won't like it much over 85 either. As far as 10 gal tank they are easier to find a lid for that's all. Hope you have baby mice in your future, susan

Sounds good, though you definitely need a sealed screen top on it. You can use wire screening or 1/4" wire mesh. They can escape through 1/2".

If you have a free 10 gal with a wire screen top I would use that, as they might chew through the plastic eventually. You can do 1.4 or 5 easily in a 10 gal.

Wheels are fine, I like to use them when possible as it keeps them healthier and leaner in my opinion. Just don't use a wire wheel. Get a solid plastic wheel with no spokes. the smallest size "silent spinner" is good, safe and quiet. Wheels do add somewhat to the smell as they get covered in urine and feces eventually so need to be cleaned often.

For food, the mouse food from Petsmnart is ok but if it's Kaytee lab blocks, I wouldn't buy it again. Anything at Petsmart is going to be VERY expensive per lb compared to good quality lab blocks bought at a good feed store or from a feeder breeder.

PetSmart charges like $9 for 5 lbs of lab block, I pay $13 for 33 lbs of a vastly higher quality lab block from the local reptile show. (Harlan 2018)

Most feed stores should be able to special order Purina LabDiet or Mazuri 6F lab block and many sell it in any lb increment you wish for around $.75 per lb and less.

ok thanx guys. I will change my set up around .