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Mark
AnonyMouse
10/05/2005
13:18:22
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 Subject: How small
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Message:
Hello all,
I have 4 deer mice in a 10 gallon tank with wire mesh and cardboard and a wheel and all the usual stuff.
A boy and his 3 sisters where found as infants with their mother. I corralled cute little guys and we watched as she raised them in a cage, my golf cub bag was just not acceptable. I recently released the mom back into the wild after being in captivity for 3.5 months using Paul’s release shelter, which she is still using after 9 days.
Anyway the 4 offspring are pretty much full grown, but smaller than the mom was and I was thinking of increasing the size of their habitat. Does any know just how small of a hole they can squeeze though? If I build a cage out of ½” x ½” wire mesh can they escape? If so what is the larges wire mesh that can be used? The last thing I need is a free ranging mouse in my den? Thanks.
Mark
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paul
AnonyMouse
10/07/2005
11:48:26
| RE: How small
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Message:
I would use no larger than 1/4 inch wire. You should start thinking about seperating the boy from the girls. They will probably eventually mate and produce inbred babies which will likely have health problems. It's likely thy will mate in the late winter/early spring, but they may do so sooner.
paul
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Ann Vole
AnonyMouse
10/19/2005
10:51:51
| RE: How small
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Message:
I would say 1/4 inch is still too big. I use 1/4 inch on my house mice and gerbils but with deer mice, I would sometimes get a deermouse that gets it's teeth and nose through the hole (diagonal) then cannot get loose. They cut up their lips and get dehydrated quick trying to get loose. Now I am talking 3 individuals out of several hundered I've had but if you are choosing the material, go with metal (steel prefered) screen or 3/16 size hardware cloth.
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