Housing Mice in Plastic Drawers!

Quick Question....

My dad got me a 3 drawer systme thing for my bday!
I didnt get to see it yet cause my birthday isn't until Feb 29th, but I have an idea what it looks like!

He got it for me because when I go to the pet store for mice, my new little mice keep getting out between the bars of the hamster cage! and I kinda wanna try to breed them too!

I'm wondering if you think they might be able to "chew" threw the plactic drawers???? I'm thinking a rat would totally destroy the drawers but maybe the mice won't??? anyone think differently????

I'm pretty sure I saw some pictures before of people housing there mice in them, but i couldnt kind the Forum to double check!

My first concern would be the smell. In my experience, rodents need a screen top on whatever enclosure they are in so that humidity and odors don't build up inside. Secondly, I would think it would be entirely possible for a mouse to chew through a plastic enclosure such as the one you are talking about. Unless the tub is made specifically for rodent use, like the ones from Freedom Breeder and similar companies, I wouldn't waste my money - especially when you can get a 10 gallon glass tank for under $10.

Yeah, I can drill some holes in the top of the sides to help ventalation and smell!

but I'm just a lil worried about chewing!
I'm pretty sure i saw some pictures of someone on this site who housed them in the drawers!

My dad already bought the dam thing!
and 10 gallon tanks are more then that!
$15 maybe at the least! plus the top $10. and I kinda wanted at least 3! maybe 2!

Oh well... I'll figure something out! see how it goes!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jonny2184

Yeah, I can drill some holes in the top of the sides to help ventalation and smell!

but I'm just a lil worried about chewing!
I'm pretty sure i saw some pictures of someone on this site who housed them in the drawers!

My dad already bought the dam thing!
and 10 gallon tanks are more then that!
$15 maybe at the least! plus the top $10. and I kinda wanted at least 3! maybe 2!

Oh well... I'll figure something out! see how it goes!

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Walmart, 10 gallon tanks $9.87
Petco, 10 gallon tanks $11.00

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jonny2184

My dad already bought the dam thing!
and 10 gallon tanks are more then that!
$15 maybe at the least! plus the top $10. and I kinda wanted at least 3! maybe 2!

Oh well... I'll figure something out! see how it goes!

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Relax. :relax: ;)

Chewing is an issue, as is as ventilation. If you want to give it a shot, then that's fine. Most places have a good return policy, IF you decide you want to go the tank route as well. Good luck. :D

Yeah, SORRY!

I'm at work and it's wicked stressful lately! I think I'm making it more stressful then it needs to be! lol :depressed :frustrate :rage: SORRY!

I'm pretty sure the Walmart here doesn't sell 10 gallon tanks!
I know they have huge tanks! but not for 10 dollars and not 10 gallons!

The Pet store I go to (Pets Unlimited) had a blow out sale (20-50% off) like 3 weekends ago and they had 10 gollan tanks on for 10 dollars! and the rule was one tank per household! I should have gotten one then but I didnt really think about breeding mice then! U live u learn!
I did get some UTH's and a beautiful waterfall that my BP just loved the first day! I dont think he likes it anymore! He drank out of it and that was the first timer I've ever seen him drink! Now he won't even go near it... maybe the vibration of the pump??? anyway.... *off topic*

I would like to buy hamster cages! Still like $30 a piece but they get out of the dam bars!

I think I'm gonna attemp the drawer thing just cause my dad went out of his way to go get it and he figured it be a good idea!
In the mean time I will have to save my pennies and try to get enough to buy a few fishy tanks!

Thanks 4 u'r input eveybody!!
Have a good day!

They WILL get out of the drawers. I've tried three different kinds of drawers.. plus a tub. A total of 8 break outs. Chasing mice around your house is NOT fun.

Lab style cages are the way to go I tell you... bigappleherp.com has nice ones.

I just called the Pets Unlimited store and they say there 10 gallon fish tanks are 41.99 pls tax 15% plus a lid!:omg: Didn't even bother asking how much lids were! WILD PRICES...

During there Sale it was 10.00! WILD! just amazing!
:O

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jonny2184

I just called the Pets Unlimited store and they say there 10 gallon fish tanks are 41.99 pls tax 15% plus a lid!:omg: Didn't even bother asking how much lids were! WILD PRICES...

During there Sale it was 10.00! WILD! just amazing!
:O

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That's impossible. For a plain old 10 gallon tank? Are you sure that didn't include a whole "setup" thing with a pump, filter, gravel, etc.? I know for a fact that Wal Mart sells them for under $10. I know pet stores are notorious for marking up merchandise, but that's ridiculous.

Yep Angie one of our local pet stores wants around $25.00 for a plain old ten gallon plus $10.00 for a decent lid PLUS $3.00 for the metal snap clips to keep the dang critters in the thing! Total rip!

Just for the future folks...wait for summer...yard sale MADLY....you would not believe how many tanks are out there looking for homes for a couple of bucks. As well if you call around to some aquarium shops they will sell you excellent tanks that have slight issues so aren't safe for water but would be perfectly fine for rodents and they usually dump those pretty cheaply.

Check the back of the pet area at Walmart....don't buy the boxed 10 gallon set (with lid, light, etc)...most Walmarts have plain glass tanks tucked away in the back corner of the pet section unboxed that are very decently priced.

~~Jo~~

I have all my rats and mice in little sterilte tubs, and they work great. As someone on this site has recommended, I cut part of the lid out and replaced it with screen. The tubs are like $2.50 and my dad got a big roll of screen for like 3 or 4 bucks. As long as the mice are occupied with cardboard, newspaper, or babies, they don't even bother trying to get out.

PLUS, they are really light. You'll get real tired of carting around 10 gallon tanks, especially if you have a lot, to clean them 1-2 times a week. It's a pain in the @$$!!!

I have ZERO experience with the drawer system, but i have to admit, I was tempted!

lots of people keep mice in rubbermaid or ster. containers. it works great :)

I'm looking into a few Lab Style tubs either from Big Apple, other suppliers or even used Lab style tubs to shop/compare. 10gln tanks are usually $8.00-$10.00 and the screen top is about $4.00-$5.00.
I have 1.3 mice in a 10gln tank and hope to set up 1.3 rats in one of these lab style tubs. All my snakes feed on F/T, except my BP's which take live. As long as they keep feeding steady and are healthy I'll feed them whatever they want!

I doesn't matter how many paper towel tubes and kleenex boxes I gave the mice to chew on, they went straight for the ventilation holes, chewed them out and escaped. I will never house a rodent in a sterilite or drawer system again.

edit: oh yeah, and they have chewed straight through metal screen as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jonny2184

I just called the Pets Unlimited store and they say there 10 gallon fish tanks are 41.99 pls tax 15% plus a lid!:omg: Didn't even bother asking how much lids were! WILD PRICES...

During there Sale it was 10.00! WILD! just amazing!
:O

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We bought a 40 gallon tank for the BP for $45, go to walmart instead... do they have walmarts around you? $10 a pop, and you can make a screen for nothing.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Just for the future folks...wait for summer...yard sale MADLY....you would not believe how many tanks are out there looking for homes for a couple of bucks.

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Indeed! Don't be afraid to ask friends and co-workers too. Smulkin and I got a 55 gallon tank for free because a friend of mine just didn't want it taking up space in her garage anymore.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Check the back of the pet area at Walmart....don't buy the boxed 10 gallon set (with lid, light, etc)...most Walmarts have plain glass tanks tucked away in the back corner of the pet section unboxed that are very decently priced.

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That's exactly what we get.

I dont think I would lie to you about the price of a 10gallon tank! and that is just the glass tank! THATS IT! nothing more!....

I even saw it with my very own eyes!

If my drawers don't work I will just have to either build something(somehow) or do that Big Apple Herp place!

I hope they ship to Canada!!!!!!!!!!

We do have a Walmart! WORST place in the WORLD! If u want to stand in line for 30 minutes go for it! and I was there like 2 weeks ago and then only tanks i saw were HUGE ones... maybe I will go back next weekend and ask someone there if they have any or even if they can get me some shipped in! :please:

Talk to Matt, matt@mgreptiles.com. I was checking some things out a few days ago, sent him an email... I know for a fact he has a couple twenty gallons and a few ten gallons he'd be willing to sell. He wanted $7 for the tens and $18 for the 20s, plus shipping. And he WILL ship international.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jonny2184

I dont think I would lie to you about the price of a 10gallon tank! and that is just the glass tank! THATS IT! nothing more!....

I even saw it with my very own eyes!

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I was not even remotely suggesting you were lying. I was in shock over the fact that a pet store would dare to charge so much for such an inexpensive thing. But I guess I shouldn't be that shocked. Our local stores are almost as bad.