Fancy Mouse Accommodation
When planning a new accommodation set up for the fancy mice living at the college, I
believe they should still have a plastic bottom tray and a metal narrow barred lidded cage
for their accommodation, as it allows them to look at their surroundings and allows them to
detect any sudden predator. Although this would not be an issue in the environment of the
animal unit, they still need to be able to perform the ‘Behaviour’ need from the 5 needs list.
The ‘Behaviour’ need is the ability to behave naturally for their species. The ‘fight or flight’
instinct that comes from adrenaline, is a natural behaviour for most prey animals like fancy
mice and when spitting a predator, they need to be able to perform this behaviour.
The materials used – plastic and metal are appropriate for a fancy mouse as it isn’t
breakable/chewable unless damaged with great force e.g. dropped from a height. The
materials also cover the ‘Health’ and
‘Environment’ needs from the 5 needs list. The
‘Health’ need is protection from pain, injury,
suffering and disease and treated if they
become ill or injured. The ‘Environment’ need
is a suitable environment which should include
the right type of home with a comfortable
place to rest and hide as well as space to
exercise and explore. The materials cover
these both as the materials used are not toxic
to the mice and this accommodation does not
have any jagged edges on the inside so will not
cause them any pain, injury, suffering or
disease.
Instead of the single floored cage that they are used too within the animal unit, I believe
their accommodation should have 2-3 levels. This covers the ‘Environment’ need from the 5
needs list. The ‘Environment’ need should include the right type of home with a comfortable
place to rest and hide as well as space to exercise and explore. The floors allow them to
exercise as the walk from floor to floor is steep and makes them work to get to their food or
water or some treats. It also allows them to explore their surroundings from different
heights and perspectives.
The size of the new accommodation will measure at L:78cm x W:48cm x H:58cm with a
metal bar spacing of 1cm. The size of the accommodation covers the ‘Behaviour’,
‘Companionship’ and ‘Environment’ needs from the 5 needs list. The ‘Behaviour’ need is the
ability to behave naturally for their species. The ‘Companionship’ need is to be housed with,
or apart from, other animals as appropriate for the species. And the ‘Environment’ need is a
suitable environment which should include the right type of home with a comfortable place
to rest and hide as well as space to exercise and explore. The accomodation covers all three
of these needs as accommodation is big enough to house a small family of fancy mice and
because they’re social animals they will usually share a resting area.
When planning a new accommodation set up for the fancy mice living at the college, I
believe they should still have a plastic bottom tray and a metal narrow barred lidded cage
for their accommodation, as it allows them to look at their surroundings and allows them to
detect any sudden predator. Although this would not be an issue in the environment of the
animal unit, they still need to be able to perform the ‘Behaviour’ need from the 5 needs list.
The ‘Behaviour’ need is the ability to behave naturally for their species. The ‘fight or flight’
instinct that comes from adrenaline, is a natural behaviour for most prey animals like fancy
mice and when spitting a predator, they need to be able to perform this behaviour.
The materials used – plastic and metal are appropriate for a fancy mouse as it isn’t
breakable/chewable unless damaged with great force e.g. dropped from a height. The
materials also cover the ‘Health’ and
‘Environment’ needs from the 5 needs list. The
‘Health’ need is protection from pain, injury,
suffering and disease and treated if they
become ill or injured. The ‘Environment’ need
is a suitable environment which should include
the right type of home with a comfortable
place to rest and hide as well as space to
exercise and explore. The materials cover
these both as the materials used are not toxic
to the mice and this accommodation does not
have any jagged edges on the inside so will not
cause them any pain, injury, suffering or
disease.
Instead of the single floored cage that they are used too within the animal unit, I believe
their accommodation should have 2-3 levels. This covers the ‘Environment’ need from the 5
needs list. The ‘Environment’ need should include the right type of home with a comfortable
place to rest and hide as well as space to exercise and explore. The floors allow them to
exercise as the walk from floor to floor is steep and makes them work to get to their food or
water or some treats. It also allows them to explore their surroundings from different
heights and perspectives.
The size of the new accommodation will measure at L:78cm x W:48cm x H:58cm with a
metal bar spacing of 1cm. The size of the accommodation covers the ‘Behaviour’,
‘Companionship’ and ‘Environment’ needs from the 5 needs list. The ‘Behaviour’ need is the
ability to behave naturally for their species. The ‘Companionship’ need is to be housed with,
or apart from, other animals as appropriate for the species. And the ‘Environment’ need is a
suitable environment which should include the right type of home with a comfortable place
to rest and hide as well as space to exercise and explore. The accomodation covers all three
of these needs as accommodation is big enough to house a small family of fancy mice and
because they’re social animals they will usually share a resting area.
