The wide spread use of rodents as laboratory animals has made the nutritional care and feeding relatively simple. There are, however, some special considerations to keep in mind about the overall care of rodents.

Caging is probably one of the biggest concerns when keeping rodents as pets. Due to the tendency of rodents to gnaw it is important to choose a material that will not be destroyed or need to be replaced on a regular basis. For this reason, wood is not an ideal candidate and is also difficult to disinfect. Metal, glass, or plastic are recommended, as are solid floors. Solid floors might be harder to clean, but they reduce the incidence of limb trauma and other foot problems when compared to wire bottoms. It is mandatory that the chosen cage type has a secure lid or door to minimize the incidence of escape.

Bedding should not be dusty, and various types of rodents will prefer different amounts of bedding. The chosen material should also be capable of being made into a nest. A combination of hardwood shavings and shredded newspaper works well but is not the only choice.

• Common Aspects of Rodent Nutrition
• Hamsters
• Gerbils
• Guinea Pigs
• Chinchillas
• Rats & Mice

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