I'm considering breeding mice now because in the long run it's cheaper and I have a lot of friends who would buy pinkies from us if we ended up with too many.

The place I would be housing the mice is a large tool shop at my parent's house but the problem is that raccoons can get in there.

So, my question is, do sterilites make decent breeding cages for mice? Also, would they be tough enough to withstand a raccoons attempt to get the lid off (I would be fastening them to a tool bench to keep them from being knocked around).

I am just trying to get some good ideas on how to breed them and keep them safe as well, I thought about building a wood box with a heavy duty screen door on it that locks that I could keep a 10g aquarium in, but that seems too extreme.

Another question, would a heat lamp like one used for a reptile be adaquate heat for mice that are in a outdoor building? Maybe a brooding lamp for chickens?

Alright, I'm done, just trying to cover all my bases before I go out and do anything.

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0.1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa (Sakura)
1.1.0 Leopard geckos (Tasuki, Sango)
2.0.0 Ball pythons (Tsume, Kenshin)

I see a few problems with your idea. Sterilytes are plastic. If the mice can find the smallest irregularity to get hold of they will gnaw their way out. And you will have to have good ventilation. Due to the high respiration rate and the fact that mice pee,..a LOT, you will not be able to use the plastic lid that comes with the box unless you cut a large ventilation hole and cover it with screen. Otherwise it will be constantly wet inside the box. Not a healthy situation.
The presence of the raccoons is the most serious problem. Unless you can solve that problem you are in trouble Never underestimate the intelligence or perserverance of the little masked bandit! If there is a way to get to the mice they will find it. And they will wreck havok in the process. They will get into your mouse food. Coons also are carriers of a lot of parasites and diseases that will be transferred to your mice.

And if they happen to knock the heat lamp over or knock something on top of it you may have a fire on your hands.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Merlin, I see what you are saying, and I was thinking about all that right after I posted this thread. The thought of putting a door on the shop popped into my head and that would solve a lot of problems there. If I got rid of the raccoon problem then all my other problems would probably be solved as well.

I would probably not use sterilite after further research.

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0.1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa (Sakura)
1.1.0 Leopard geckos (Tasuki, Sango)
2.0.0 Ball pythons (Tsume, Kenshin)

Ok I know a little bit about mice. Like Merlin said they will chew through the plastic and get out. I raised mine in 10-gallon aquariums with screen tops for ventilation. Mice urine can build up really fast and has a not so nice odor to it. As for a heat lamp, I always kept mine inside but when I had the bunnies out side it wasn’t unusual to find nests of pinkies under the tarps. I would just give them some wool or angora (if you need some let me know) to make their nest with. Use pine shavings and change ever 2-3 days. Use a water bottle to prevent shaving from getting wet from spilling.

Coons can get into the smallest places; I have had full size adults squeezed through a 2” opening to get at baby rabbits. Also be careful with urine of other animals (Coons, squires etc.) as it can contaminate your feed.

Hello,

An alternative to the sterilites is cat litter pans. I have had good success with them, I believe they are a bit stronger than sterilites but I am not positive.

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Josh Shrader

1.0 Ball Python (Monty)
0.1 Red-Eared Slider (Woody)
0.1 Yellow-Bellied Slider (Buz)