Caging systems - How many laboratory animals can be maintain in a cage?
Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific provides detailed guidelines for the placement of animals in cages of different sizes. View key information about cage size requirements for laboratory animals.
How big cages do you need to maitain laboratory animals? Which cage parameters are important in keeping animals? We present below data based on Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific provides regarding cage sizes for laboratory animals in stock and during procedures. Original full text of the directive you will find here. Look at the listed below basic parameteres of cages for mice, rats, hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs.
Cages for laboratory mice
Body weight (g) of mice
Floor area per animal (cm2)
Minimum enclosure size (cm2)
Minimal enclosure height
up to 20
60
330
12 cm
over 20 to 25
70
330
12 cm
over 25 to 30
80
330
12 cm
over 30
100
330
12 cm
Cages for laboratory rats
Body weight (g) of rats
Floor area per animal (cm2)
Minimum enclosure size (cm2)
Minimal enclosure height (cm)
up to 200
200
800
18
over 200 to 300
250
800
18
over 300 to 400
350
800
18
over 400 to 600
450
800
18
over 600
600
1500
18
Cages for hamsters
Body weight (g) of hamsters
Floor area per animal (cm2)
Minimum enclosure size (cm2)
Minimal enclosure height (cm)
up to 60
150
800
14
over 60 to 100
200
800
14
over 100
250
800
14
Cages for guinea pigs
Body weight (g) of guinea pigs
Floor area per animal (cm2)
Minimum enclosure size (cm2)
Minimal enclosure height (cm)
up to 200
200
1800
23
over 200 to 300
350
1800
23
over 300 to 450
500
1800
23
over 450 to 700
700
2500
23
over 700
900
2500
23
Cages for rabbits
Body weight (kg) of rabbit
Minimum floor area for one or two socially harmonious animalsl (cm2)
