Minimizing smell

by AnonymousMouseOwner Sat 17 Sep 2016, 10:59 pm

I'm getting some complaints about Scout's smell. I can't smell it, but others can. I guess because I am used to it. Any product suggestions? I would like to start regularly wiping down toys and the walls of the tank, what should I do that with? I use CareFresh, and I've heard corn cob bedding is better for smell, what kind is recommended? Also, is corn cob bedding comfortable for his little feet, and how will he do his favorite thing, making tunnels? Thanks.

by Peachy Sun 18 Sep 2016, 7:00 am

I do layers of bedding with corn cob on the bottom. When I had a super smelly boy a few years ago, he lived on corn cob bedding, and it was amazing for his smell! I can't find the brand anywhere anymore. Whatever I come across first works well, too. It's usually not as soft, but the mice don't seem to mind it on their feet anyway.

Have you checked out this page? It talks about odor a little bit. I'd check for any exceptionally yucky corners and spots under toys/MESs. I use a cage cleaner from the pet store to wipe down walls and sticky toys.
https://petmousefanciers.forumotion.com/t36-cleaning-bedding-and-smells

by MooMouse Sun 18 Sep 2016, 11:47 am

I actually use dirt as bedding. This might be an issue if your mouse likes to tunnel, but it is very inexpensive and great with eliminating odor. Rogue loves to dig in it and kick it all over the place. I use it for the bottom of my mouse's tank. For his loft area, I use carefresh and shredded paper (he doesn't pee or poop in his loft, so it works out Smile

)

by stephlisa Sun 18 Sep 2016, 2:08 pm

I use paper based bedding for my boy, but he generally doesn't seem to be particularly smelly.
The only time I notice his cage smelling is when he's used the wheel lots and peed all over it - I started washing Colin's wheel more often and making sure the other toys don't get too smelly and that seems to reduce the smell. I just use a cage cleaner spray I brought in the pet shop for the cage and wheel.

by AnonymousMouseOwner Thu 06 Oct 2016, 11:09 pm

Sorry to bump up an older topic, but I have something new to say. I bought some Hartz cage cleaning spray. Every week, my routine is to spray the walls and floor of the cage with the spray, wipe down all the toys with the spray, take the wheel outside and blast it with water and the spray, and then every day I spray the smelliest spots in the cage with the spray. But I'm still getting complaints and now I'm starting to smell it too. Now he is giving male mice a bad reputation for being stinky Sad

. I want to try corn cob bedding, it's the only thing left to try, so is there a recommended brand? I am planning to buy the Hartz brand from Walmart because it's cheapest, but I'd like an opinion on that.

by Peachy Thu 06 Oct 2016, 11:47 pm

I've used Hartz but you can experiment with different brands to see what works best for you. You can also try sprinkling a little bit of his used bedding over the clean bedding weekly. It's the same idea as leaving a toy uncleaned or letting him keep his nest (after you've made sure that his nest is clean)... his cage will still smell like his home so he won't go nuts making sure everyone knows it.

Do you have him near your girls? Moving him away from them could help. You could also try adding real vanilla extract to his water. Just 1 drop per 8oz bottle, and then make sure that he doesn't start drinking less than he should. I had no problems when I used vanilla with my first boys, but just to be safe. Smile

by AnonymousMouseOwner Fri 07 Oct 2016, 12:01 am

Ok, thanks for the advice! All we have is imitation vanilla extract at the moment, but once we get some real vanilla extract again I will try that.
He is *almost* completely on the opposite side of the room from the girls, so I'm not sure if he can smell them or not. Today was cage cleaning day actually, and I did try leaving a toy un-cleaned, but it didn't seem to help. I will see if I can try to leave his nest next time though. He happens to have a very territorial personality. He still tail rattles at me instead of running and hiding, but when I take him outside his tank he climbs all over me and doesn't act scared at all, so I know it's just territorial issues, which may be the cause of his smell.

by Mouseketeers Fri 07 Oct 2016, 6:11 am

Hey!

I have one very very smelly boy, my original buck. How I didn't get scared away from bucks forever is beyond me xD.

To go off track; I have since started a small and slow project on seeing if I can easily breed that out. With a surprising amount of success... so far.

Out of curiosity what do you feed him?

Big open rooms with tiles are your friend. Could just be me but I would go tub over wired cage for boys.

Note: This is what I would and have done. I by no means swear by it, take any responsibility for potential damages. It is advice born out of my experiences, not out of any scientific or veterinary advice.

Don't over clean! Don't even spot clean too often. Leave him for as long as you can and don't change anything. Not his toys, bedding or move his cage. If it isn't too warm pack up the bedding deep enough for him to build tunnels in.

Obviously don't change his diet over night, but go low protein, low fat food when possible.

For every time you rearrange his home he has the urge to mark his territory again. If you find that the smell is no difference even after you have cleaned, this could be the cause. A high protein and fat diet is going to add to the smell too.

Choose mesh wheels over plastic ones. Remove as much wooden and plastic stuff as possible. Stick with popsicle hand made stuff that you can chuck out. Wood absorbs way too much stuff. Try and go ceramic over plastic for hides and bowls.

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