Bar Biting

by oliviagrace29 Tue 20 Apr 2021, 5:09 pm

My female mouse Tabasco is a major bar biter - I'm not exactly sure what triggers it, but once she starts, she can't seem to stop. She's in two connected wire cages, so she has plenty of space. She and her cage mate have tons of chews, two wheels, and I even take her out for a bit to run around every day in an enclosure.

Any suggestions for this? Would rubbing lemon juice on the bars be safe? I need sleep! Smile

by SarahAdams Tue 20 Apr 2021, 6:58 pm

Some mice don't seem to do well in barred cages, especially if they didn't grow up in these. My mice also didn't like barred cages so I moved them into bins with just a small barred area in front and mesh tops. If yours have lots of hides, toys/foraging toys, deep bedding to dig and throw around, etc maybe the barred cage just isn't for her and you might want to think about a bin cage? Bar chewing is very bad for their teeth and jaws. I'm sure others will have some good suggestions!

by River Tue 20 Apr 2021, 10:02 pm

Some mice certainly do just chew bars for no apparent reason like Sarah mentioned! However, it is considered a stereotypy. Stereotypies in mice are typically thought to reflect stress, although much like with humans, some of us just fidget more than others. It certainly can't hurt to err on the side of caution. Smile

I think a picture of the enclosure would be helpful! We could give some tips on things to add or change if we see anything.

In the meantime, you could try weaving cardboard strips through the bars to redirect the behavior. Cardboard is better for her to chew than the bars.

by SarahAdams Tue 20 Apr 2021, 10:25 pm

Yes a picture would be good! Smile

Also please don't put lemon juice on the bars. The acid in citrus, even in a such a small amount, can possibly cause an upset tummy in a tiny mouse.

by chiroptera Fri 23 Apr 2021, 11:51 pm

I'd like to add that a lot of fanciers consider minimum floor space requirements to consist of uninterrupted floor space - I see this more regarding hamsters, but I've seen it applied to mice as well. It may just be that she sees one of the cages as her home, and that home is too small for her. A picture here would definitely help - there are wire cages that meet the uninterrupted minimum size requirements out there, but I'm wondering if yours might still be a bit too small.

I'd also recommend a bin cage, they're overall the best enclosures for mice in my opinion. (Of course, this is NOT an objective fact, and other people may disagree. Laughing

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