HOUSING AND SOCIAL NEEDS
Some investigators prefer that rodents be housed in individually ventilated cages as a means to control ammonia and CO2 levels and reduce the potential for pathogen contamination.
Individually ventilated cages
There is a variety of commercially available bedding materials. The more popular materials include hardwood chips, ground corn cobs and various manufactured paper products.
Investigators should evaluate beddings and their possible effect on research projects since they vary in dust levels, absorption abilities and possible contaminant levels.
Softwood resinous bedding materials such as pine or cedar generally are not recommended because they induce microsomal enzyme production in the liver.