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. See our offer of conventional cages and IVC individually ventilated cages systems.

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) Minimum enclosure size (cm2) Minimal cage height (cm)
less than 3 3500 800 45
from 3 to 5 4200 800 45
over 5 5400 800 60

See our offer of conventional cages and IVC individually ventilated cages systems.