DESCRIPTIONS OF HOUSING 

Unless otherwise specified, water is from the tap (Ames Municipal Water)

BRAZILLIAN OPOSSUM: 

·        Conventional caging consists of a solid bottom cage with contact bedding and a wire top.

·        A PVC hut is provided and shredded paper towel is given for nest material

·        Ferret chow is provided in a container on the cage bottom.  Fruit is fed twice weekly and bran is fed once a week.

·        Water is offered ad libidum through a sipper bottle.

·        Opossums are housed singly.

CAT: 

·        Convention housing consists of a cage with an elevated resting board, a litter box, and food and water bowls

·        Water is offered ad libidum.

·        Cats are provided standard, dry, age appropriate cat food.

·        Enrichment toys are provided.

DOG: 

·        Conventional housing consists of a cage or run which may be either a raised deck or a pen on the floor.

·        Water is offered ad libidum.

·        Standard, age appropriate dry dog food is provided.

·        Dogs are group housed where possible, and are provided enrichment toys.

GUINEA PIG:

·        Conventional caging consists of a solid bottom shoe box cage with 7 inch sides, contact bedding and a wire top.

·        Standard guinea pig chow is provided in a crock bowl on the cage floor.

·        A sipper bottle is used to provide water ad libidum.

HAMSTER: 

·        Conventional caging consists of a solid bottom cage with a wire top and contact bedding.

·        Standard rodent chow is fed in the hopper in the wire top, and water is supplied ad libidum through a sipper bottle.

·        Hamsters are housed singly

MICE:

·        Conventional mouse caging consists of a solid bottom shoe box cage with contact bedding and a wire top.

·        A sipper bottle is used for water and is provided ad libidum

·        Conventional rodent chow is provided in the hopper in the wire top.

·        Mice are normally group housed.

·        A small amount of shredded paper towel is provided for enrichment.

RABBIT: 

·        Conventional housing consists of a cage with a grate, over a litter tray. 

·        Food is fed in hoppers attached to the cage door and water is provided ad libidum through a sipper bottle.

·        Rabbits are provided a standard rabbit chow and hay cubes.

·        Rabbits are housed singly.

·        Unless otherwise requested, enrichment toys are provided.

RATS:

·        Conventional rat caging consists of a solid bottom shoe box cage with contact bedding and a wire top.

·        A sipper bottle is used to provide water ad libidum.

·        Standard rodent chow is provided in the hopper in the wire top

·        Unless requested otherwise, rats are group housed.

·        A small amount of shredded paper towel is provided as enrichment