Cheryl,

You are really too cool. You are a very cool person. You are always so
friendly and kind hearted.

This is all instinctual behavior on the mouses (spelling? mouses?
plural? LOL [mice] LOL) part and entirely normal. This is just what
they do... I have to confess, it has been a very long time since I
have kept any rodents... but they are fun :-)

I never really had mice, but I sure had a lot of gerbils! And
hamsters, too...

But gerbils dig constantly - similar to how mice like to make nests.
It is simply what they do. Gerbils are desert animals and they like to
burrow. Mice are not, but they like to make nests instead.

I used to make large areas for my gerbils to dig and burrow ---
because it just came so naturally for them... I am certain that making
nests is the same sort of thing for mice... Sort of a homing instinct
so to speak (true nesters at heart, hehehehe)?

Give them lots of toys to chew and lots of stuff to shred up because
that is just what they want to do... I used give mine all the empty
cardboard toilet paper rolls or the cardboard rolls from the paper
towels... stuff like that... they get hours of enjoyment from that
sort of thing.

They actually are very hard workers!!! They know what needs to be done
and they get the job done.

This year, in fact, is the first year I have had that I haven't found
a bunch of mice nests all over in my pole barn. What to do? I can't
lay out poison for them! Maybe my birds are keeping them at bay?
Usually I find plenty of storage spots and plenty of nests come spring
cleaning...

In any case, don't worry that is what they do ;-) They are fascinating
to watch.

Please do not hesitate to email me. I will help in any way I can.

Thanks ;-)
Melissa

My only question is... Why do you feel you need two aquariums?

I don't understand that part...

I understand that if you were to start a breeding project, switching
cages WOULD be an issue to a brooding (correct word???) female... But
switching cages --- it might take a few days... but I suspect (not for
absolute sure) the "regulars" would get used to it.

BTW... did you get the tops of the aquariums figured out?

Thanks,
Melissa

Mice like to be hidden when they sleep so them move as much loose material
into their nest as they can so they can burrow deep down inside when they
feel like nappies.  They move it constantly because they have the instinct
to - the best way to avoid predators is to not let your smell get very
strong in one place and make plenty of different hiding places.

I don't think two different cages will freak them out - mice *lurve* to
explore (they're the epitome of "gatherers"), so I think they'll rather
enjoy it.

Have fun with your widdle mousies!  ;>

Hugs,

CatNipped