Male management: coping with aggression problems in male laboratory mice (2003)

Van Loo, P. L. P., Van Zutphen, L. F. M., Baumans, V.

Abstract

We review results from the literature and our own research with regard to coping with excessive aggressive behaviour in male laboratory mice. Based on this review practical recommendations concerning the housing and care of male laboratory mice are formulated. In short, it is recommended to avoid individual housing, to transfer odour cues from the nesting area during cage cleaning and to apply nesting material as environmental enrichment. Furthermore, group size should be optimized to three animals per cage.