Temporary Holding Containers for Rodents

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This guidance describes when temporary holding containers are appropriate for rodents, what a suitable container needs, and a few examples of containers that meet those requirements. Questions can be sent to IACUCinfo@osu.edu.

Utility

Temporary holding containers may be used for handling and manipulation of group-housed rodents. They may be useful for weaning, genotyping, body weight collection, induction of gas anesthesia, transport into research equipment, or movement into a euthanasia chamber.

Requirements

Sanitizable
Transparent
Adequate ventilation
Appropriate size

Examples

Plastic, tall-sided food storage containers (add holes to lid as needed). Examples below are Rubbermaid® Food Storage Containers, 8 cup (left) and 4.7 cup (right).

Rubbermaid 8 cup clear plastic food storage container with lid Rubbermaid 4.7 cup clear plastic food storage container with lid

Plastic lab beakers or empty pipette tip boxes for brief holding.

Clear plastic graduated lab beaker