Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have heard this but didn't know how much to put in so I have been putting in a couple drops in the little water dish? If I am using too much is this harmful to the mice?
thanks.

I believe it is 1 teaspoon to 1 gallon of water.
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

If I give them too much is it bad for them?
thanks

though I don't know for sure but i would say it could be harmful to them. Artificial vanilla can have alcohol in it though I don't think it's in enough concentration to get a mouse drunk..but I would recommend using the dosage recommended. At the cost of vanillla you wouldn't want to go through it fast. You can store the extra water in the fridge and fill up the smaller drinking bottles as needed from there.

I have all of my mice on automatic waterers. I tried vanilla several years ago. It caused a fungus to grow in the waterer tubes that clogged up the water valves. I lost several mice as a result.

I have heard several people say that vanilla works but I can't say that I have had that experience. Keeping your mice clean on a regular basis is the best answer for both the oder and the health of the mice.
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Wade's Weptiles & Wodents

How does this actually work?
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1.0 ball python (vakker)
0.1 dogs
2.1 cockatiels
1.1 chinchillas
Coming soon... 1.1 corn snakes
0.1 axanthic ball python

I was told that it nuturalizes the urine or something. It has REALLY worked for me. I clean religously every week, and spot clean when needed and still, before using the vanilla the males really stunk up my house. I have on average 20 colonies going and they all live in the utility room that is connected to my kitchen. So... smell (or lack of it) is important. I also have an automatic watering system and check the valves for clogging... which can happen. I also use about 10 to 15 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract (that's GRAPEFRUIT seed, not GRAPE seed)... so it may help keep down the gooey stuff on the valves. But don't quote me on that. Oh and... you don't have to make a whole gallon of water at a time. You can put a half a teaspoon in a half a gallon of water... or, well, I won't go into all that math stuff for smaller amounts.

Hope this helps
MissHisssss

The other thing I've found that works is plain old vinegar... The smell is caused by the acidic compound that breaks down into ammonia in rodent urine.. Vinegar works to neutralize some of that acidity... You put about the same ratio of vinegar to water as vanilla to water.. 1 tsp to 1 gal. You can do the same thing for dogs to keep your grass from browning where they pee.. add it to their food...
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Lucien

1.0 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)
2.1 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzard and 1 het Blizzard)
0.1 Savannah Monitor
13 rats
12 Gerbils
2 Dogs
3 cats
1 Albino Corey (fish)

I can understand the vinegar controlling the ammonia smell. Does it also control the male mouse musk odor? Just curious.

MissHisssss