Rabbit housing — durable wire caging; hay/straw bedding; aquariums unsuitable
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com), a copyrighted professional veterinary reference. Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, the points below are paraphrased derived fact summaries: numerical values and proper nouns are preserved from the source, but sentences are rewritten and not quoted verbatim.
Claims
*[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Rabbits chew, so cages must be durable and easy to sanitise; all-wire cages using at least 12-gauge wire (16-gauge recommended for the floor to bear the rabbit's weight) are preferred, and aquariums are unsuitable because of poor air circulation. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Pens need a non-slip floor and can be bedded with straw or shredded paper under straw or hay for absorbency; shavings or sawdust are poorer choices because the dust irritates the airways. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Indigestible fibre supports gut motility, prevents behaviours like fur-chewing, wears down teeth, and stimulates appetite and caecotroph intake; pet rabbits are generally fed up to 20% crude fibre including about 12.5% indigestible fibre. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Rabbits are active and need room to hop, run, jump, dig and stretch out fully; for a medium-sized rabbit the minimum living area (shelter plus exercise space) should be no smaller than 3 m × 2 m and 1 m high. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* If litter trays are provided, line them with newspaper, hay or straw, shredded paper, and/or paper-based non-clumping litter; clumping litters should be avoided. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* When cleaning the enclosure, return a small amount of used bedding so the area keeps a familiar smell. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Rabbits are social and need companionship; they should be kept with at least one other friendly, compatible rabbit.