Yes. The MOUSE-E-MOTION Universal Data Logger is suited to be used with any animal or material object emitting body heat and, hence, infrared radiation. These are all warm-blooded creatures like all kinds of mammals (including human beings) and birds (on which the data logger is already being applied by several users for a while). Cold-blooded animals like fish, amphibia and reptiles or insects, spiders, crustaceans, snails, etc., that is, organisms that do not produce body heat, are not suited to be monitored with the MOUSE-E-MOTION Universal Data Logger because their body temperature usually is not different from the ambient temperature.
For applications different from activity monitoring of laboratory mice the external motion sensor might be particularly useful because of its 1m cable, allowing a big variety of experiment scenarios. Upon request, also other types of motion sensors are available, for example with a wider or narrower detection range.
More information and detailed specifications of the motion (infrared) sensor built-in in the MOUSE-E-MOTION Universal Data Logger can be found on the manufacturer’s website (NAiS).

Principally, the MOUSE-E-MOTION Universal Data Logger can be used with any type of cage. For each case of application, considering the detection range of the motion sensor, the correct positioning of the data logger (the height above a cage) has to be determined to make sure that the whole cage extent is covered.
Presently, mounting units are available which are especially designed to meet the requirements of type 2 or type 2L cages, respectively. (Due to the longer dimensions of the type 2L cage the according mounting unit has a bigger height, so that the detection range of the motion sensor covers the whole cage extent.)
Customized mounting units are available upon request.

Yes, but it is necessary to apply the external motion sensor. The little dimensions of the MOUSE-E-MOTION Universal Data Logger allow for integration of the device into an IVC. However, due to the limited space in such cages it is not possible to position the data logger in the middle of the cage. For this reason the external motion sensor has to be applied.

The infrared radiation emited by the animals is almost completely absorbed by a drinking bottle or food bits, preventing an accurate motion detection. To achieve extensive detection of activity it is recommended to use a small drinking bottle (50-100ml) and as less food as possible on top of a cage, or to provide the animals directly in the cage with water (e.g. through agar cubes) and food during the experiment. (Normally, a small “blind spot” in the experiment setup doesn’t make a difference and is statistically irrelevant.)

Yes. The basic functions start logging, stop logging, delete data and data output can be put into operation via the buttons of the device. (Changing the configuration of the device, however, is only possible with a PC using the MOUSE-E-MOTION Excel add-in.)

Yes. However, it is necessary to prevent condensation of moisture from the air on the surface and especially on the inside of the device. For this purpose, a thin protecting wrapper of plastic film or comparable material should be used (see also here). Also, rapidly transferring the data logger from cold to warm ambient temperature should be avoided.