[The behavior and the husbandry conditions of small laboratory animals--possibilities and limits of the evaluation of the appropriateness and fairness of the treatment of animals].

Ethological studies are important means to evaluate the behaviour of small laboratory animals (mouse, rat, guinea-pig and rabbit) and their housing conditions. At any rate, the only sparse range of body expressions, the smallness and preference of night activity of these animals and the erratic occurrence of essential behaviour patterns make the investigations more difficult. On the other hand, the standardization of laboratory housing and the genetic definition of these animals turn out to be favourable. By this way, behaviour-environment-relationships are suitable for evaluation. Taking into consideration methodical and biological restrictions, the specific activities such as fight, relaxed resting behaviour and play as well as unbalanced behaviour patterns and stereotypes can be taken as means of evaluation. Particularly in mice and rabbits, upright position and space consuming activities will be possibly restricted by cage sizes.