Care and Feeding

Number of Adults

Number of
Young

Cage Dimensions* Length

Width

Height

Breeding/Lactation

1 pair

12

30 cm

15 cm

15 cm

Growing

10-15

45 cm

30 cm

15 cm

Experimental

3-5

Variable

Feeding Recommendations

Daily Feed Usage

Water Requirement

Begin Dry Food Consumption

4-5 gm. Feed free choice.

Ad libitum

10 days

No supplemental feeding necessary

Environmental
Data

Room Temp.

Humidity

Light

Litter Material

25 °C

45-55%

10-12 hrs/day

Treated corn cobs, shredded beet pulp, wood shavings,

or commercial beddings

Biological Values

Blood Chemical Composition

Water

Calcium

Sodium

Chloride

Phosphorus

Potassium

92-94 gm/100ml

4.2 mEq/L

-

-

5.6 mg/100ml

-

Values are for plasma, except
where noted

Magnesium

Cholesterol

Glucose

Serum Protein

Albumin

Globulin

1.3 mg/100ml

132-244(B) mg/100ml

174 mg/100 ml (whole blood)

4.0 gm/100ml

3.4 gm/100ml

0.6 gm/100ml

Oxygen Consumption and Body Temperature

Observed
Weight

Temperature

Oxygen Consumption

Breathing Rate

Heart Beat

20 gm

36.5 °C

1.69 mlO₂/gm/hr

163/minute
(84-230)

600/minute
(328-780)

Hematological Values

Whole Blood Volume
(T-1824 dye)

Clotting Time

RBC Life Span

RBC Diameter

RBC Rate of
Sedimentation

78 ml/kg

14 sec.

20-30 days

6.6 microns

-

Blood pH

RBC

Hematocrit

Platelets

Hb

-

7.7-12.5 10⁶/mm³

41.5 ml/100ml

146-339 10³/mm³

14.8 gm/100ml

Total and Differential White Blood Cell Counts

Leucocytes

Neutros

Eosinos

Basos

Lymphos

Monos

8.0 10³/mm³

2.0 10³/mm³

0.15 10³/mm³

0.05 10³/mm³

5.5 10³/mm³

0.30 10³/mm³

Life Cycle Information

Weight
Adult Male

Weight
Adult Female

Weight
at Birth

Breeding Age
Male

Breeding Age Female

Estrus
Cycle

20-40 gm

25-40 gm

1.5 gm

50 days
20-35 gm

50-60 days
20-30 gm

4-5 days

Gestation

Weaning Age

Litter Size

Rebreed After Parturition

Breeding
Life Male

Breeding Life Female

17-21 days
19 days avg.

16-21 days
10-12 gm

1-23
10-12 avg.

Immediately

18 months

6-10 litters

Mating Data: Pair or colony: 1 male, 3 females

*

Refer to the "Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals" - NIH Publication No. 85-23, Revised 1985.

Prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418