How can you fatten a mouse? - briefly
Provide ad libitum access to calorie‑dense foods—mixed seeds, nuts, peanut butter, or commercial high‑fat rodent chow—and restrict vigorous exercise to promote rapid weight gain. Monitor body mass regularly to adjust intake and prevent health complications.
How can you fatten a mouse? - in detail
Increasing the body mass of a laboratory mouse requires a controlled combination of diet, feeding regime, environmental conditions, and health monitoring.
A calorie‑dense diet forms the core of any weight‑gain program. Suitable components include:
- Commercial rodent chow formulated with 20–25 % protein and added fat sources such as soybean oil or lard.
- Nutrient‑rich supplements: whey protein concentrate, casein, and maltodextrin.
- Treats with high energy content: sunflower seeds, peanuts, or small pieces of dried fruit.
- Liquid supplements: condensed milk or glucose solution (10 % w/v) administered via pipette.
Feed the animal twice daily in quantities that exceed its maintenance requirement by 30–40 %. Measure intake precisely; a typical adult mouse consumes 3–4 g of standard chow per day, so provide 4.5–5.5 g per feeding when aiming for weight gain.
Environmental manipulation accelerates adipose accumulation. Maintain ambient temperature at 25–27 °C, reducing the need for thermogenic metabolism. Limit cage space to a modest size to discourage excessive locomotion, but ensure sufficient enrichment to prevent stress‑induced anorexia.
Regular health assessments are essential. Monitor body weight three times per week, record coat condition, and check for signs of obesity‑related disorders such as hepatic steatosis or glucose intolerance. Adjust caloric intake promptly if weight gain exceeds 2 % of body mass per week, to avoid pathological obesity.
By integrating a high‑energy diet, increased feeding frequency, warm housing, and vigilant health surveillance, a mouse can be safely brought to a higher body weight for experimental or breeding purposes.