How many breaths per minute does a mouse take? - briefly
A typical laboratory mouse breathes roughly 110–130 times per minute, with some sources reporting a range of 80–200 breaths per minute depending on strain, age, and activity level. This rapid respiratory rate reflects the animal’s high metabolic demand.
How many breaths per minute does a mouse take? - in detail
The respiratory rate of a laboratory mouse typically ranges from 80 to 230 breaths per minute. Several factors influence this value:
- Body size and species: Smaller strains (e.g., Mus musculus domesticus) tend toward the higher end of the range, while larger hybrids breathe more slowly.
- Age: Neonates may exceed 250 breaths per minute; adult mice settle between 100 and 150 breaths per minute.
- Activity level: Resting (quiet, immobile) mice show rates near the lower bound, whereas startled or exercising individuals can reach 200–230 breaths per minute.
- Ambient temperature: Cooler environments increase metabolic demand, raising the breathing frequency by up to 20 % compared to thermoneutral conditions (~30 °C).
Measurements obtained with whole‑body plethysmography or indirect calorimetry confirm the above intervals across multiple studies. Consistent methodology—recording under controlled temperature, allowing a habituation period, and excluding periods of vocalization or grooming—produces reliable data for comparative research.