How much do white mice weigh? - briefly
Adult white laboratory mice usually weigh 20–30 g, with males averaging around 25 g and females slightly less.
How much do white mice weigh? - in detail
White laboratory mice of the albino variety typically weigh between 18 g and 35 g as adults. The exact mass depends on strain, sex, age, and husbandry conditions.
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Strain differences
- C57BL/6: 20–25 g (males), 18–22 g (females)
- BALB/c: 18–22 g (males), 16–20 g (females)
- CD‑1 outbred: 25–35 g (males), 22–30 g (females)
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Age factor
- 4 weeks: 12–15 g
- 8 weeks (young adult): 18–28 g
- 12 weeks (mature adult): 22–35 g
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Nutritional influence
- Standard laboratory chow (≈3.5 kcal g⁻¹) maintains weights within the ranges above.
- High‑fat diet can increase body mass by 20–30 % within 4–6 weeks.
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Environmental variables
- Ambient temperature (20–24 °C) and cage density affect metabolic rate and thus weight.
- Enrichment and exercise wheels may reduce average mass by 2–4 g in males.
Weight is measured with analytical balances calibrated to 0.01 g. Data are recorded before the animal is removed from the cage to avoid stress‑induced fluctuations. Conversions: 1 g ≈ 0.035 oz; therefore a typical adult male weighs roughly 0.7–1.2 oz.
Understanding these parameters allows precise dosing of substances, accurate interpretation of physiological studies, and reliable comparison across experiments.