How much grain does one mouse eat? - briefly
An adult house mouse typically ingests about 1–2 grams of cereal grain each day. Consumption can vary with age, activity level, and grain availability.
How much grain does one mouse eat? - in detail
A typical laboratory mouse consumes roughly 3–5 grams of dry grain per day when it is the sole source of nutrition. This estimate derives from measured feed intake in controlled studies where mice are provided a standard pelleted diet composed mainly of wheat, corn, or soy‑based grain.
Key factors influencing the quantity include:
- Body weight: Mice weighing 20–25 g require about 0.12–0.15 g of feed per gram of body mass each day.
- Age and growth stage: Juvenile mice grow rapidly and may ingest up to 6 g per day, whereas adult animals stabilize at the lower end of the range.
- Environmental temperature: Cold conditions raise metabolic demand, increasing consumption by 10–20 %.
- Diet composition: Higher protein or fat content can reduce overall grain volume needed to meet caloric requirements.
When grain is offered alongside water and no alternative foods, the daily intake can be calculated using the mouse’s basal metabolic rate (≈3.5 kcal · g⁻¹ · day⁻¹). A standard grain diet provides about 3.5 kcal per gram, so a mouse with a 30 kcal daily requirement will eat roughly 8.5 g, though most laboratory strains maintain lower energy needs, aligning with the 3–5 g figure.
Seasonal variations and strain differences may shift these numbers modestly, but the cited range reliably represents the average consumption of a single mouse on a grain‑only diet.