How much water does a mouse drink per day? - briefly
An adult mouse generally drinks about 3–5 mL of water per day, with intake varying according to size, diet and ambient temperature.
How much water does a mouse drink per day? - in detail
Mice typically ingest between 3 mL and 7 mL of water each day. The exact amount depends on body weight, which averages 20–30 g for an adult laboratory mouse, and on environmental and physiological variables.
Factors influencing intake
- Ambient temperature: Higher temperatures increase evaporative loss and raise consumption by up to 30 %.
- Dietary moisture: Mice fed pelleted chow with low water content drink more than those given moist or gel diets.
- Age and growth stage: Juveniles consume less absolute water (≈1–2 mL day⁻¹) but a higher proportion of their body mass; adults reach the 3–7 mL range.
- Strain differences: Certain inbred strains (e.g., C57BL/6) show slightly lower intake than outbred strains (e.g., CD‑1) under identical conditions.
- Health status: Dehydration, renal disease, or metabolic disorders can either suppress or augment drinking behavior.
Measurement methods
Researchers quantify mouse drinking volume using metabolic cages equipped with calibrated water bottles or graduated drinking tubes. Gravimetric approaches—recording bottle weight before and after a set interval—provide accuracy to 0.1 mL. Automated systems can log each lick event, allowing fine‑scale analysis of temporal patterns.
Relation to food consumption
Water intake correlates strongly with solid food intake. An adult mouse eating 3–5 g of chow per day typically drinks 0.8–1.2 mL of water per gram of food, reflecting the moisture deficit of dry laboratory diets.
Summary
Under standard laboratory conditions, a healthy adult mouse drinks approximately 4 mL of water daily, with a plausible range of 3–7 mL. Adjustments in temperature, diet, strain, and health can shift this value, and precise measurement requires calibrated equipment and controlled environments.