How should you feed mice? - briefly
Provide a balanced diet of commercial mouse pellets, supplemented with small quantities of fresh fruits, vegetables, and occasional protein sources, while ensuring constant access to clean water. Avoid sugary, fatty, or processed foods and replace food and bedding regularly to prevent contamination.
How should you feed mice? - in detail
Proper feeding of laboratory and pet mice requires attention to nutrient balance, portion size, feeding schedule, and environmental hygiene.
Mice are omnivorous rodents whose diet must provide protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals in proportions that support growth, reproduction, and immune function. Commercially prepared rodent chow meets these requirements and should constitute the staple food. Choose a pelleted formulation to reduce spillage and prevent selective eating. For adult mice, a diet containing 18–20 % protein and 4–5 % fat is adequate; breeding females benefit from a 20–22 % protein chow during gestation and lactation.
Supplemental foods can enhance palatability and provide specific nutrients:
- Fresh vegetables (e.g., carrots, broccoli) – 5 % of total intake, offered in small, bite‑size pieces.
- Fresh fruits (e.g., apple, banana) – limited to 2 % to avoid excess sugar.
- Protein treats (e.g., boiled egg, cooked chicken) – 1–2 % for breeding or recovering animals.
- Vitamin‑mineral supplements – administered only when a deficiency is diagnosed.
Water must be continuously available, clean, and free of contaminants. Use stainless‑steel bottles with sipper tubes; replace water daily and disinfect bottles weekly.
Feeding frequency depends on age and health status. Neonates receive milk from the dam; weanlings transition to solid food over 3–4 days, with ad libitum access once solid feed is accepted. Adult mice can eat continuously, but monitoring intake helps detect illness.
Portion control is essential for weight management. Estimate daily consumption at 3–5 g of dry chow per 20 g mouse. Weigh food before placement and record leftovers to calculate actual intake. Adjust quantities for obese or underweight individuals.
Storage guidelines prevent nutrient degradation and microbial growth:
- Keep bulk chow in airtight containers at 15–22 °C.
- Protect from light and moisture.
- Rotate stock on a first‑in‑first‑out basis; discard any feed that shows clumping, mold, or off‑odor.
Special considerations:
- Germ‑free colonies require autoclaved or irradiated diets.
- Mice on experimental diets (e.g., high‑fat, low‑protein) must receive precisely formulated pellets.
- Allergic or metabolic disorders may necessitate hypoallergenic or low‑carbohydrate feed.
Regular health checks, weight monitoring, and food consumption records ensure that nutritional needs are met and that deviations are addressed promptly.