Per Diem Rates

(July 1, 1998-June 30, 1999)

Rats (per cage)

$0.85

Mice-regular cage (per cage)

$0.70

Mice-filter top cage (per cage)

$1.39

Rabbits (per rabbit)

$1.40

Guinea Pigs (per G.pig)

$0.85

Hamsters (per hamster)

$0.85

If you have any questions, are going to be keeping animals that are not listed here, or think that your animals may require special housing, please contact the Vivarium at 459-2376.

Before you order animals, be sure to contact the Vivarium. An approved animal use protocol does not automatically guarantee you space in the Vivarium. This must be arranged in advance. The more time that we have to accomodate your animals, the less the likelihood that your animals will arrive with no available housing.

Animal Housing

Mice

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals makes the following recommendations for the housing of mice.

Animal

Weight, g

Floor Area/Animal, sq.in.

Height

Mice

< 10

6

5

 

Up to 15

8

5

 

Up to 25

12

5

 

> 25

>15

5

Since our mouse cages have a floor area of about 77 sq.in. and a normal adult mouse weighs about 25 grams, you should plan on housing no more than 5 mice per cage. Mothers with litters and groups of weanlings are exceptions. It should be noted that the Animal Welfare Institute recommends no more than 3-4 mice per normal mouse cage for an optimal environment. It you plan on keeping groups of mice for a long time, it may be better to plan on 4 mice per cage.

If you should have any questions regarding caging densities, feel free to contact the Vivarium staff or make the calculations yourself using UC Davis' Mouse Calculator. You will need to know the cage dimensions (11"x7") and the numbers and sizes of mice you need to house.

Rats

The recommendations for the housing of rats are as follows:

Animal

Weight, g

Floor Area/Animal, sq.in.

Height

Rats

<100

17

7

 

Up to 200

23

7

 

Up to 300

29

7

 

Up to 400

40

7

 

Up to 500

60

7

 

>500

70

7

 

Our standard rat cages have a floor area of about 185 sq. in. In general, 3 full grown rats will fit comfortably in one cage. With younger rats, you may be able to house more; and older, large rats may have to be housed in pairs. You can consult with the Vivarium staff if you have any questions.


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