Water Requirements of Gerbils and Kangaroo Rats in the Laboratory

Abstract

Both gerbils ( Meriones unquiculates) and kangaroo rats ( Dipodymus ordii) consumed free water (0.088 and 0.107 cc./gm. body weight/day; respectively) at reliable daily rates irrespective of two food types. When drinking water was withheld, sunflower seeds retarded body weight loss more than Lab Blox but Ss were dead or near death by the 19th day when weights were down approximately 30%.