Laboratory rearing of a hibernating animal, pocket mouse (Perognathus flavus)

Hibernating pocket mice (Perognathus flavus) were obtained from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, in September 1990, and attempted to rear them in National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP. Rearing of pocket mice was possible under the general conditions used for rearing mice. As a result of random mating of 4 females to 2 males for breeding, gestation was achieved in only one pair of animals, and parturition under artificial rearing conditions was observed for the first time. The animal gave birth to 3 offspring that had no body hair. Their eyes were closed. Each of the offspring weighed about 1.0g. The mean body weight of the females was 6.5g and that of males 5.6g at 3 weeks. Weaning was possible at this age. Subsequently the animals grew rapidly; the body weight was almost equal to that of an adult animal (8.0g) at 5 weeks of age for the females and 7 weeks for the males. The gestation period was estimated to be 26 days. These findings indicate that pocket mice can be bred and reared under general laboratory conditions.