UT Southwestern IACUC Policy IACUC # 102
Updated:__5/22/08____
Space Requirements for Laboratory Animals other than Mice and Rats
Rationale:
The Public Health Service requires that institutions base their animal care and use programs on the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The UT Southwestern Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) must comply with the national standards and recommendations contained within the Guide when establishing animal cage populations.
Policy:
The IACUC requires that PIs comply with the cage space requirements for laboratory animals according to the Guide.
Repeated violations of this policy will result in the following corrective action.
- The first month that a PI's colony is determined to have an overcrowding problem (defined by the chart below), a verbal and/or written warning will be issued in addition to the standard ARC tech charge for separating animals.
- The second consecutive month that a PI's colony is found to have an overcrowding problem, the ARC will bill a $25.00 charge per overcrowded cage in addition to the standard ARC tech charge for separating any animals. A letter will be sent to the Dean of the Medical School informing him of the problem.
- The third consecutive month that a PI's colony is found to have an overcrowding problem, the ARC will bill a $50.00 charge per overcrowded cage in addition to the standard ARC charge for separating any animals. In addition, the IACUC will require a written plan from the PI detailing how the overcrowding problem will be eliminated. If a plan is not provided or is not acceptable to the IACUC, the IACUC will consider restriction of the PI's privileges to conduct animal research and will determine whether the repeated overcrowding problem constitutes continuing noncompliance reportable to OLAW.
Applicability:
This policy applies to all laboratory animals other than mice and rats housed for research purposes.
Instructions:
The ARC is responsible for assuring that animals are housed appropriately. Please consult the ARC for space requirements for other species or use of different equipment.
Minimum space requirements for laboratory animals commonly used at UT Southwestern:
|
Animal
|
Weight
(g)
|
Floor Area/Animal
(in2)
|
Height
(in)
|
|
Hamsters
|
<60
|
10
|
6
|
|
|
60-80
|
13
|
6
|
|
|
80-100
|
16
|
6
|
|
|
>100
|
>19
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guinea Pigs
|
<350
|
60
|
7
|
|
|
>350
|
101
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gerbils
|
<60
|
10
|
6
|
|
|
60-80
|
13
|
6
|
|
|
80-100
|
16
|
6
|
|
|
>100
|
>19
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(kg)
|
(ft2)
|
(in)
|
|
Rabbits
|
<2
|
1.5
|
14
|
|
|
2-4
|
3
|
14
|
|
|
4-5.4
|
4.
|
14
|
|
|
>5.4
|
>5.0
|
14
|
|
Animal
|
Weight
(kg)
|
Floor Area/Animal
(ft2)
|
Height
(in)
|
|
Sheep and Goats
|
<25
|
10
|
|
|
|
25-50
|
15
|
|
|
|
>50
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swine
|
<15
|
8
|
|
|
|
15-25
|
12
|
|
|
|
25-50
|
15
|
|
|
|
50-100
|
24
|
|
|
|
100-200
|
48
|
|
|
|
>200
|
60
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cats
|
<4
|
3
|
24
|
|
|
>4
|
4
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dogs*
|
<15
|
8
|
|
|
|
15-30
|
12
|
|
|
|
>30
|
>24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chinchillas
|
<2
|
1.5
|
14
|
|
|
2-4
|
3
|
14
|
|
|
4-5.4
|
4.
|
14
|
|
|
>5.4
|
>5.0
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chickens
|
<0.25
|
0.25
|
|
|
|
Up to 0.5
|
0.50
|
|
|
|
Up to 1.5
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
Up to 3.0
|
2.00
|
|
|
|
>3.0
|
>3.00
|
|
|
Animal
|
Length
cm
|
Frogs/Liter of Water
|
|
Frogs**
|
<8 cm
|
1 Frog / 1 Liter
|
|
|
≥8 cm
|
1 Frog / 2 Liters
|
|
Animal
|
Fish/Gallon of Water
|
|
Zebrafish***
|
10 adult Zebrafish / 1 Gallon
|
*Note: For dogs, the Animal Welfare Act mandates that the minimal square feet of floor space equal the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of the tail) plus 6 inches: then divide the product by 144.
**Note: For frogs, these are approximate values.
***Note: For zebrafish, these are approximate values.
Exceptions:
Exceptions to this policy are considered to be an exception to the Guide and require a written request and subsequent written approval by the IACUC. The exception request must provide adequate scientific justification for not following the Guide.
Contact Information:
For any additional questions concerning this policy, please contact the IACUC
Manager at 5-6420.
