Table 1.

Average Body Weights, Blood Volumes, and Blood Sample Volumes in Adult Rodents

Species	Body Weight (g) M/F	Blood Volume (mL)	Sample Volume Limited to 1% Body Weight* (mL)	Sample Volume Limited to 10% Blood Volume (mL)
Mouse	20–40	1.6–3.2	0.2–0.4	0.13–0.3
	25–63	—	0.3–0.6	—
Rat	267–520	20–40	2.7–5.2	0.2–0.4
	250–325	—	2.5–3.3	—
Hamster	85–130	6.8–12	.85–1.3	0.7–1.2
	95–150	—	.95–1.5	—
Gerbil	45–130	4.4–8.0	.45–1.3	0.4–0.8
	50–85	—	0.5–0.9	—
Guinea pig	900–1200	40–80	9–12	4–8
	700–900	—	7–9	—
Chinchilla	400–600	70	4.0–6.0	7.0
	450–800	—	4.5–8.0	—

Data from Harkness JE, Wagner JE: Clinical procedures. In The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents. Philadelphia, Williams & Wilkins, 1995, pp 75–142 and Hillyer EV, Quesenberry KE, Donnelly TM: Biology, husbandry and clinical techniques. In Hillyer EV, Quesenberry KE (eds): Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1997, pp 243–281.

^*Note: A milliliter of blood is assumed to weigh a milligram.