For Continuous Uninterrupted Monitoring of Intake and Weight Changes
The PhenoMaster highly sensitive weight sensors are interchangeable and allow researchers monitoring ingestive behavior and body weight with exceptional detail. Positioned outside the cage, they minimize disruption during refilling and animal handling.
Unmatched Flexibility and Data Integrity:
Contact us to discuss your specific needs and configure the ideal sensor combination for your research design.
High-precision sensors, capturing micro events
Small and light plug-in sensor design assembly and easy refill with fresh water and food
Validated Spillage and Leakage protection
Validated for temperature challenges
Multiple sensor configurations for mice discrimination experiments
Full resolution data storage in a raw format
Experience precise control food/liquid Access Module. Restrict consumption based on time, amount, or averaged consumption of a control group or individual. The PhenoMaster stands out as the only system offering interchangeable access-controls for food hoppers and water bottles, enhancing flexibility for study designs.
Paired/Yoked feeding to isolate effect of experimental variables
Running for reward test in combination with different running wheels
Cognitive testing with Operant wall module
Motivation testing with combination of PhenoMaster modules
Controlled drug administration, food and liquid deprivation
RFID recognition to the Food Access modules in case a group of animals
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Delbès, A.-S., Quiñones, M., Gobet, C., Castel, J., Denis, R. G. P., Berthelet, J., Weger, B. D., Challet, E., Charpagne, A., Metairon, S., Piccand, J., Kraus, M., Rohde, B. H., Bial, J., Wilson, E. M., Vedin, L.-L., Minniti, M. E., Pedrelli, M., Parini, P., … Luquet, S. (2023). Mice with humanized livers reveal the role of hepatocyte clocks in rhythmic behavior. Science Advances, 9(20), eadf2982.
Gruber, T., Lechner, F., Murat, C., Contreras, R. E., Sanchez-Quant, E., Miok, V., Makris, K., Le Thuc, O., González-García, I., García-Clave, E., Althammer, F., Krabichler, Q., DeCamp, L. M., Jones, R. G., Lutter, D., Williams, R. H., Pfluger, P. T., Müller, T. D., Woods, S. C., … García-Cáceres, C. (2023). High-calorie diets uncouple hypothalamic oxytocin neurons from a gut-to-brain satiation pathway via κ-opioid signaling. Cell Reports, 42(10), 113305.
Jovanovic, P., Pool, A.-H., Morones, N., Wang, Y., Novinbakht, E., Keshishian, N., Jang, K., Oka, Y., & Riera, C. E. (2023). A sex-specific thermogenic neurocircuit induced by predator smell recruiting cholecystokinin neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus. Nature Communications, 14(1), Article 1.
Wang, W., Huang, Z., Huang, L., Gao, L., Cui, L., Cowley, M., Guo, L., & Chen, C. (2021). Time-Restricted Feeding Restored Insulin-Growth Hormone Balance and Improved Substrate and Energy Metabolism in MC4RKO Obese Mice. Neuroendocrinology, 112(2), 174–185.
PhenoMaster NG uses high-precision weight sensors to continuously monitor both food and liquid consumption. Each sensor operates at milligram resolution and can be flexibly assigned to feeders, bottles, or body weight modules. The system records every interaction automatically, allowing researchers to capture feeding and drinking events in real time — without manual observation or handling. This ensures accurate, unbiased data for long-term metabolic and behavioral studies.
All sensors deliver a sampling frequency of 100 Hz, detecting even the smallest micro-events (as low as 1 mg). They maintain linearity across a wide dynamic range (0–1000 g) and are designed for high temporal and weight precision. This makes them ideal for detailed analysis of meal structures, circadian feeding rhythms, or pharmacological interventions.
To prevent false readings, the PhenoMaster sensors employ real-time statistical filtering that recognizes only significant weight changes. Additionally, the spill-protected feeder design includes a crumb tray located below the feeding grid to capture any dropped food. This prevents overestimation of intake and ensures that only actual consumption events are recorded. Environmental fluctuations (e.g., vibrations or air pressure shifts) are automatically compensated through the built-in barometric correction module.
Body weight is measured automatically using a dedicated Body Mass Module, integrated directly into the cage lid. The animal voluntarily enters a red-tinted glass tube, which appears dark to rodents and provides a natural sense of shelter. As the animal enters, the balance records precise weight data without handling or restraint. This non-invasive, stress-free design allows continuous monitoring throughout long-term studies, supporting both data accuracy and animal welfare.
The system captures weight signals at 100 Hz, but only stores stable values to reduce data noise. Each animal entry is treated as an individual event, creating a high-resolution behavioral dataset. From these signals, researchers can extract secondary behavioral metrics such as nesting, food hiding, or scratching patterns — revealing links between metabolism, activity, and circadian behavior.
Yes. The PhenoMaster NG platform allows full integration with Automatic Access Control Modules, enabling precise restriction or conditioning of feeding and drinking behavior. Access can be programmed by time, quantity, or activity, or even linked to a “reference” animal within the group. This flexibility makes the system ideal for training, reward-based learning, and motivation paradigms, as well as food/drink challenge studies.
Yes. All weight sensors are factory-calibrated and ready for immediate use. They feature ultra-low drift and temperature compensation, eliminating the need for daily calibration. For long-term reliability, a quick calibration once per year is recommended — typically taking less than two minutes per module. This ensures consistent milligram-level precision across the system’s lifetime.
All feeding, drinking, and weighing modules are designed for minimal disturbance and easy top-access maintenance — no need to open the cage. Animals can be monitored continuously over days or weeks with stable temperature, humidity, and lighting, either in standard or climate-controlled chambers. This design not only improves data reproducibility but also meets the 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) by reducing handling stress and experiment duration.