Modification of Optic Stowaway Tidbits Used for Long Term Measurement of Body Temperature in Animals

Abstract

The Optic Stowaway Tidbit is a commercially available temperature-sensitive data logger (dimensions: 2.6x2.6x0.7 cm, weight: 8.7 g). Although it was manufactured for climatological and industrial applications, it is successively used for monitoring long-term body temperatures in free-ranging and laboratory animals. The data logger has an expected life span of 5 years because of the limited life of its non-replaceable battery. This paper describes how Optic Stowaway Tidbits can be modified without compromising the function of the data loggers. Weighing around 15 g after potting with wax, the data loggers can be implanted intraperitoneally into animals larger than 300 g. Calibration data showed that the uncalibrated data loggers can lead to errors in the recorded temperatures, confirming that Optic Stowaway Tidbits must be calibrated prior to implantation.