Tumbly: An Open-Source Home-Cage Device for Time-Restricted Feeding in Mice

Abstract

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a common tool for studying metabolism, circadian rhythms, aging, and neurodegeneration. Here, we describe a new device called Tumbly, an automated device for performing TRF studies in mouse home-cages. Tumbly controls access to rodent diets at user-set times via a programmable servo-driven food hopper. Tumbly is also battery powered and compatible with multiple types of vivarium home-cages, due to a removable faceplate that can be customized to fit different cage dimensions without modification. Finally, Tumbly is open-source and affordable, with all design files available online, allowing researchers to build and customize it. As a validation test, we deployed Tumbly in two labs at separate institutions, one with singly housed mice (n = 6, within-subject) and one with group-housed mice (n = 22, between-group). We measured daily body weight and food intake. In both labs, mice on an 8-hour TRF schedule maintained their body weight and ate similar amounts of food compared to ad libitum feeding. Our quantified error rates were also low, with no device failures over >1000 hours of operation. We conclude that Tumbly provides a reliable, low-cost option for running TRF studies in mice.