Need help on rat rack

[akaangela]

This weekend I am going to tackle making a rat rack. I have looked and looked and all the ones I have seen are to tall for my space. I have a wall of 32" and a height of 52". Depth is not a problem. I would rather keep 2-3 rats in each bin, something in between a birthing rack and a "normal" rack. I am not sure if bigger tubs and more rats per bin, or smaller bins with fewer rats and more tubs. I would LOVE to find a tub that is 15" wide and 27" or so long. Would that hold 2-3rats and 2 litters? Thanks so much for the help.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

22¼ X 16¾ X 6¾ tubs (jumbo cat litter pan) work great for breeding and communal birthing, when using those for communal birthing I had 2 females per tubs.

[ThyTempest]

I say a cement tub rack is best. 20x26x6 I think are the dimensions. http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/rat_rack/ratrack.shtml. If you need to cut the height, just take a tub off the top and add another column if you want more space.

[Dave763]

Cement tubs, cat litter pans will work nicely I'm sure.

I use bus tubs. They work for me. Cost about 3.50 ea.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/viewarti...497#comment497

[littleindiangirl]

We use cement/mortar tubs for breeding and resting girls. And the large size vanness tubs for a maternity rack.

[smilin-buddha]

Cement tubs here. Just buy a few extra in case of chewers. I had to pay alot more at Ace Hardware when Home Depot changed Manufacturers

[FatBoy]

Do any of you guys have problems with the rats chewing out of the cement tubs? The ones I get from Lowes has a little hole on one end, every now and then I get a rat chew that hole big enough to get out. This happen to anyone else?

[dr del]

Hi,

I think I read somewhere people put washers round the hole to prevent chewouts?

Whether they silicon it in place or simply use a round headed bolt or something I couldn't say.


dr del

[akaangela]

Thank you. I FINALLY got my rat rack done. It took me almost a month, but I could only work on it on weekends. I am SO not a builder! I have 4 tubs (5 but one rail I have to redo because it came off) I have 1:5 They don't seem too crowded but I am thinking of reducing it to 1:4 or 1:3. The tubs are big and I am excited to see if my rats produce better this way. When I get the rail fixed I can take one girl out of each tub and will have the 1:4 in them. I will ratties give birth with that many females in the tub? I know they will at 1:2 but the only way I have been able to harvest the babies is taking the pregnant mom out and putting her in her own cage. I am hoping to get a LOT more babies this way. I am using water bottles right now but I hope to get a watering system set up one day.

[Clear]

Do any of you guys have problems with the rats chewing out of the cement tubs? The ones I get from Lowes has a little hole on one end, every now and then I get a rat chew that hole big enough to get out. This happen to anyone else?

It happened to me a few times, all the rats in the tub became food and I wouldnt have another chew through for a few months. I found it happened when I had 3 rats in on tub and 2 give birth at the same time. Its like the 3rd mother wants to get out of dodge.