My Rat Rack (DUW)

[Peter Williams]

Hey guys I just wanted to show you my rat set up, here we go!

Here’s an angled view of it. It is nine 54q sterilite tubs, on an old plant rack.


Different angle


Because it’s a plant rack, its got overhead fluorescent lights build right in, which are a big help when filling hoppers, water bottles, and looking for new litters!


Here is my little supply corner beside the rack.


In the corner I have a trash can full of pine.


I also have my supply of Mazuri 6F rodent diet.


I keep the food in this tote.


Here’s what it looks like.


Here’s a close-up and size comparison to my hand.


I also have a box full of these cardboard tubes. My dad works at a car factory, and these tubes are the core of some roll of labels used in the manufacturing process, every day when he gets home from work he brings me a handful of these tubes. They are great for the rats to hide in, and to shred to make their nests.


Here is a close up of one of the tubs. I cut out a piece of the lid, and replaced it with a piece of ½” hardware cloth. It is held in place with zip ties.


For water, I use 200ml Living World rodent water bottles.


To mount them on the tub, I melt a hole for the sipper, and two holes for the wire hanger. This set-up has worked very well for me for 8-10 months, and to date I have had absolutely ZERO chewing on these holes, or elsewhere in the tub for that matter. Also I have vanilla in the water to cut down on urine odour.



Here’s a top shot of one of the tubs, you can see the cardboard tubes, and the feed hopper.


Here’s a couple shots of the feed hopper. It is a 6”x 2”x 9” basket made from ½” hardware cloth.



Litter shot, just for fun! You can see how they shred the tube and build a nest.


And I just wanted to let you guys know what my ideal plan for this rack will be in the future, although I do not have it set up like this at the moment. The three tubs on the top level, as well as two on the middle level, will all have 1.4. The last tub in the middle will be a bachelor pad where all the males can have a nice rest. The bottom three tubs will grow tubs.

Lastly I just wanted to give credit to Chris (Uncle Festae) for many of the ideas and methods I use here. Thanks for looking!

[littleindiangirl]

Looking good, I would comment though that you have TOO much vanilla in the water. It shouldnt really change color at all, a small drop goes a long way. Otherwise, fantastic set up

[Brimstone111888]

Looking good, I would comment though that you have TOO much vanilla in the water. It shouldnt really change color at all, a small drop goes a long way. Otherwise, fantastic set up

Thats what I was going to say!

Also I have my water bottles setup exactly like you have and have had 0 chewing as well.

[Peter Williams]

Looking good, I would comment though that you have TOO much vanilla in the water. It shouldnt really change color at all, a small drop goes a long way. Otherwise, fantastic set up

Now that you say that, it does really look like I have alot in there, but really it's only a few drops, maybe its just because of how small the bottle is? Nevertheless they are doing fine and have been for a long time. I will try to put less in though.

[Sasquatch Art]

In a month or so I am going to build a rat rack and i was actually wanting to make a food hopper for inside.

Your pictures just gave me a solution to my problem! Thank you so much!

[littleindiangirl]

Now that you say that, it does really look like I have alot in there, but really it's only a few drops, maybe its just because of how small the bottle is? Nevertheless they are doing fine and have been for a long time. I will try to put less in though.

Hey no problem, I just figured I say it if you didn't know. I'm just going off of my experience with vanilla making ice cream, vanilla coke, alcohol, and found out how bad it is when there is too much. But really, it looks like you came over to my house and stole my tubs! Very nearly the same set-up.

[jknudson]

Hey no problem, I just figured I say it if you didn't know. I'm just going off of my experience with vanilla making ice cream, vanilla coke, alcohol, and found out how bad it is when there is too much. But really, it looks like you came over to my house and stole my tubs! Very nearly the same set-up.

Is there any sort of information that would show that too much vanilla is bad for the rats?

I know I had a male rat that had VERY pungent urine, I tried just a few drops of vanilla extract in his water bottle...it didn't do any good until I started to increase the ratio of vanilla to water.

[cassandra]

Great pics! I love the food hopper design...

[littleindiangirl]

Is there any sort of information that would show that too much vanilla is bad for the rats?

I know I had a male rat that had VERY pungent urine, I tried just a few drops of vanilla extract in his water bottle...it didn't do any good until I started to increase the ratio of vanilla to water.

Not so much that it's bad for them, but that it tastes horrible when there is too much. Did I not make that clear?

Rats will not drink something if they can barely stand the taste. Rats have very well developed senses of taste and like sweet things, but will refuse to drink water that tastes bad and will easily become dehydrated and sick. If you find it enjoyable, then chances are they will too (and love you for it).

Anyways, male rats do have a scent to them, but it shouldn't smell so strong that you get HAVE to put vanilla in the water to even breathe around them. That may be a clue there are other things going on.

[jknudson]

Not so much that it's bad for them, but that it tastes horrible when there is too much. Did I not make that clear?

Rats will not drink something if they can barely stand the taste. Rats have very well developed senses of taste and like sweet things, but will refuse to drink water that tastes bad and will easily become dehydrated and sick. If you find it enjoyable, then chances are they will too (and love you for it).

Anyways, male rats do have a scent to them, but it shouldn't smell so strong that you get HAVE to put vanilla in the water to even breathe around them. That may be a clue there are other things going on.

Is it not true that people have different sensitivities to certain odors? Did I not make THAT clear? But it must not have tasted too horrible to them...all my rats would drink their "cola" colored water with much more gusto than plain tap water.

To each their own...

Nice rack Peter!