grow out tubs

[sweety314]

Weeeeell, finally had to build some grow out tubs. Even tho the feeders are pets' progeny, I decided to move the weanlings to actual grow-out tubs until I decide which females I want to keep.

I went and got a couple at Home Depot. (The only two they had. ?!) They only had the one size in the cement supplies aisle. On the inside, the tag says 7 gallons. I'm using it with the hardware mesh on top, but is it deep enough??????

It doesn't look like it's enough room. For now, with the ten small babies, they've got lots of room to run around, and it's only a temporary fix, until I can get some deeper tubs and redo the cover and watering method, but I'm seeking opinions. I REALLY don't think it's deep enough. (I use aspen bedding, but will be getting some wood pellets as an underlayer and to extend the use of the aspen.)


Right now, the mesh is wired to the top and on the ends bent over the lip of the tub. I've got to get something better so I don't have to lift off as much to get in and out for feeding. I know about framing the mesh, but these tubs' lip is actually curved down and a frame won't fit snug...and I don't have any means of cutting wood to build one. So melting holes in the tub and using wire is working.


Thanks!


RuLyn

[sweety314]

Can someone help with any suggestions here???

Weeeeell, finally had to build some grow out tubs. Even tho the feeders are pets' progeny, I decided to move the weanlings to actual grow-out tubs until I decide which females I want to keep.

I went and got a couple at Home Depot. (The only two they had. ?!) They only had the one size in the cement supplies aisle. On the inside, the tag says 7 gallons. I'm using it with the hardware mesh on top, but is it deep enough??????

It doesn't look like it's enough room. For now, with the ten small babies, they've got lots of room to run around, and it's only a temporary fix, until I can get some deeper tubs and redo the cover and watering method, but I'm seeking opinions. I REALLY don't think it's deep enough. (I use aspen bedding, but will be getting some wood pellets as an underlayer and to extend the use of the aspen.)


Right now, the mesh is wired to the top and on the ends bent over the lip of the tub. I've got to get something better so I don't have to lift off as much to get in and out for feeding. I know about framing the mesh, but these tubs' lip is actually curved down and a frame won't fit snug...and I don't have any means of cutting wood to build one. So melting holes in the tub and using wire is working.


Thanks!


RuLyn

[frankykeno]

For our grow out feeder bins I just use big long and deep Rubbermaid or Sterlite storage bins. You can get the clear plastic ones or if you want a heavier grade, thicker plastic you can go for the colored ones that come in blue, grey, etc. WalMart has the best and biggest bins I've ever seen around Xmas time. They are made by Iris and sold as Xmas tree boxes. The darn things are about 5 feet long so can hold a large feeder group. I'm waiting for Xmas season this year to stock up on a few myself (they retail around $20 to $22 dollars if I remember correctly).

Here's a few shots of one of our typical feeder/grow out bins. We have them marked Males Only or Females Only of course.

[lord jackel]

I use those same cement tubs for all my breeder and grow out tubs. They have plenty of floor space and the height is just fine


...why do you think you need more height for a grow out tub?

[frankykeno]

Sean she may just like the rats to be able to stand upright or something. Personally I've never been a fan of those black cement tubs though I completely recognize their space efficiency in larger rodent breeding operations. I do prefer our rats to be in enclosures that allow them to stand fully upright and to see out of (either clear plastic or glass) but that's just my way...not the only way.

[rabernet]

I'm of the same mind as Joanna, I prefer to allow mine to be able to stand up on their back legs and stretch a bit. But that's just how I do it!

[sweety314]

thx for the help/ comments.


Sean, I just thought there wasn't enough floor space. Even though they SEEM to be large enough, after I put the rats in, it didn't look to be BIG enough.

I need to come up a better way of covering it. I'm getting tired of getting scratched from having to untie and unbend the hardware mesh.

I've gotten some more shelving, and the cement tub's too long, so I'll look at some more/different tubs.

The other part is, I couldn't get the bottle to flow, with the nozzle thru the side of the cement tub (I don't know why). So now it's sitting on top propped up....not very reliable. But I'll get some other tubs and get them rigged up.