Food containers

Just wondering what you guys use for food control.

Ive seen hoppers for lab blocks. But those arent available here so wondering what everone uses for pellets.

I have been trying a few different options.. I used crock dishes and that worked fine when i had them in larger enclosures but when they went to the rack they began digging all the food out and using the crock as a bathroom and hangout.

Ive dumped it directly into the bedding but i can never tell if they have food or not cause it gets burried so i add a bit more everyday.. by the end of the week im cleaning out a pan with half food and half bedding..


Any ideas to keep it seperate from the bedding? Frusterated

I took a suggestion fron Cavanaugh, and just dump in a set amount every 2-3 days.

What would be considered a good set amount?

Would i look at the weight of my rats and give that much food per day?

Do they scavenge once the food is under the bedding. Will they search for it?

Hmmm...

The hoppers aren't "available" anywhere.. They are actually "do it yourself" projects. ;)

Go look in the DIY section. I know there are threads there for rodent tubs and food hoppers made out of the hardware cloth. I've seen them.

Yes they scavange, I have a 1.3 trio, I give them 1/2-3/4 cup

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

The hoppers aren't "available" anywhere.. They are actually "do it yourself" projects. ;)

Go look in the DIY section. I know there are threads there for rodent tubs and food hoppers made out of the hardware cloth. I've seen them.

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The lab blocks arent available. Im looking for a solution for pellets..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by llovelace

Yes they scavange, I have a 1.3 trio, I give them 1/2-3/4 cup

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Really? Only 3/4 of a cup every 2 days.. I am WAY over feeding.

if you are using a rack with the small mesh wire, make a tray out of the small wire and add it to the top. Some falls through but most will stay on top.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simplex

What would be considered a good set amount?

Would i look at the weight of my rats and give that much food per day?

Do they scavenge once the food is under the bedding. Will they search for it?

Hmmm...

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They are rats! if they are hungry, they will find and eat every last crumb.

Yes, most people over feed big time. Before I actually tracked and measured things I was throwing away 3/4 of the food I fed.

Easiest way to figure out how much to feed it to do this:

1.) Dump 1 cup on substrate.
2.) carefully examine substrate daily until all of the food is gone... even the crumbs. Write down how long it took for all food to be gone.
3.) Repeat.
4.) Repeat.
5.) Use the info you gathered to start tweaking the amount of food you dump at a time depending on how many rats are in the tub and how often you want to feed.

With established breeders I always error on the side of caution... I make sure they never totally run out of food, even for a few hours. A little food gets wasted as result but it is very little.

As the guy who wrote the how to on hoppers... I now recomend against using them completely. Way too much trouble, and totally not needed. Don't think like a human, think like a rat. They are perfectly happy eating food mixed in the substrate.

I use a wild bird suet feeder cage with 1/2 inch spacing for tubs that are not in a rack. They work but making your own is cheaper.