tubs for breeding rats

I am going to build a rack but for the mean time i have 2 left over glass tanks would that be enough to breed a small colony like 1male 3 females. Also can rats survive in cold conditions in a basement with no heat during the winter months, I live in ma. Or would i need a small space heater for them.

Pretty much anything that the rats can't get out of can be used to breed them in as long as it's big enough. I keep a 1.3 in the concrete tubs that measure about 26" x 20" x 6".

My rats breed best at 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit and tend to slow down or stop out of that range, so if you want them to keep reproducing during the winter you'll need to heat them.

Would 2 tanks be enough for now or do you need 3 1 for males and 1 for females and 1 for breeding

How big are your tanks? There is no way I would put 4 adult rats in a 10 gallon.
In addition to the temperature, you have to be aware of the ventilation. Rats have very delicate respitory systems so if your basement is dusty or musty (like mine is), you are going to have sick rats.

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Originally Posted by henry

I am going to build a rack but for the mean time i have 2 left over glass tanks would that be enough to breed a small colony like 1male 3 females. Also can rats survive in cold conditions in a basement with no heat during the winter months, I live in ma. Or would i need a small space heater for them.

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how many do you plan to breed?