building a rodent rack: spacing for mixing tubs, size of lumber questions

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

I think you should reconsider using an automatic watering system. Changing bottles gets old quick. The tubs in the plan you're using are 8 inches tall which is too high for some ASF's to reach water. Take a look at the LARGE size litter pan from Petco.

I built my second rack different from my first and I'm dying to make a third because of the things I want to change from the second.

Good luck.

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They can be used for mice or asf as i have done already. When they want water they will get water one way or another as same with food.

You cal always get a piece of wood or glass bowl and put it inside as a step if need be.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

They can be used for mice or asf as i have done already. When they want water they will get water one way or another as same with food.

You cal always get a piece of wood or glass bowl and put it inside as a step if need be.

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Rich:

You use a tub that's 36” x 24” x 8” for mice? IMHO, that's big rat size and overkill for mice or ASF's.

I am using a rat rack for ASF's (jumbo pan 22.25" L X 16.75" W X 6.75" H) and have to use a glass bowl for them to reach the water. The weanlings cannot get that high up. I guess they could jump up to the screen and drink upside down but I think that would just be mean on my part. I keep the little ones in a separate tank with water bottles. The ASF's would have been better off with the large pan - 18.5" L X 15.25" W X 5.25" H. I'll use those for my next rack.

I use the small Petco pans for the mice (14.14" L X 10.37" W X 3.53" H) and they seem very happy. Takes up a lot less room too.

YMMV

Tubs i have my mice in for grow outs is 27.5 x 19.75 x 6. Same size i use for my rats as well. I used it for ASF as well when breeding them

whoops, i linked to the large plans, not the small ones. i'm going off of this design. the tubs i have are 6" high. i'm probably going to have some blocks of wood inside the bins anyways for them to chew on/for the weaners to stand on to reach food/water.

the reason it's a headache is because i'm a woman and i can't figure things out unless i'm DOING them, lol. it would be a lot easier if i had the wood here with me, but i don't. also i have to figure it out before we go buy everything, because we live in an apartment and the table saw etc. is stored at my boyfriends grandparents, so it's really a big production to just build something like this.

i decided to support them from underneath because i've heard rails can sometimes be finicky and cause the lip of the bin to slip out, and that it's a hassle if you have to replace bins, because their lips vary in the manufacturing process.

would supporting them from underneath really be a concern regarding airflow even if i left adequate space? i was planning on 4 1/2" of space between the top and bottom of the next tub.

regarding water bottles, i already have 3 cages that i change bottles for, what's 2 more? because we live in an apartment, a flood would be a REALLY big deal, not willing to risk it. it'd be different if we were on the ground floor, but we're on the top.

ugh i still can't decide what to do.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

they come in bigger rolls than that. I bought 2x10ft rolls and seen some 2x15ft rolls at Lowes.

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TSC also carries rolls of hardware cloth.

I'm in Canada, no Lowe's (i don't think? not around here at least) or TSC. heading to Rona soon to see if they have any, if not i will have to take a peek in Vancouver when i go on Sunday.

whoohoo!, 36" x 25' for $36. i was expecting to pay way more

finally done my rack!! here are some pics.

also, the plans i used have a couple measurements wrong! the measurements for the supports at the bottom (which i chose not to use) and the measurements for the sliders are 1" too short.

I found out early in the game to use internet plans as a guide line, and then make all of your own measurements. For spacing the distance between the top and the runner I just turn the rack upside down and use the tub to make my mark. I have no idea what the actual measurement is.

If I had some help I would do a DIY video on building both the large and medium mixing tub racks. I just don't want to stop to video or take pictures. Its VERY time consuming to do for free when you're working alone.

yeah it's definitely not easy to do with only 1 person. i at least had my boyfriend helping me, once you get a shelf and the legs put together it gets easier.