Help me plan/setup a feeder colony? (rats)

Here's what I got from Home Depot (dang they call it hardware cloth how silly! LOL)

Hope this helps. Mine cost me $5.98 for 2' x 5'. Found it in the same area as fencing supplies.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ClothLabel.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...mHomeDepot.jpg

~~Jo~~

Ok.. 1/4 racks done. I used 1/2 crappy plywood and I probably would have used mdf if i had the choice again (plywood was $12 for an 8x4 sheet, MDF like 15).

Ah well. :) Its for rats, and its plenty sturdy for them

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...oneRatRack.jpg


Leaving the area underneath empty for storing bedding, food, etc

Hey I use a plastic, snap together shelving unit that costs under $20.00! LOL I think your rack looks just fine. The rats care more about what's in the tub anyways, they could care less about the rack as long as it doesn't fall over and works for you go with it. Only suggestion I have since I've spilled enough aspen or rat mix in my time, is to find a low cheap pan of some sort for under the rack to put your spare stuff in....ideas might be those huge toss out aluminium pans for big turkeys....cheap low sided big sterlites...whatever fits the dimensions under there. Loads easier to dump it if you make a spill and I'm all for clean, efficient and cost effective when it comes to rat colonies.

Btw it's really wierd to participate in a thread with two people both named Bryan LOL. Bryan (Bdadawg) do you ever get the feeling that Home Depot, as good a store as it is, hires people who seem unaware they actually work in a home supplies/DYI store???? Drives me nuts LOL


~~Jo~~

Its normal in a large store to have high turnover ... especially when the pay isnt that great. I normally assume that they have what I want and just keep asking questions til I get to the right area. At that point I make sure to point out that they do in fact have what I wanted.

Having 2 BrIans is unlikely but having two BrYans is even rarer. I have found very few people that spell it with a Y.

After seeing the shelving he built it reminded me that you can buy almost that same setup for about $20. Its made out of 1x3 or 1x4 instead, 6ft tall, 18" deep, 2ft wide.

MDF isnt a great wood if its going to be used in moist or wet conditions. Water will cause it to swell and become useless. You may want to add some 1x2 supports aacross the front and back of your shelving to decrease any sag when the tubs are full.

Bryan

Bracing would probably help stability quite a bit.

Being a California transplant, I see that shelving unit and think "hmm, he really needs to wire it to the wall in case of earthquakes..." :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cassandra

Bracing would probably help stability quite a bit.

Being a California transplant, I see that shelving unit and think "hmm, he really needs to wire it to the wall in case of earthquakes..." :rolleyes:

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It is pretty stable, and minimum sag with full tubs. I will probably tie it to the second rack to make it more stable.... and if i have problems go from there

cheap = win

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bdadawg

Its normal in a large store to have high turnover ... especially when the pay isnt that great. I normally assume that they have what I want and just keep asking questions til I get to the right area. At that point I make sure to point out that they do in fact have what I wanted.

Having 2 BrIans is unlikely but having two BrYans is even rarer. I have found very few people that spell it with a Y.

After seeing the shelving he built it reminded me that you can buy almost that same setup for about $20. Its made out of 1x3 or 1x4 instead, 6ft tall, 18" deep, 2ft wide.

MDF isnt a great wood if its going to be used in moist or wet conditions. Water will cause it to swell and become useless. You may want to add some 1x2 supports aacross the front and back of your shelving to decrease any sag when the tubs are full.

Bryan

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yeah that setup would be decent too, but these can only be 4 feet tall (6' basement and tubs are 1 foot tall ~ ) and these are about twice as wide.... I considered going with the walmart rack, but for how many of these Im making, it will cost ~ $10-15 per rack(so 50 or so for all 4) and hold 24 tanks easily, and have storage underneath)

Have about 4 tubs fully done now, with bottle attached and screen secured with aluminum strips (hand cut, had to buy a sheet :-/) and pop riveted in (great idea bryan!)

Now to finish them off and buy more rats, and then do it all over again 3 more times.

Pine bedding is ok for rats, right? found 4.5 cubic feet of it for $5 at walmart. Will have to go that way when using 24- 58 quart tubs and changing them regularly

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/8/ratBox.jpg



-----------------Number----Cost-ea----Total
Pop Rivet---14------------0.04--------0.60
HW Cloth---1-------------0.53---------0.53
Tub------------1------------4.82---------4.82
Aluminum---1------------1.10---------1.10
Bottle---------1------------2.73----------2.73
Dish-----------1------------1.00----------1.00
Zip tie--------1-------------0.13----------0.13
Total cost per tub was $10.90 including water bottle

I bought everything bulk except the aluminum (bad price). dish I got might be a little expensive but its metal...

So a completely setup and hopefully escape proof rat enclosure including dish and water bottle for about the price of a 10 gallon tank with no lid... could be worse

A little more work than I thought it would be, but it moved along quickly once I started doing each step all at once.... after these 6 only 18 more to go O.o

I will just advise you to be careful! I just say this because I am currently overbreeding in my rat colony. I have a single male, and about 8 females, and seriously I wish someone would come over and take some off my hands. Although, putting them down and freezing them is good because they can be preserved at whatever size you need and used later. My main advice would be, please don't overcrowd them. This leads to babies being eaten and a general unhealthiness due to fighting and lack of food. I have a strict rule of, one female with babies per cage. 20 gallon long tanks, or something of similar floor space, are the best. I admit to using 10g tanks for most of my dams but if they have a really big litter, they get upped into a 20g long. I have a 30g community tank where the male lives permanently and the females get rotated, as well as a "recovery" tank where the females go when their litters are weaned, to give them a little rest between breedings. None of them ever fight seriously, though there are a few scuffles when rotating; I like to clean the cages and rotate females on the same day to give everyone equal footing.