Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 684

0 members and 684 guests
No Members online
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,905
Threads: 249,105
Posts: 2,572,111
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, Pattyhud
  • 03-07-2010, 04:22 PM
    jben
    ok, got my small colony started
    hi, so i did not build the rack that i really wanted because HD did not have the mortar tubs in stock but no big deal, i'll get them eventually. instead i build a rat tub just like joanna from the DIY section that really caught my attention. we bought some mazuri also we just picked up a nice 1.2 pair of young ones. i will be building a second tub this weekend and hopefully a rack soon. here are some pics.
    http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0820.jpg
    http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0824.jpg
    http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0833.jpg
    http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0834.jpg
    http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0850.jpg
    http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0848.jpg
  • 03-07-2010, 09:10 PM
    kc261
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Awwww. They are so cute.

    That kind of setup is very nice for smaller breeding projects. When/if you get bigger, though, you will want a rack system.
  • 03-07-2010, 11:59 PM
    jben
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kc261 View Post
    Awwww. They are so cute.

    That kind of setup is very nice for smaller breeding projects. When/if you get bigger, though, you will want a rack system.

    thank you. That's what we said about their cuteness...LOL. I'm still going to build a small rack, i just have to get the mortar tubs. i'll problably be checking HD every weekend.
  • 03-08-2010, 06:07 PM
    het.pied
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    i checked HD and they didnt have the size i wanted. so i headed over to lowes, which is right across the street(talk about competition!!!) and they had three different sizes. you might wanna check lowes out if there is one in your area!
  • 03-11-2010, 02:49 AM
    tomfromtheshade
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    I don't know if you care, but if you don't put a lid on your food hopper they will climb inside of it.
  • 03-11-2010, 12:42 PM
    kc261
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tomfromtheshade View Post
    I don't know if you care, but if you don't put a lid on your food hopper they will climb inside of it.

    Yes, they will, and even if there is a lid, they'll still climb on top of it and pee and poo while they are sitting up there and soil the food. That is why it is best to have a food hopper that is outside the cage, like all the pics of racks with the food simply piled on top of each tub.

    However, this hopper will still limit how quickly the food gets soiled, and prevent it from getting lost in the bedding, so it is still better than the food just being lose. The rats might decide to climb in the hopper, and carry the food out to "store" it elsewhere, in which case, a lid would need to be added.
  • 03-11-2010, 02:16 PM
    SlitherinSisters
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    So cute! I have a two tubs set up like that and a small rack for individual moms. I LOVE having those tubs because I throw several breeders in one tub for a few weeks, and throw a couple litters, about the same age, into the other tub to run around and grow up.
  • 03-11-2010, 05:33 PM
    jben
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Thanks everyone. i did see them sneaking out food, LOL, i'm going to put a cover on it. also i just realized that there's a Lowes 5 minutes from the HD i went to. i'm trying to find the correct dims so i can start to build my rack, hopfully this weekend
  • 03-24-2010, 10:22 PM
    badmagic2006
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Check out this link.................

    http://www.southtexasreptiles.com/st...ead.php?t=3318

    I have followed this design for my rat rack and they come out perfect. Every single measurement is there for you.

    Just thought this would help!!
  • 04-12-2010, 07:12 AM
    mommanessy247
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    im planning on doing this exact same thing for my mouse/rat containers. it looks so cool & its budget-friendly. the only thing i wont do is the food holder.
  • 04-12-2010, 08:32 AM
    pavlovk1025
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    I wish they didnt stink. =/

    Ill stick with the ASFs till my wife's sense of smell goes out.
  • 04-12-2010, 05:29 PM
    jben
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mommanessy247 View Post
    im planning on doing this exact same thing for my mouse/rat containers. it looks so cool & its budget-friendly. the only thing i wont do is the food holder.

    I should have done an update but i got rid of that tub because they were chewing thru it like if it was candy so i went and build a 3 shelf mortar tub rack althouth i could have easily made it four shelves but no biggie, i can always adjust it if needed, here's a pic. so from my little expirience i would recommend the rack.
    http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN1154.jpg
  • 04-12-2010, 06:14 PM
    SquamishSerpents
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jben View Post
    I should have done an update but i got rid of that tub because they were chewing thru it like if it was candy so i went and build a 3 shelf mortar tub rack althouth i could have easily made it four shelves but no biggie, i can always adjust it if needed, here's a pic. so from my little expirience i would recommend the rack.
    http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN1154.jpg

    wow, that looks like a VERY easy DIY rack! i think i may build something similar once we get into a new place.
  • 04-12-2010, 07:47 PM
    MitsuMike
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Yea mine are starting to go through the tub like it is nothing. Threw in some random stuff for them to chew on. Plastic hanger, plastic flower pot bottom, cardboard. Hope this holds them over for the next month before I can build my rack.
    If you don't mind me asking how much did it cost you for the wood and tubs?
  • 04-12-2010, 09:06 PM
    jben
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MitsuMike View Post
    Yea mine are starting to go through the tub like it is nothing. Threw in some random stuff for them to chew on. Plastic hanger, plastic flower pot bottom, cardboard. Hope this holds them over for the next month before I can build my rack.
    If you don't mind me asking how much did it cost you for the wood and tubs?

    the wood, tubs and mesh hard wire all came out to under $40, it was $39 and change. Also i had the wood cut in Home Depot, so not bad. i have to admit they did not charge me for the cuts. it took me about 2 hours to build but i was drinking and eating pizza so i wasn't really concentrating on it...LOL

    katia, it was very easy, i was making it more of a project in my head but i had some folks in here guide me, thanks suzuki4life
  • 04-12-2010, 09:13 PM
    MitsuMike
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Haha wow really? Well my tub should last for a bit longer it was free after all so no harm to the wallet. haha
    How big are your rats? (gram wise) You said they were already prego?
  • 04-12-2010, 09:18 PM
    jben
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    last time i weighted them was two weeks ago and the male was 308g and the original two females were around the 275g mark each, i don't know the weight of the third female but she's close to the others in size. i did not buy them prego, when i bought them they were about 80g each.
  • 04-12-2010, 10:14 PM
    MitsuMike
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Oh gotcha. I bought mine about a week ago. I swear they put on some size. I mean they were in a glass tank with about 20 others from med to jumbo. They are prob getting fed better over here that's why. haha
    And just wondering about the weights because mine are 240ish.
  • 04-12-2010, 10:29 PM
    jben
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    where i bought mines at they were fed dog food but now they eat mazuri so i'm guessing that helped also i was getting worried a little when i thought they were not breeding, i guess they were after all...LOL. wow 240g already, talk about growth...LOL, what are you feeding yours?
  • 04-20-2010, 02:51 AM
    saber2th
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Hey jben,

    Looks nice!
    How are you feeding and watering them? Any picts. of the inside?
  • 04-20-2010, 03:09 AM
    jben
    Re: ok, got my small colony started
    Hey saber2th, Thank you. I put the mazuri in one corner on top of the hardware cloth and for now i have in each a 32 oz water bottle that i refill once a week. i don't have any pics of the inside but i'll try and take some today.
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1