ASF rack!!!

So, we finally got this done :)

Thanks to AK907 for the initial idea, Deborah's thread on rat rack DIY for tips, and ARB reptiles for step by step.

Here are the cut pieces
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7980440_n.jpg
Thanks to my fiance :)

Here is the rack upside down, drying ...
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...0_431566_n.jpg

And here is what the top of each tub looks like
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4234440_n.jpg

Woot ... getting rats in a couple days :) Pretty excited about it.
Just need to find food locally ... ugh. Have had no luck. Tractor supply doesn't carry Mazuri rodent here. Not happy about that.

Any tips of what to use for bedding?

Jessica

I use kiln pine. But I've heard many people having great success with a mix of the pine pellets and kiln pine. Great job on the rack btw! I live for those mixing tubs. Makes everything so much easier.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

:gj: :gj:

Glue dried and castors on :)

This thing is great. All the tubs come out mostly fine, there is one that is a little snug and one that is a little big less snug than that but the other two are perfect...

Anyway, I'm really happy. Can't wait to add my ASF this week :)

The rack looks great!. 2 things I see, first if you are going to put ASF in the tubs....You might have to put some pieces of 2x4 under the water bottle so the ASF can reach, those cement tubs are deep. Also it appears that you used 1/2" screens. The ASF babies can and will get through that. I like to use 1/4" for both mice and ASF.

I was hoping since they are deep they wouldn't be able to get through.. they still can? I can only find 1/2" here :(

Id like to find some long stemmed water bottles... no idea if they make those

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Maybe I can suspend them.off the wiring

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jessica Loesch

I was hoping since they are deep they wouldn't be able to get through.. they still can? I can only find 1/2" here :(

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I've seen ASFs jump about 2 feet before...if I find the video of it I'll post it...

Found it!:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCDU9G4HiP8 ...and I was wrong, it's only 1 foot, but still pretty high!lol.
Also most lowes/homedepot/etc that carry 1/2" also carry 1/4"...I'd keep looking.

Looks great by the way!

Well its a little late for that. Any suggestions?

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Yeah I don't know why my home depot doesn't carry 1/4". I suppose I can move weanlings to a tub or tank...

Would like to keep them in this system though if there is any other way.

You may be able to get some 1/4 th if you find it and staple it over the top of the other one.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

Only problem .. can't take it apart, lots of the screws stripped out because the 2x4s were so freaking hard to drill through, even predrilled, and kept breaking my cheap drill bits lol.

Either way, I only went through with this because the weanlings look far to big to fit through a hole that size, and that was after seeing them in person.

Now I feel horrible:(

Your biggest hurdle may be the tub itself.

Here's what asf's did to mine....Notice top and bottom tubs are repaired.
That hole in the front of the tub is a prime target for asf's to chew out.
Mine did the very day I put them into these black tubs :mad:
chasing asf's about is no fun...
http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/PICT5457.jpg

Feeding the weanlings is easily solved by building a cube holder out of the same 1/2 wire and filling it with food and closing the end so they can't get to the food without chewing through the food holder.

We now only use tanks for asf's :P

Hole in the front? The only hole I see is protected by the top of the rack.
Either way, I'm getting a group from a nonchewing colony, and plan to cull chewers .. that was the idea anyway.

I keep about 100-150 ASFs in cement tubs with 1/2 wire and no climbing block for the water bottle. I've been doing this for about six months and haven't had an escape yet. Also never had a chewing issue. Maybe I'm just lucky but it works for me. Oh, I do give word blocks and they chew on those like mad. Maybe that's the trick.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ScottNBecky

I keep about 100-150 ASFs in cement tubs with 1/2 wire and no climbing block for the water bottle. I've been doing this for about six months and haven't had an escape yet. Also never had a chewing issue. Maybe I'm just lucky but it works for me. Oh, I do give word blocks and they chew on those like mad. Maybe that's the trick.

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That's great news, bc I modeled the rack after yours.
Forgot to list you in my credits, since AK got it from you!!!!

I have an arsenal of wood chewing blocks ready to go from making this bad boy ...

Guess I'll hope my luck evens out like yours did, seeing as how I am getting stock from a tame, nonchewing group of ASF. A local friend here specifically culls out any problem rats and keeps around the best breeders that are the friendliest I have seen.

Yea I haven't had any trouble yet

Just showing my experience with asf's in concrete tubs ;)

Great job on the rack! Im sure you will be fine, just like you said, watch for the chewers, cull :colbert:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

Your biggest hurdle may be the tub itself.

Here's what asf's did to mine....Notice top and bottom tubs are repaired.
That hole in the front of the tub is a prime target for asf's to chew out.
Mine did the very day I put them into these black tubs :mad:
chasing asf's about is no fun...

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I barely caught a little escapist before he chewed a big enough hole in one of my tubs last week. I looked at the rest of the tubs and it turns out that most of them have been nibbling on that hole. I ended up doing the same thing you did with the hardware cloth, minus the plastic zip ties. Seems to be working okay so far. Definitely not a big enough hassle to keep 1K rats in glass tanks!

:rolleye2: