Finished Rat Rack - a bit unconventional

Just finished up this new rack. It's the first I've built and I'm pretty happy with it. The blue that you see in the background is the lids to the big tubs, I used them as the back stopper so the tubs don't slide out the back. Best part, they were free with the tubs haha. Moved it out to the rodent room and it has it's first occupants already. Now I just have to make one of these with 1/4" mesh for my mice and ASFs :P

http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/DSCN1740.jpg

Wow, that looks great! Question: do you have to use a ladder to get to the upper ones? :P

Where does the food go? Water? Air?

The bottom tub looks like it sits on the floor. Are there any braces for support?

I would love to know how you fell about this design after a few months of use.

Im curious about the tubs. Seeing how everyone uses concrete tubs, how long before the rats chew through these?

I keep my rats in tubs like that with no problem, and it looks like he has wire mesh tops for these...

Yes, theres wire mesh on top just like with the typical concrete tub rack. There is plenty of air flow as well. The food sits on top of the mesh as do the water bottles (don't have funds just yet for auto watering system). It's actually only 6 feet high, though it looks a lot taller in the pic, so I can reach the top tubs without an issue. I built it this way with the tubs closer together and using 2x2s for them to slide on instead of the usual rungs that the lip of the tub sits on. I feel with these tubs it is sturdier this way. The unit itself is very sturdy and needs no braces. And yes the bottom tub is actually on the floor. Seeing how I live in south FL, I'm not too worried about the cold lol. I am prepared to if need be in a few months or however long that if this doesnt work for me I'll sell it and build the standard concrete tub shelf. I'm just one of those people who has to try out their new ideas first. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't haha we will see with this one lol.

my only concern would be with the tubs themselves. i have never tried keeping rats or mice in those particuliar tubs but i do know they are much thinner than conventional concrete tubs. i would keep extra on hand just incase you see ANY signs of chewing as i bet once its started it will go quick. on the other hand i have never had any chew marks on my tubs at all. if they are fed and watered well and kept clean then i think most wont chew. i would not use these tubs with asf's they chew alot and are great at escape.
adam jeffery

Looks good. I ran water bottles for a long time and finally sucked it up and bought a auto water system. It only cost me a bit more than all the pita water bottles. And wow I dont hate my rats any more lol. Good job on the rack.

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As states, Well fed and hydrated rodents wont chew. There are occasions you get the one chewer that teaches others in that tub. Thats when you feed them off and start over.

I wouldn't worry about chewing unless you have bad stock or food.

Ive never replaced a tub in my mouse rack, got chew marks but they get fed off fast enough to stop from getting taught how to chew on tubs.

Looks good... Good job.
I wouldn't have picked those tubs myself either, but to each their own...

As for the watering system, don't go cheap, you'll regret it. Think of it this way... You're gonna spend $3-4 a piece of bottles. 9-18 bottle depending on which tubs you use. Do the math, for 18 valves and supply its around $100. If you got a good deal on good bottles at $3.50 each, your already at $60+

i agree i will never go back to water bottles unless i breed mice again. mice tend to pack the valves with shavings and cause floods more often. i have only ever had 1 flood and it didnt fill the tub. but i did lose a litter of pups. the adults survived. flood was do to a stuck valve.
adam jeffery

Can't say I don't get an occasional flood, it happens...
But, it's pretty rare, and mine are usually due to the o-rings wearing out, and usually start to drip, so I can repair the valve. Most of my floods are due to a loose rat that chews a water line to get a drink. I started adding a couple of spare water valves hanging down from each rack, so that they find the valve instead of chewing a water line. Since I started doing that a couple of months ago, no chewed lines. But, I'm vigilant on making sure I don't have many loose rats too...:gj:

Yea, I may switch to an auto watering system when I have the funds and get sick enough of the bottles. But for now, I got 12 32oz new critter canteen water bottles for $1 each on ebay - can't beat that.

Yeah, that's cheap! I buy them wholesale for around $2.25 each..