feeding contraption

So if been having this issue with our mice and rats. We put a food dish in the cage and they spill it right away or scatter it everywhere. What can I do to prevent this? We are using aquariums and plastic tubs. The idea of food over head like in a breeder rack is nice where they have to pull it through but not sure how to do anything like that or even something similar.

I only have a few live rats at any given time because I only have 1 snake that eats live. I used to keep a food bowl in the cage, but I found they just pooped in the food bowl. Now I just toss a handful of food directly onto the shavings and got rid of the bowl. Even with the overhead method, once the food is smalle nogh it falls through and lands on the shavings - so it's the same result.

I don't have a picture of it right now, but i made a, for lack of a better word, basket out of 1/2" mesh with a couple hooks out of stiff wire so i could hang it in the holding tank i use for rats. just a six sided box with and end i can open to refill. Has worked great for me except some of them like to sit on top of it and sleep.

That's what they do, the only thing to prevent this is having them chew their food through hardware cloth.

This will help with your problem http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-detailed-pics!!!

I actually tried so many different types of bowls for my asfs, i just gave up trying to put food in them. Sometimes they would scatter the food, but all the time they would just sit in the food bowl and pee in the food. So, every other day or so i had half a bowl of soggy pee laden kibble. So i just said screw it and throw the food right onto the bedding and let them have at it pee or not.

sent from my incubator

I built hoppers out of 1/2 mesh that hang on the side of the tanks (for the rats that are in tanks anyway). They measure 9 squares wide and 3 squares deep. I have a top on them that is only attached on one side that I can flip up to fill. I started off using a twist-tie to keep it closed, but the rats would chew through it. They weren't smart enough to open the top and get food that way, so I just left it.

Thanks Deborah! Thats what I had in mind. Now question two. What kind of food is that, that person is using??? I can't find anything with large nuggets anywhere like that feed mill or tractor supply. I was told pig feed but I can only find pellets

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Originally Posted by Deborah

That's what they do, the only thing to prevent this is having them chew their food through hardware cloth.

This will help with your problem http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-detailed-pics!!!

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Almost exactly what I made, now i just need to make one for my asf's that are in the rack. I'm not a big fan of just dropping the food in as I can never tell if they are truly out or just hiding it.

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Originally Posted by rockstarbass1

Thanks Deborah! Thats what I had in mind. Now question two. What kind of food is that, that person is using??? I can't find anything with large nuggets anywhere like that feed mill or tractor supply. I was told pig feed but I can only find pellets

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I get Lab Diet rodent food at a local feed store. Around here they just call it rodent pellets even though they are a bit big to be called pellets. I could get the mazuri from the local reptile expo, but it's actually a tiny bit cheaper for the lab diet locally. I think the Mazuri rodent diet is available online but I don't know from who.

Wow! I actually looked at that thread n i may consider makin a few of those hoppers! My asfs do go through a lot food...about 5lbs every month

sent from my incubator

How many afs do you have that you only go through 5lbs? My buddy does regular rats and goes through atleast 20 if not more...... I have a feeling I'm not going to find large nuggets anywhere. And I refuse to pay for shipping. That would be all too expensive then

I only have 3 colonies...and i guess comparatively thats not alot compared to some people. But the food i give is pretty pricey.... so keeping down on wasted food is good for me

sent from my incubator

My rats and asfs have a hopper.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...f/IMAG1169.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...f/IMAG1170.jpg

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I buy my Mazuri 6F at the local feed store. Any store that carries Purina products might be willing to order some for you if they don't already carry it. I pay about $26 for a 50 pound bag, and depending on how many rodents I have, I go through a bag in about a month. I feed about 2/3 Mazuri, and 1/3 leftover dog & cat food that I get for free from my job (veterinary clinic).

The 6F is important, in my opinion. I started off with the regular Mazuri food, but once I switched to 6F, I started getting larger litters and the moms seem to bounce back quicker. I was feeding the dog/cat food with the regular as well, so that was the only thing that changed.

Harlan Teklad is another good brand of rodent chow that lots of labs use. I haven't seen it in any stores though.

Well I just want to find somewhere local that stocks the big nugget stuff. The f6 is that pellets or nuggets? Wha type of food is that in the picture above?

My picture above has Mazuri 6f. AKA lab blocks. Its specially formulated for rodent breeding. Keeps Mamas and babies tip top.

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