Haven't had a chance to post pics...

So here are the pics of our breeder trio.

0.1 Twinkie. Not sure what she is, she has the markings of a hooded but brown instead of black w/ albino eyes. Adorable and curious as can be though.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...55_2892196.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...56_3538606.jpg

1.0 Alfred. He was bought at a store that sells feeders, Ash just couldn't have him fed off so we bought him as a pet/start of the breeder colony.
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...57_3047260.jpg

0.1 Wombat (prego!). She is a rex and is absolutely adorable!
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...58_5661709.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...859_788585.jpg

Maternity Ward
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...60_3512106.jpg

Just for fun...tonight's supper...
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...863_416677.jpg

Twinkie is a Beige Hooded. :)

thanks. apparently she knew, she just didn't tell me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

thanks. apparently she knew, she just didn't tell me.

---

That's it! They keep funny little secrets like that, silly ratties! :D

Cute group by the way. I think I might come steal Wombat. :P

well hopefully we will have little wombatlings this week sometime.

Please get the rex female out of that container. There is absolutely no ventilation and she's going to end up getting a respiratory infection or scarred lungs from the ammonia build-up.

At least put her in a tank or a low-height tub(lid replaced with hardware cloth) so she has some ventilation.

Once there are babies, the ammonia production goes WAY up, so they will be suffocating.

I missed that she was in a plastic drawer rack. Do you have the sides properly ventilated with mesh?

I completely agree with Becky, without proper ventilation, she will get a Respiratory Infection, possibly worse. If the temperatures spike in your room, she will quickly overheat. The oxygen can also deplete and she will suffocate, gases can also build up.

Drilled holes just aren't enough for rats, imo.

I went through all the sides and burned holes in them, there has got to be like 50 of them. Is that not enough?

One of the problems with your method is all those holes won't provide enough ventilation for a rodent and they will eventually chew out using one of those holes as a starting point. It's not a maybe, it's a will happen when it comes to rodents and chewing. A loose and very pregnant female rat in the walls of your home is not something you ever want to deal with.

Check out this option that I use.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...light=rat+bins

I've done these tubs for ages now and I just love them. The rats get amazing ventilation, the tubs stack because the lids are solid (mesh being on the side) and they are very cost effective. You do have to watch with a busy tub with a mamma rat and many babies that they don't sneak up the mesh and hop out when you are feeding them but a quick hard smack on the tub scares them back down to the floor level where they need to be. :)

Well crap, guess i'll go get some sterilite tubs then. They are having a sale at home depot for the big tubs for like $4 or something. I already have harware cloth. Would hot glue hold it to the side well enough if a large enough bead is attached?

No. Hot glue won't hold their weight if they climb on it, and they might try to eat it. Get some cable/zip ties.

My original intention was to get a tub and put the screen on top, didn't think about doing it on the side so they could still stack. I'll try to get right to it.

Do you think putting wire on the sides of the tubs they are in now would work? oh, and...

Wombat had kids last night! Woo Hoo!!!

I don't think there's anything wrong with your drawer unit, just make sure you've got lots of holes melted/drilled in the sides and backs.. Like 4 rows at 1 1/2 inches apart all the way around. Or mesh the sides of the drawers.

I just made a DIY about making a drawer unit into a rat rack.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=87943

I raised 4 litters in this and never had any issues. Just clean once a week like you should in any cage and they'll be fine. Cause massive amounts of urine is bad in any container.
I plan on using it again once I run out of rats in the freezer.

I looked at it and why did you add the mesh to the top?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

I looked at it and why did you add the mesh to the top?

---

When I open the drawers it creates an opening in the back for the drawer underneath, I added mesh to keep my rats from escaping out the back whenever I open one of the drawers.
The mesh also keeps them from chewing on the lips of the drawers because it fits snugly agains the tops. Before I added the mesh they were chewing around the edges.

When it comes to your drawers just remember, if you see condensation or notice it feels damp inside then you need to add more ventalation. That's the issue everyones having with it, and it can be fixed with enough holes and weekly cleaning.

Ashtin cleans it weekly so that's not an issue. I was thinking of maybe cutting big rectangles out of the sides to help alot with ventiliation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

Ashtin cleans it weekly so that's not an issue. I was thinking of maybe cutting big rectangles out of the sides to help alot with ventiliation.

---

You're gonna cover those rectangles with 1/2inch mesh right? because a hole bigger than 1/2inch will be chewed open in no time.

but yeah, mesh ventalation holes is probably a good idea, just make sure you do them near the top of the drawer. Rats tend to throw bedding out the sides and make a mess if you do them too low.