New Rat Bins

Maybe my rats aren't big chewers or something because I rarely have a zip tie nipped off by them. Mike did find some black really heavy grade zip ties so maybe that's it but I just don't have them nipping at the zip ties much at all.

How do you cut the tubs without cracking the plastic? I cut a lid once to make a top for a homemade cricket keeper and it kept cracking.

Jimmy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Those look good. Nice cross ventilation. I would really put the mesh on the inside though, it will help decrease the chance that they can get to the plastic. If it's eye-level, they will chew it, IME. I wish they made metal zip ties.. I've had enough of the plastic ones chewed to last me a lifetime(although the dwarves haven't touched the zip ties holding their custom cage together... Beats me!).

---

Habor freight sells metal ties. I use pop rivots with large washers on each side works great!

Hey, here's a few pics of mine that i just build. i tied it with 20 gauge galvanized wired.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0821.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/DSCN0848.jpg

great pictures and awesome setup ideas. I was wondering how many of these tubs I will need to make? Can you please explain how many I will need and how to seperate the mice exactly? Explain it to me like im a 3 year old or something so that I understand it lol

thanks :banana:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Those look good. Nice cross ventilation. I would really put the mesh on the inside though, it will help decrease the chance that they can get to the plastic. If it's eye-level, they will chew it, IME. I wish they made metal zip ties.. I've had enough of the plastic ones chewed to last me a lifetime(although the dwarves haven't touched the zip ties holding their custom cage together... Beats me!).

---

There are companys that make metal zip ties here is a link to one http://www.nelcoproducts.com/shoppin...?pid=76&cid=36
an instead of using zip ties 18 gage steel wire found at craft stores works very well at securing wire meshing and isnt that difficult to work with. i've used the wire on two tubs so far and it has worked out great so far.

If you only run the mesh on the top of the sides instead of further down like you have them as strips of around 2-4" but about the same length as you have yours would it still adequately ventilate?

I'm wondering because I'd prefer not to have to worry about kick out/them chewing out. I also would like to be able to stack them too. I've been debating with myself whether running the mesh on the lid or on the sides would be best, but if I did it high enough on the sides they should have a low likelihood of getting up there and chewing out as well as allowing me to stack the bins.

I know this is an old thread but wanted to add in what i have done .
My asf grow up bins i have cut the lids with a knife/box cutter and attached wire to the inside of the lids with rivvets that way it is secure and they cant chew through , I am looking at doing one with the sides cut out and try that

I am in the process of wanting to build a rat cage too. Decided it would be cheaper to breed my own rats for the snakes instead of buying them all the time. Love your idea. I heard that housing them in an aquarium is not good for them due to the fact that they can't breath as well.

Joanne

I used this design, but I had major problems with the rats chewing on the plastic, they made HUGE holes lol. So instead I cut out a whole on the lid and put mesh over that. Now the little suckers can't chew anything.