Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 577

1 members and 576 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

Ziggy31984 (40)

» Stats

Members: 75,014
Threads: 248,474
Posts: 2,568,391
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, DetectiveIcarus
Results 1 to 6 of 6
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-04-2020
    Posts
    11
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Maternity Rat Rack

    Hello all,

    I have a quick question that I am hoping someone may be able to help me with.

    I have recently had issues with baby rats not surviving. I don't feel the need to go into detail about this but I have decided to build a maternity rack in order to help with this. I feel good about the plans I have made except I am trying to maximize space and am wondering how much height I need to have between the bottom of the tubs and the next level. I will be using a gravity fed watering system and will install it as soon as the parts that I need arrive.

    Thank you for any help you can give.

  2. #2
    Registered User BlueOrleans1290's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-12-2021
    Location
    Earth
    Posts
    147
    Thanks
    57
    Thanked 81 Times in 56 Posts
    Images: 9

    Re: Maternity Rat Rack

    I don't know much about raising rat babies or anything, but if they're anything like hamsters just make sure the gap between isn't enough for them to squeeze out of. I've heard rats are quite the escape magicians. Are you planning to use a substrate for the young ones and mother rats? If so, what kind? What are the temperatures like for them? How often do you feed and clean the cages? I hope my answers will help, but hopefully someone else will chime in because I'm definitely not an expert here. But an excuse to research something new is always cool
    Last edited by BlueOrleans1290; 02-19-2021 at 03:30 PM.

  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran nikkubus's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-20-2018
    Posts
    1,370
    Thanks
    2,509
    Thanked 1,847 Times in 972 Posts
    You can get away with just 2-3" but it makes it hard to get the food onto the hardware cloth without a hopper. If you are just taking handfuls and throwing up there, I'd do 4-5" to make it easier on you to feed them.
    7.22 BP 1.4 corn 1.1 SD retic 0.1 hognose

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to nikkubus For This Useful Post:

    BlueOrleans1290 (02-19-2021)

  5. #4
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,178
    Thanks
    28,069
    Thanked 19,730 Times in 11,794 Posts
    Another thought: Consider the range of temperatures where your cages are located. Is this "climate controlled" or does is fluctuate a lot seasonally?

    It's winter right now, so rodent cages closer together helps them stay warm enough, but in the summertime heat, that could work against you & more ventilation is needed or they won't survive.

    In raising rodents, I've found that cold is easier to deal with than excessive heat- I can insulate cages & feed more nutrient-dense foods so they thrive- but summer heat needs good ventilation.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    nikkubus (02-19-2021)

  7. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-04-2020
    Posts
    11
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Re: Maternity Rat Rack

    Thank you all very much. My racks are in a climate controlled area. I will make a 4 1/2 inch gap. Thank you for all of your help.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to PaysonHobbyist For This Useful Post:

    nikkubus (02-19-2021)

  9. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-20-2019
    Posts
    19
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
    I build my racks out of 2x3s and use a 2x3 as my "spacer". So, my levels are 2.5" apart.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1