I know how everyone's saying that 10gallons are the way to go, but racks are still more space efficient and cheap.

5 slot rack, Mortar Mixers for bins. constructed with 2x2's, screws, a bit of 1/4 inch wire cloth, and some heavy duty staples.


Water system is gravity powered from a bucket with tube coming down and channeled to each bin. water taps are located in the front corner of each bin.



Food hoppers are held an inch from the bedding up to the ceiling made of 1/2 inch wire cloth. They are screwed onto the front side of the bin and the screws are covered by the hopper itself to prevent chewing. They are filled daily to ensure that no just weaned baby's slip into the top and chew at it.

The grow-up's are fed Kent 23% protein lab rat diet, mixed fruits and veggies, and the occasional crickets.


The breeder's are the same setup, but their diet consist of Kent 23% and suet cakes, it is cheaper than mazuri and seems to be working out so far. Suet cakes are about 1-2 dollars, ranging from where you buy them, and one lasts about a month with a colony of one male and two females.


I have been using this setup/strategy and the results pretty much speak for themselves... after THREE months and also after snake feeding day (it also was the day before we cleaned the bins so the grow-outs are a bit dirty)

male growout 35+rats


female growout 30+rats

there are also five females ready to pop and several batches of babies not yet weaned, but you get the idea.
thanks for looking!