Dirty Enclosure w/babies

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I used to dump my tanks out, wash them, dry them, then set back up. It works very well, but was taking way too much time. Now I do it the easy way.....

I use an old license plate to push everybody to one corner of the tank (same corner the babies are in)... turn on the shop vac, and suck up all the old stuff. Then I throw a handful of new pine in and bingo, I am done. I can litterally clean 15 tanks in less then 30 minutes. I might wash the tanks out every once in a while, but it has been 2 months since the last washing, and they still don't need it.

If you want to try this method, make sure the shop vac is OUTSIDE when you use it!!!! otherwise the cloud of funk could kill you!

OP, as you can see by my methods that does not result in any babies deaths, you don't have anything to worry about.

[littleindiangirl]

I used to dump my tanks out, wash them, dry them, then set back up. It works very well, but was taking way too much time. Now I do it the easy way.....

I use an old license plate to push everybody to one corner of the tank (same corner the babies are in)... turn on the shop vac, and suck up all the old stuff. Then I throw a handful of new pine in and bingo, I am done. I can litterally clean 15 tanks in less then 30 minutes. I might wash the tanks out every once in a while, but it has been 2 months since the last washing, and they still don't need it.

If you want to try this method, make sure the shop vac is OUTSIDE when you use it!!!! otherwise the cloud of funk could kill you!

Yea, my only complaint about cleaning ASF tubs is there are so darn many of them to pick up! And once they start running around the tub, they can sometimes take a little bit to catch them. I grab three or more tails at once if I can and drop them in a clean tub.

I forgot to mention, I don't do it the way I posted anymore except for 2 tubs with a high number of animals (it's a bigger tub style).

I have an extra tub on hand. I set it up first, then just transfer everyone over to the new one. Clean out the dirty one, replace bedding and toys, then repeat with the next tub.

But exactly like Mike said, when I first got these guys I kept them in a long glass tank. I just moved everyone over to one side, scooped out the old litter, and replaced, then went to the other side. But that was when I only had the one tank, and it was more of "too heavy" for me to lift and carry to a trash can.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

That shop vac was probably the single best investment I have made since breeding the rats. That and the Power Kill Victor Rat Snap Traps

[frankykeno]

I soooooooooooo need a shop vac.

[redmantodd]

I soooooooooooo need a shop vac.

The smaller ones are actually pretty cheap. You don't necessarily need a huge one. Menards carries all different sizes.

Best,
Red

[tnelsonfla]

Have not tried the shop vac thing but thats sounds cool. I use the plastic I cut from the tub lids as my "safer" barrier from nippy moms.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I got a high quality full size ryobi from Home depot for 80 bucks. you don't want a smaller one because you would have to empty it out a couple times while cleaning. I can do all my asf's without having to dump the bucket till I am all done. I believe it is a 5.5 hp motor?