building a rodent rack: spacing for mixing tubs, size of lumber questions

[RichsBallPythons]

I think you should reconsider using an automatic watering system. Changing bottles gets old quick. The tubs in the plan you're using are 8 inches tall which is too high for some ASF's to reach water. Take a look at the LARGE size litter pan from Petco.

I built my second rack different from my first and I'm dying to make a third because of the things I want to change from the second.

Good luck.

They can be used for mice or asf as i have done already. When they want water they will get water one way or another as same with food.

You cal always get a piece of wood or glass bowl and put it inside as a step if need be.

[JohnNJ]

They can be used for mice or asf as i have done already. When they want water they will get water one way or another as same with food.

You cal always get a piece of wood or glass bowl and put it inside as a step if need be.

Rich:

You use a tub that's 36” x 24” x 8” for mice? IMHO, that's big rat size and overkill for mice or ASF's.

I am using a rat rack for ASF's (jumbo pan 22.25" L X 16.75" W X 6.75" H) and have to use a glass bowl for them to reach the water. The weanlings cannot get that high up. I guess they could jump up to the screen and drink upside down but I think that would just be mean on my part. I keep the little ones in a separate tank with water bottles. The ASF's would have been better off with the large pan - 18.5" L X 15.25" W X 5.25" H. I'll use those for my next rack.

I use the small Petco pans for the mice (14.14" L X 10.37" W X 3.53" H) and they seem very happy. Takes up a lot less room too.

YMMV

[RichsBallPythons]

Tubs i have my mice in for grow outs is 27.5 x 19.75 x 6. Same size i use for my rats as well. I used it for ASF as well when breeding them

[SquamishSerpents]

whoops, i linked to the large plans, not the small ones. i'm going off of this design. the tubs i have are 6" high. i'm probably going to have some blocks of wood inside the bins anyways for them to chew on/for the weaners to stand on to reach food/water.

the reason it's a headache is because i'm a woman and i can't figure things out unless i'm DOING them, lol. it would be a lot easier if i had the wood here with me, but i don't. also i have to figure it out before we go buy everything, because we live in an apartment and the table saw etc. is stored at my boyfriends grandparents, so it's really a big production to just build something like this.

i decided to support them from underneath because i've heard rails can sometimes be finicky and cause the lip of the bin to slip out, and that it's a hassle if you have to replace bins, because their lips vary in the manufacturing process.

would supporting them from underneath really be a concern regarding airflow even if i left adequate space? i was planning on 4 1/2" of space between the top and bottom of the next tub.

regarding water bottles, i already have 3 cages that i change bottles for, what's 2 more? because we live in an apartment, a flood would be a REALLY big deal, not willing to risk it. it'd be different if we were on the ground floor, but we're on the top.

ugh i still can't decide what to do.

[m00kfu]

they come in bigger rolls than that. I bought 2x10ft rolls and seen some 2x15ft rolls at Lowes.

TSC also carries rolls of hardware cloth.

[SquamishSerpents]

I'm in Canada, no Lowe's (i don't think? not around here at least) or TSC. heading to Rona soon to see if they have any, if not i will have to take a peek in Vancouver when i go on Sunday.

[SquamishSerpents]

whoohoo!, 36" x 25' for $36. i was expecting to pay way more

[SquamishSerpents]

finally done my rack!! here are some pics.

also, the plans i used have a couple measurements wrong! the measurements for the supports at the bottom (which i chose not to use) and the measurements for the sliders are 1" too short.

[tomfromtheshade]

I found out early in the game to use internet plans as a guide line, and then make all of your own measurements. For spacing the distance between the top and the runner I just turn the rack upside down and use the tub to make my mark. I have no idea what the actual measurement is.

If I had some help I would do a DIY video on building both the large and medium mixing tub racks. I just don't want to stop to video or take pictures. Its VERY time consuming to do for free when you're working alone.

[SquamishSerpents]

yeah it's definitely not easy to do with only 1 person. i at least had my boyfriend helping me, once you get a shelf and the legs put together it gets easier.