Rat tubs for rack?

[GODFATHER]

Hey all I have been using the cement tubs from lowes for years but as usual they eventually end up with a rat that wants to eat thru the tub. And what I've found is that they not only changed the size of the tubs they have to where they won't fit in my rack but also the material is a cheap thin plastic now! I have found that at Menards the tub sizes are exactly the same so ive been buying those but yet again cheap thin plastic instead of the thick stuff we had in the past!

So my question is what are you guys using and where have you been getting them either online or in a store. I plan on changing my racks from the typical wooden ones to a better made out of metal but I don't want to lose the tubs like I have in the past. With metal I could have more tubs with less material and I'm a good welder so no issues there.

[PghBall]

I have just been using the plastic mixing tubs at Home Depot. So far so good with chewouts. I did manage to crack one so it will be getting replaced soon.

[Anatopism]

What tubs are you using specifically? We have started using the cement mixing tubs from home depot, and they're solid enough to use as a snow sled.. lol. We also use kitty litter tubs for the older rack which are considerably more flexible (read: chewable), but have bred for rats that don't chew.. if we have a chewer, they get fed off. Haven't had any chewers in months... I even had a tub at one point that had a hole in the side that a rat could have easily made bigger (babies could have crawled out of) - and it had been used for probably 15 different rats over the course of a couple months.. and nobody made the hole bigger. Only replaced it because I had tempted fate long enough, and didn't want to risk any rats getting out in the newer garage. The only rat that survived that initial group of 'chewers' was the one that never left the tub, even after the others chewed a hole and took off to go exploring.

They'll teach each other how to chew.. and then you end up with real problems. If you are having a real issue with lots of tubs being destroyed, I'd look at culling off your chewers, and not putting any new rats in with known chewers, so they don't pick up the habit.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I use jumbo cat litter pans and concrete mixing tubs from home depot (they are much thicker than the one from home depot).

To limit chewing make sure everything is tight, gaps between the frame and tubs lead to chewing, also provide your rodent with something to chew own, I give mine a 4 inches piece of 2x4 to chew own.

Finally any chewer needs to be fed off (NO exception), if they learn to chew they will teach others.

[GODFATHER]

Ok all of the above I do. Chewers get fed off and that dies take cate of the problem. It's just the tub material is just so damn flimsy compared to what I used to get. I guess I'll check the ones at home depo and see if they're any different but from what I can tell its the same brand and part number as lowes and size. The Menards ones are the only ones that are different and the same size as my old tubs.