Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone ever used the large (36x24x8) or contractor (60x36x12) sized all purpose tubs for a rat rack? I was thinking about building a growing out rack using the large tubs. I was able to find a local dealer here in St. Joe MO at Tractor Supply and the large tubs cost around 15 bucks. When building a growing out rack is there anything different that you need to do compared to building a breeding rack?
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Is it wrong to pull on the food chain a little?

>>Has anyone ever used the large (36x24x8) or contractor (60x36x12) sized all purpose tubs for a rat rack? I was thinking about building a growing out rack using the large tubs. I was able to find a local dealer here in St. Joe MO at Tractor Supply and the large tubs cost around 15 bucks. When building a growing out rack is there anything different that you need to do compared to building a breeding rack?
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>>Is it wrong to pull on the food chain a little?

I have thought about doing the same thing. I think it would be better to support it from below. With either a sheet of plywood or using some other wood. I think once those tubs are full and if they are supported by the lips fex would be a major issue.

My growout rack, supported from underneath, large front food hoppers, some of the lower tubs I made a 2" box out of 1/2 mesh to lower the water nipple for smaller weanlings.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Did you build this rack from plans that someone else came up with or did you make the plans yourself(it looks very nice by the way)? I can build something as long as there is a list of materials needed and some sort of explination on how to build it. I posted pics of the first rat rack I built not that long ago, it turned out pretty nice. If you had a list of materials and a small explination that would be much appriciated.
Are those the large tubs or the small mixing tubs? How many rats can you keep at one time in each tub?
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Is it wrong to pull on the food chain a little?

I just made it, no plans. Those are the large tubs and will 15 adult males or 40 weanlings.

I made two sets of frames out of 2x4's, the top or lid frame is sized an inch or so larger then the two tubs. A full perimeter with a center divider where the two tubs meet and more dividers to make the food and water areas. All 2X4'a vertical.

The second set of frames are under support put together like a ladder with all 2x4's horizontal. The "rails" of the ladder are spaced to fit the under side of the tub and the 4 rungs are spaced to fit under the sides of the tubs. So whne the tub is in place, the perimeter of the base is reasting on the ladder.

Some 1/2" hardware cloth for the upper frames. attach the vertical posts to one LOWER frame first, Set tubs in place and set an upper rack on top. Make wheatever adjustment you need to allow tubs to slide in and out and attach the upper rack. Leave a gap and attach the next lower frame. One hint, to keep the posts straight, after attaching the first bottom frame, temporarily attach another at the top of the posts.Stop and guide blocks and watering components and voila!!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks a lot for the info. After building my first rack I think I can get my growing out rack put together using some of your directions. Knowing how many adult rats will fit really helps with deciding which way to go, thanks. For the same price as the large tuff stuff bin you can get three cement mixing tubs but over all I think you can hold more rats in one large tuff stuff bin than three cement mixing tubs. I will start building my second rack in a while, I'll post some pics along the way.
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Is it wrong to pull on the food chain a little?

There is room for more but would require more frequent cleaning. I clean once a week. I've gone as many as 25 full grown adult males but had to clean twice a week. Was crowded though. Once I managed to get production back under control it was easier!!

>>Thanks a lot for the info. After building my first rack I think I can get my growing out rack put together using some of your directions. Knowing how many adult rats will fit really helps with deciding which way to go, thanks. For the same price as the large tuff stuff bin you can get three cement mixing tubs but over all I think you can hold more rats in one large tuff stuff bin than three cement mixing tubs. I will start building my second rack in a while, I'll post some pics along the way.
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>>Is it wrong to pull on the food chain a little?
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats