Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone use a sterilite 15qt tub for there mom rarts to give birth in? Problems with chewing the tub? What about ASF can you use a 32qt for them in a rack system? I am gonna have to start raising my own rats soon. Not looking forward to it. Let me know

Will

>>Anyone use a sterilite 15qt tub for there mom rarts to give birth in? Problems with chewing the tub? What about ASF can you use a 32qt for them in a rack system? I am gonna have to start raising my own rats soon. Not looking forward to it. Let me know
>>
>>Will

I use 7 gal Argee concrete mixing tubs. You will always have a problem with rats chewing. If you build the rack with tight enough tolerances you can avoid this. I used to use both 14 and 7 gal tubs the 14 gal were grow out and the 7 gal were and still are breeders.

The problem with the 14 gallon rack was poor construction accompanied by a rather weak tub at least along the perimeter. I lost many a tub to chew out. My new rack use metal c channel rails, a lot stronger and have only had one chew out.

The problem with Sterilite tubs is they aren't straight so they can't be used in a hanging style rack effectively.

Usually the chew outs can be traced to a single problem, water run out, keep up on the water supply and the won't chew. Also keep blocks of wood for them to chew on.

A colony of 30-40 rats can go through 5 gallons of water a day in the summer.

Cheers
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

Alright. Do those tubs come in semi-clear?? What about for the reg rats. Is there any semi-clear tubs I can use for them in a racking system?

Will

>>Alright. Do those tubs come in semi-clear?? What about for the reg rats. Is there any semi-clear tubs I can use for them in a racking system?
>>
>>Will

Brian from ARS offers rodent racks with semi clear tubs. He also sells the tubs separately if you want to build your own. Nearly all his tubs are duplicates of IRIS made products but substantially thicker they are very durable boxes. My next rodent rack maybe a ARS product. The only downside to racks shown at his site are the feeding tray's in accessibility although I imagine the water nozzles could be moved.

You really don't need semi clear, rats are nocturnal so lights aren't important. That and the nature of the rack and the mesh top combined with food tray offers plenty of ambient light for their needs. Nearly all my females nest under the food tray, mostly for convenient location but its a good hiding spot.
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

Its only because I would rather just take a quick look to see if there are any floods rather than pull each tub out one at a time. Call me a tad bit lazy.

Will

>>Its only because I would rather just take a quick look to see if there are any floods rather than pull each tub out one at a time. Call me a tad bit lazy.
>>
>>
>>Will

Unless its clear you'll find yourself opening them a lot anyways. And you can smell a flood.

Also to end floods get quality solid brass nozzles.

I open peek on my rats everyday.
-----
Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

You wouldnt happen to know the website where you can get those nozzles from would you? Also do you find it cheaper over all to raise your own food for your collection?

>>You wouldnt happen to know the website where you can get those nozzles from would you? Also do you find it cheaper over all to raise your own food for your collection?

I got mine from Bass Equipment but there are other sources.

Depends on the collection size. My collection 10 tubs total with about 40-50 rats of various sizes only cost me a 50 pd bag of feed and 5 cubic feet of bedding twice a month. About $65 plus labor. I get about 30 feeders out of the colony a month. I harvest large males medium females and surplus small rats.

That works out at about $2 a rat.

The larger the production the higher the cost and far more labor. When I had a big colony a few years back I had over 100 rats. It was a full time job... which is why I cut back. I already have a full time job.

When you consider quantity and cost of shipping raising your own breaks even. However when fresh boa litters hit the ground I have a ready supply of pinkies. In the past when I wasn't breeding rats, I would exhaust the three local stores in a matter of weeks, usually before I got them swapped over to F/T.

Cheers
-----
Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

With me going back to school the cost of time is a big factor. I dont wnat to be spending all my free time with the rats. Then cleaning snake cages on top of all that. I just hope our rat guy finds some more people to buy off of him.