Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since my mice are doing well, I was thinking about starting up with rats also.

Problem is, the dog food I'm feeding to the mice would fall through 1/2" cloth, and I don't know if the rats could chew threw 1/4". Lab blocks are close to a dollar a lb (at a feed store, no less) and they seem to mold to quickly anyway.

Anyone have specific brands of dog food that won't fall through the 1/2" cloth (I can't be opening up bags in stores checking ), or a way to work around the apparent problem? Different size hardware cloth? Cutting the 1/4" into 1/2" x 1/4" blocks (would take forever, though)?

Thanks.
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-audri
Webpage/Pics

You can get 3/8 in. hardware cloth but you will probably have to have it special ordered. They call it 3 mesh. I use 1/2 in. with Mazuri 6F 5M30 It costs anywhere from 15 to 20 dollars for 50#.
The rats usually eat it all before it has time to mold, But I have had that problem with my mice, I just don't fill the feeders all the way.

I use 3/8" hardware cloth for both rats & mice. Just phone around to different hardware stores, usually the one that carries everything in creation is the one you want. Every town has at least one of these.The 3/8" works well for the tops of the mice bins as well. Even if you pay a little more you make it back on the cheap dog food.

Bruce