Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I am building my rack and I am about ready to acquire my rats. I want to breed my rats in my garage. I live in Denver, CO and I know lots of people breed in their garages here in Denver successfully. Does anyone know what the lowest temps I can keep my bins during winter and what the highest temps I can keep my bins in summer. I am having terrible luck with getting any specific answers on this. And just in case, I will save some of you the time of responding by saying I do not want to keep them in my house or basement. I want to keep them in my garage. I would love to hear from anyone who keeps their rats in their garage in a cold climate like Denver.

Thanks so much for any help,
Mark

I don't have the perfect answers either, but
cold, when they get too cold you will know, the tubs will accumulate water droplets on the sides, and this will be a pain and a mess, and make you work harder cleaning all the time...I would say around 60 will be too cool and too cool for you to work in at times......?

too hot...?....over 86? the sperm count will drop and take 2 weeks?to rebound....you want them cooler than 85....

so....ceramic heater and a small AC unit in the garage and you'll be fine.....60 to 75 they will be good to go....

....close enough....???...you can Google this stuff online somewhere.....colleges and labs breed mice and probably have info on lots of sites....

...mine are in the basement....winter runs 65 usually I bet and summer runs 75 to warmer....too many animals...no AC unit...

...good luck..
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Hi,

Thank you for your reply. That is great. It seems to be the right temps that I am finally hearing about. I am using a wood six tub wood rack, how do I use a ceramic heater. I have some 150 watt ceramic heaters but how to I use them with a 6 tub rack? Also what kind of AC unit would work. Do they sell affordable ones that would be adequate? Could I just use a telescoping fan?

Thanks,
Mark

fans blow air they don't change the temps...

ceramic heater/ space heater for the whole room ,not the ceramic bulb ones...

if the room is too big to heat or cool cheaply enough, make a smaller room ,even by hanging tarps to build walls...

A/C unit.....some are cheap...I just got a 12,000btu one for $315.00 with tax...@...Lowes....

....if you breed rats , breed enough to make it worth it...if you need just a few, find someone else doing all the work...

just a thought...???
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