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Well finally got my grow out rack somewhat done….still missing the top level that will hold the water container, but at least it’s now usable. Hopefully this weekend I’ll get that welded up and painted. The entire rack is made with 2cm square steel tubing and each level is removable.

This rack can hold roughly 50 adults per level or 100 weaners/smalls, at the moment it’s holding close to 200 rats.

Thanks for looking!

Pitoon

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That's a real nice setup ! I guess you don't have to worry as much about the gap between the tub and the rack where it slides into place as I know if that rack had ASF rats in it you would have a chewed up tub an entire tub worth of loose rats in about 6 hrs (maybe less)!! I'm not real crafty at building stuff so I had a buddy build mine out of wood and 1/4 hardware cloth. I told him about the gap being as tight as possible , but he didn't listen and had them set up about like you have yours here. Well like I warned him they ruined the tubs and got out into my new building. I had to go thru them myself with another friend and fix them all so the gaps were half what he had. I'm sure the domestic rats of size have to big of heads to get their teeth in there but just keep in mind ASF rats are far craftier and anything close to a gap like that won't cut it, trust me I know! Better to build them with the least clearance possible so you never have to go back and adjust them again like I did. Something to think about if your going to build a bunch I guess! I like how yours turned out , very nice!

Anthony McCain

i've been thinking for months....on how to build an escape proof rack for ASF's. i plan on starting a new colony this summer and need to build a rack dedicated just for them.....problem is the chewing.

i was thinking about making my own tubs out of fiberglass, but i need to make a mold first and that takes some time to do it right.

do you still have your rack with the ASF's? would you be kind enough to post pics so i could get some ideas. steel isn't cheap so i need to work out all the bugs before i get on to cutting and welding up the pieces.

thanks in advance!

Pitoon

>>That's a real nice setup ! I guess you don't have to worry as much about the gap between the tub and the rack where it slides into place as I know if that rack had ASF rats in it you would have a chewed up tub an entire tub worth of loose rats in about 6 hrs (maybe less)!! I'm not real crafty at building stuff so I had a buddy build mine out of wood and 1/4 hardware cloth. I told him about the gap being as tight as possible , but he didn't listen and had them set up about like you have yours here. Well like I warned him they ruined the tubs and got out into my new building. I had to go thru them myself with another friend and fix them all so the gaps were half what he had. I'm sure the domestic rats of size have to big of heads to get their teeth in there but just keep in mind ASF rats are far craftier and anything close to a gap like that won't cut it, trust me I know! Better to build them with the least clearance possible so you never have to go back and adjust them again like I did. Something to think about if your going to build a bunch I guess! I like how yours turned out , very nice!
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>>Anthony McCain
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Homepage
My BLOG
2010 European Shows

I'll send you some pics directly once I get some taken. You've emailed me before but just 2 be sure send me another message and I'll try and get back to you once I get some time . Your racks would likely work you just have to have clearance so small that a standard ink pen can't slide thru between the tub and the wire above. The ink pen idea seemed to be the trick , if I could only fit the tip of the pen in the gap and nothing more (meaning I couldn't slide the pen in past where the pen tappers to the actual pen's shaft or basically much past the first 1/2" of a pen obviously using the end you would write with as the gauge) the ink pen worked fine as a guide to go around the entire tub before we put the final screws in place to hold each wood brace in place ( refering to the brace that supports each side of the tub and the tub slides on each brace much like he has in his pic above but I used wood instead) . That's the best trick I came up with to tell beforehand if it was a tight enough fit or not. Last I checked the ASF's don't really use tape measures so we didn't use one either for the final adjustments, we used the ink pen and our eyes, that was all, lol!

Anthony McCain

ok, so that makes some sense....probably about 2-3mm gap. i just sent an email to you.

thanks for the idea!

Pitoon

>>I'll send you some pics directly once I get some taken. You've emailed me before but just 2 be sure send me another message and I'll try and get back to you once I get some time . Your racks would likely work you just have to have clearance so small that a standard ink pen can't slide thru between the tub and the wire above. The ink pen idea seemed to be the trick , if I could only fit the tip of the pen in the gap and nothing more (meaning I couldn't slide the pen in past where the pen tappers to the actual pen's shaft or basically much past the first 1/2" of a pen obviously using the end you would write with as the gauge) the ink pen worked fine as a guide to go around the entire tub before we put the final screws in place to hold each wood brace in place ( refering to the brace that supports each side of the tub and the tub slides on each brace much like he has in his pic above but I used wood instead) . That's the best trick I came up with to tell beforehand if it was a tight enough fit or not. Last I checked the ASF's don't really use tape measures so we didn't use one either for the final adjustments, we used the ink pen and our eyes, that was all, lol!
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>>Anthony McCain
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Homepage
My BLOG
2010 European Shows

I raise mice, ASFs & rats and the gap between the mesh top and tub is very tight! It takes a little bit of effort to slide each of my tubs in and out. No chewed up tubs and everyone is contained! I'm with Anthony, tight as you can get it.

Nice set up by the way!

Alan

Thats such a cool setup. I wish I had talent like that.
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

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