Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We are finally looking into building out own rodent rack to breed our rodent stock in. I have several questions:

1) On many DIY rodent rack sites they use tubs that are 4-6" deep. What is the recommended tub depth that would allow adult mice to reach the water and food on the top of the hardware cloth?

2) Most sites also use 1/2" hardware cloth as a tub cover. Does this allow for many mice escapes? I have seen smaller mice slip through some very small holes. Would using 1/4" cloth cause problems with feeding?

3) Where do you grow out your weaned mice? In the tubs with the adults? Separate but similar tubs in the same rack? Different rack? Terrariums?

4) ASFs! I breed them for my BPs. Has anyone discovered a non-glass tub that works well for ASFs? I don't want them chewing their way out, and I want them to have enough room.
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Not sure about your mice questions, as I do not breed mice. I do breed Rats and ASF's though and currently use commercial (Bus-Boy Tubs) In purchase them directly at Sam's Club ($11 for a pack of two) The dimensions are 20 x 15 x 6 inches high. They are very, very heavy duty (thick) I have raised colonies of ASF's in them for almost two years and have not had any issues with them chewing threw. They are also large enough to set up 1.3 rats for breeding with great success.

-Jay

On many DIY rodent rack sites they use tubs that are 4-6" deep. What is the recommended tub depth that would allow adult mice to reach the water and food on the top of the hardware cloth?

....I use kitty litter pans....cheap, buy alot of extras,they change sizes all the time...

2) Most sites also use 1/2" hardware cloth as a tub cover. Does this allow for many mice escapes? I have seen smaller mice slip through some very small holes. Would using 1/4" cloth cause problems with feeding?

i/2 inch is what I use...it will allow hoppers to excape....1/4 inch is too small to eat through I think....I don't lose too many, I have traps all over most of the time...

3) Where do you grow out your weaned mice? In the tubs with the adults? Separate but similar tubs in the same rack? Different rack? Terrariums?

I use 20 gal long tanks for the weaned mice...about 17 day old...and one for males to feed, they grow faster and won't fight without females present....and one for female future breeders.....the rest get frozen...

4) ASFs! I breed them for my BPs. Has anyone discovered a non-glass tub that works well for ASFs? I don't want them chewing their way out, and I want them to have enough room.
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kitty pans won't work....find lab cages , polycarbon plastic....1.3 or 1.4 in each tub...lock screen top and water bottle...also glass...LOL....

...I feed lab chow, dog food,corn,oats,sunflower in winter, sweet potatoe to the ASF, and white taders to the hamsters...

...have fun...

.
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..................the air was thick with catcalls..../ no pun intended....not even a muscle in her neck did twitch as she......

Don't they make 3/8 hardware cloth?
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

I thought they would, but I looked everywhere for some when I was making some food hoppers and I couldn't find any. That would be perfect, I think.
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

I was told no,,they don't...

it would be the best...

....
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..................malted buttermilk pancakes flow all day,,,,,,malted buttermilk pancakes flow all day......
..........>>>>>>>>

Id like to see some pictures of you guy's rat/mice breeder racks.
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Got Balls?
Josh Molone

>>Id like to see some pictures of you guy's rat/mice breeder racks.
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>>Got Balls?
>>Josh Molone

I use Cat litter pans for both Mice and ASF. I have never had one chew out of the pan. I do use glass water bottles. I also give them card board tubs from toilet paper to chew on. Normal feed I use for the rest of the rodents and seeds. The asf also love crickets. Nice treat once in awhile.

I have very limited room, so if you guys have any good ideas for a space saver, that would be great.
Also, do you just use the litter pan at the bottom for easy cleanup?
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Got Balls?
Josh Molone

the litter pan IS the whole cage actually....

....look in Exotic By Nature's website....they have nice plans on there that work for snakes or rodent cages...just tweak them a little...

2 x 3 wood
1/2 inch mesh
kitty pans...buy first buy extra ,buy square...
screws

...
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..................malted buttermilk pancakes flow all day,,,,,,malted buttermilk pancakes flow all day......
..........>>>>>>>>

Use 1/4" wire for mice and soft furs and 1/2" for rats.I use 5" deep bus tubs from Restuarant Source.Here is the link.If you use 1/2" wire for the mice the hoppers will squeeze out.
http://www.restaurantsource.com/tablecraft-tabletop-and-servingware--kitchen-supplies/food-storage/food-storage-boxes/ProdDesc-1529N-15303.aspx

Thanks for the link. Do the young mice have any problems reaching/eating through the 1/4" hardware cloth at all?
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

No they do just fine.Those tubs I use for mice and soft furs. I use the smaller mortar mixing tubs from Home Depot for the rats.

Hi Rebecca

I just built 2 four tub racks for my ASFs. I used 5" deep 15"X20" busing trays ordered from a resturaunt supply company. They were less than $2 each if you order 10 or 12. I also got some that are 7 inches deep but I think that is to deep for easing feeding.
They are very sturdy and have handles to help pull out. I would order extras as it makes it much easier on cleaning day to just transfer the rodents to a clean tub and slide back in the rack and then clean all the dirty ones at the same time.

I use 1/2" hardware cloth and have never had an escape but I usually separate the gravid females and bring them inside where its cooler for delivery and weaning, in a 10 gallon tank.

If you go to cornsnakes.com there is a feeder forum and there is post from zoology girl with a good rack design.

The cement tubs would also be a good option and they are much bigger. I am very happy with the bussing tubs and they were inexpensive.

Here is the site for the tubs.

www.webrestaurantstore.com

The 5"deep 15'X20" black tubs are $2.66 each if you order 12.

LLLreptile also has some nice tubs as well as freedom breeder. They are quite a bit more expensive.

Have fun. Its much less work with a rack and extra tubs.