Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As not to Hi- Jack Pyros thread I will answer the Rat Rack questions here. Big-T I use cement mixing tubs. I got them at Lowes. They are not the extra large size though I don't see why the XL wouldn't work. I hade to wire mesh it completely because I have it outside under a make shift car port. I quickly realized I was feeding all the wild life in my yard with this rack so I had to put a stop to it, lol. The front panel comes completely off for easy cleaning, and feeding. I used the Adjustable water nozzles which, as the name suggests can be adjusted with a wrench and pliers. I did have a problem with one nozzle leaking and flooding the bin. But after some tweaking I haven't had any more trouble. I also drilled a small hole in the fron left corner directly below the water nipple, just in case I do have anymore problems. The flood won't drown my rats. It will still make a huge mess, but I can clean up a mess. I haven't learned to resurrect Rats yet, lol. I did a lot of searching before I purchased all the stuff and I think I found the best deal with some items that no one else seemed to carry like the in line filter pictured in the post on Pyro's thread below. I can look up the exact details tomorrow as I have to get ready to go to work in a few minutes. I tell you it's the best money I ever spent. I used to dread cleaning the Rat tanks and changing all the water bottles. Now I just fill the top tank about half way. I could fill it up all the way but I'm chicken. The more water in the tank the bigger the flood if something goes wrong. But even at half way it will last about a week. I started switching my larger kings to rats and it is giving them a big growth sprurt! If you can get your Cribos to eat rats it will save you a lot in the long run too! One rat fuzzy/pup is about the size of a full grown mouse and it takes a lot less time to get there. I'll post more tomorrow!

HOLE in bottom corner

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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Thanks for the info. I'll have to check out those mortar tubs. I work for a block/stone mason contractor but our tubs are just a tad larger. LOL

I try to get all of my snakes onto rats of one size or another. Easier to breed, more bang for the buck and mice suck a$$. I learned the hard way back when I had my big female eastern. She would not eat a rat under any circumstances. Right now I have a male carpet the same way and I have got to find a way to get him onto rats. My BTs will sometimes take rats but somedays the flip back and will want fuzzy mice. Then it's start all over again with live FM, then onto F/T then back to live pinky rats then F/T. Hopefully this will be the last cycle like this.

You were getting ready for work, me I'm getting ready for bed. 3:30 comes early. Look forward to hearing more.

Thanks Jorge
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

OK here some more info! The company is called Reptile Basics. Just add the "dot com" behind it and you can check out their web site. I'll try to include a link but many times the links to other site don't go thru. There is a Quick Connect Tank Connector Kit that is very economical and easy to assemble for the Water tank. It also comes with the inline filter included. I used the Variflow Valves with the mounting clips, and have some shut off valves in convienient places and a drain valve at the very end of the bottom tub so I can drain it or flush out any air that may be in the lines. I haven't really had probelems with air in the lines though. All the parts including the hose and shipping and handling was right at 90 bucks. I could have saved a bit on shipping but I was impatient and went with the faster option.
Rodent watering

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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Thanks. I've seen the reptile basics stuff before and some of the items you can't replicate with common plumbing fittings would be essential purchases such as valves and clips. Most of the plumbing fittings, bulkhead fittings, tubing and the like can be had much more economically at your local home improvement center. I've been making my own bulkhead fittings for years for my homebrewing at a fraction of what they want.

I've been planning a water system using PVC pipe coming from the main resevoir with an inline home water filter. The PVC is easy to drill and tap to accept male NPT to 3/16" barb fittings for the hose. With a main PVC line running from the res down the side of the rack with fittings at each level for hose connects costs could be paired down consideralby. I'm cheap and handy and have a shop full of tools.

I had to do a similar thing for my aquarium air supply system when I had my pet shop. To buy a commercially made system was outrageous. Making my own was very ecomomical.

Thanks for the info though I do greatly appreciate you taking the time.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Yeah if you can replicate any part of it cheaper then that's the way to go. I am better with the wood part of it then the plumbing parts. I thought about doing it myself, but I figured by the time I experimented and screwed it up a few times, I'd be better off just buying it, lol.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

If I were you I would put some holes on the side of the tub. If those things did fill up with water and thats the only hole that thing will get plugged with debris pretty quickly. A hole on the side wouldnt allow debris to settle on it.

Bone

>>If I were you I would put some holes on the side of the tub. If those things did fill up with water and thats the only hole that thing will get plugged with debris pretty quickly. A hole on the side wouldnt allow debris to settle on it.
>>
>>Bone

That is a good Idea. I'm just leary about giving the rats any headstart on chewing a bigger hole. The one on the floor is covered by pine shaings and I did have the bottom one leak due to the valve getting stuck with some debris, and it did the job. I think the trick is finding just the right soze of a hole that won't clog easily, yet will not facilitate the opening of a bigger hole by chewing. I will remember your suggestion if I ever have a problem with the ones I have. I may have to do that one day. Thanks for the suggestion.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Your system looks great. The colony looks healthy and happy. Curious to know what kind of feed are you using? Also just a comment, I have seen individuals use kitty litter pans for colonies too.

--Dennis

>>Your system looks great. The colony looks healthy and happy. Curious to know what kind of feed are you using? Also just a comment, I have seen individuals use kitty litter pans for colonies too.
>>
>>--Dennis

I have used kitty litter pans for mice, but they are just a bit too shallow for rats. Also they are getting harder and harder to find with smooth sides and a square shape. It seems that everyone wants to make they're pans fancier and fancier which makes them less suitable for rodents. I have a few very old ones that are very smooth which I may use to expand my mouse colony or use as holding tubs. The feed I use for the Rats and mice is Mazuri Rodent feed when I can get it. Many times I substitue with Wal Marts Old Roy High Performance Diet(dark Brown bag)for mice, and the Krunchy Bites and Bones(Yellow bag)for Rats. I raised mice for years on the High Performance diet and had great results. I would use it for the rats but it's too small for the 1/2 inch mesh and falls thru. I use 1/3 mesh on my mice which is a specialty item from Valentine Inc. I know many people worry about red dye in the dog foods but having raised mice for decades I will say this. Many many years ago when raising mice on dog foods I often witnessed tumors on my mice from time to time. It was just part of the job. After switching to the Old Roy I have never seen even one case of a mouse with Tumors. I try to get the Mazuri whenever I can but I have to drive pretty far to get it. The feed store near me says they would have to order a Pallet full so they won't do it. I believe they only carry the Purina rodent chow.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Thanks for the info. I may be putting it to use.

Dennis

>>Thanks for the info. I may be putting it to use.
>>
>>Dennis

Hey Dennis I just opened a new bag of the Krunchy bites and bones and the nuggets look smaller and many slipped thru the 1/2 inch mesh. I hope it's a screwup and not a long term change. If you have this problem use Pedigree Dry dog food. It's basically the same thing. Actually the Wal Mart brand is an imitation of the pedigree. If you can get the Rodent chow easily I would go with that, but it is also a bit more expensive.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

40 gallon Zilla breeder tank. Tanya and babies have this; Paul is in a Zilla 30 gallon tank.

This is my concrete mixing tub from Lowes that I kept my toads in until I upgraded them to a big kiddies wading pool. Just before the weather got freezing cold I put the toads back in the concrete mixing tub and have them on the floor in my cabin now for the winter.

36" x 24" by 8"

With lid on.

I am surprised one can use these tubs to breed rats. It doesn't seem like there is enough height for comfort for an animal that likes to stretch up on its hind legs and look around, unlike the toads, who are happy squatting on the ground.

I like the idea of the rack, though, and at the rate I am going with the rats I now have, may well have to build something like this myself! LOL!
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Upon further examination of your rack it looks like the rats do have plenty of head space to stand up and stretch? Or is there a wire screen over the top of the tubs as well?
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

>>
>>Upon further examination of your rack it looks like the rats do have plenty of head space to stand up and stretch? Or is there a wire screen over the top of the tubs as well?
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>>Bob/Chris
>>Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Hey Bob there is a screen top on each level. There is quite a bit of room, but not enough to stand straight up on their hind limbs. We tend to think about our animals in human terms though I think. Rats like snakes, like confined spaces. These tubs are the best option I have found though which still gives them decent space. There are some commecial ones like Freedom Breeders but your talking big bucks there.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Bob that particular tub won't work for rats. They will quickly begin to chew on the ridges on the sides and will escape. I've seen people use sterilite tubs but if they can find the slightest ridge or crease to start chewing on they will escape!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

That's what I thought. I do have instructions for building a rack with the proper tubs. For now I think I will just keep them in the tanks, since I don't plan on starting a big colony of rats, just this one little mama and papa, and sell the young as pets.
One thing I do like about the rats versus the mice is the rats don't stink! I have the rats in the house but could never do that with the mice.

Babies today.
I take Paul out of his tank every day for some social time, since he is all by himself now. He sits on my shoulder and enjoys the attention.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire