Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what size wire do you use on the wooden frames is it 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch squares. i'm talking about the wooden racks that are posted in here it looks like 1/4 inch in the pictures in here and can the mice and rats get to the food with just a 1/4 inch square well thanks everyone

Use 1/4" hardware cloth for mice and 1/2" for rats. I used to wonder how could a mouse push it's snout through a 1/4" hole and open it to chew on food. Well, they actually open their mouths within two 1/4" squares with the dividing wire in their mouth when they bite on the food. The small piece of food they bite off sort of falls into their mouth and they get down to nibble it up. I hoped I explained that okay.

Brian

>>what size wire do you use on the wooden frames is it 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch squares. i'm talking about the wooden racks that are posted in here it looks like 1/4 inch in the pictures in here and can the mice and rats get to the food with just a 1/4 inch square well thanks everyone

thanks for the help. thats what i got is 1/4 inch for mice. guess i'll have to get some 1/2 for the rats. the cage i'm making is single units i'm only going to make 2 or 3 of them mainly to go pick up my mice and rats.and i've already got a metal rack i can sit them on. i'll put a picture of one on here when i'm done that will be later tonight.anyway don't mean to talk your ear off.thanks for the help

I use 1/4 for rats with no problem what so ever. I probably produce 100-200 rats a month and no one is starving.
The only small rodent I've had problems eating through 1/4 hardware cloth is gerbils. It seems to iritate (sp) their snouts.
just my $.02
Thanks,
Derek
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-Derek

Here is my single mouse cage i built tonight.I got 2 of them done.Now i have to build 2 rat cages.Iwanted something that was easy to go and pick up my mice with. Thanks for the help on the wire.Well here it is tell me if you all think it will work or will they chew out of it.The pan is a cement mixing pan. Tried to make it like i have seen on here hope it works.

i use those for rats.. and they work great.. but they wouldnt work well at all for mice..

they are simply too tall.. anything taller than 4" is a waste of space

maybe i misunderstood..

best of luck

dan

everyone on here said to use cement mixing pans from the hardware store and this is all they had this was the smallest. well i guess i can put a rock in it so they can reach there food and water they will not be it it but a few days at a time it is mainly to go and pick them up with.what kind of pan do you use for mice and were you get it from. i think it might be all right when i get shavings in it i hope

I use cat litter pans for mice. I use the "medium" dosikal. I ordered them on-line as they were cheaper that way. ($2.60 each seemed to be the best price I could find) I like to order two tubs for every level of the rack, that way I can clean the pans more efficiently. Have a clean pan with litter ready to load right in, transfer the rodents, then clean dirty pan at my leisure.

I use "vanness" cat litter pans for my mice. They measure 12" long X 9" wide X 3" tall.. and they work great.

i use those cement tubs for rats, and they work good.

best of luck (i hope i did those photos right)

dan

Awesome set-up man! If it isn't too much trouble, could you email me some close-up pix of the corners and tops.
Thanks
pigmyrattler@Hotmail.com
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-Derek

yes i,ll send some pic just wanted to know if rats could eat threw 1/4 in wire guess they can thanks

i use 1/4" for mice..

anything smaller than 1/2" mesh for rats and ive had problems with them not being able to feed properly.. and they look really thin..

best of luck

dan

well i already made them with 1/4 in wire guess i can cut the wire where they feed from and make it 1/2 in do you all think that will work thanks

Arock or a brick, if you can keep a brick clean, might be a great way to dull those claws.

DeMak

STOP building mice racks/cages etc!

Scientists have designed millions of cages to optimize mice health.
Just look up mice/rat cages for scientific research in your browser.

Spend the Money-Save the Time-Get the Best. IMHO

SushiKing

while "lab cages" are great and all..

the money you spend on 1 lab setup would build you a whole ROOM full of racks that work just as well if not BETTER overall.

lab racks are for one purpose alone.. LABS.. they serve a novice feeder breeder almost no purpose other than wasting their money.

if you work in a lab, then buy a lab setup. if not, then don't.