Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK-- I'm looking at all these different sites and plans for building rat breeder and grow out racks.
I am only seeing people using Van Ness cat litter pans and Mortar mix tubs from Lowes/Homedepot.

I'm wondering why?

I'm measuring them...
Mortar tub ----- 26x24x6
Sterilite tub ---20x14x6
10 Gallon tank---20x10x13

Sooo--- They are all close to the same size-- the mortar tub is bigger but solid black- they can't see out (is that a factor- should they not see out? not sure why I care?)
The sterilite tubs are bigger than the 10 gallon tanks are smaller than the 10 gallon tanks they are in now... so for space that would be better...

The Van Ness litter pans I don't have a measurement for but it would only be for holding one mom and her litter until they are weaned.

I'm thinking the litter pans plastic is cheap and easily chewed but they are used on more than one site with no sign of problems... so the sterilite tubs plastic is thicker but is there a reason we aren't keeping them in the sterilite tubs?

help plz

Are there reasons ppl are NOT using sterilite tubs like what we use for snakes?????

Thanks!!

~Beth
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Until there are none, Rescue One! Get ready to welcome the new and improved Oklahoma Animal Rescue Group -- Just a few weeks away from getting our 501c3 status!!!!!

Hi,

I thought I just saw this post in the ball forum....? Anyway, here is the deal. I use the van ness cp2s for the birthing and I am using the black cement tubs in the black rack. That is my grow out and breeding rack. I have not had any chew outs yet? But here is my opinion on the chew outs.

I have a friend that breeds rats and he used the black cement tubs for years and never had a chew out. Than one night he had two tubs get chewed out the same evening. He looked closely at the tubs and noticed that the two tubs were dented from the bottom up. The were able to get a tooth into the dents. These rats were huge and I personally saw the holes and they were the size of a quarter. It was weird how small a hole those buggers got out with.

So when buying your tubs make sure they are 100 percent flat with no rises or dents. Also make sure there are no cracks or scratches. If the can expose the slightest part of the tub they will chew it to pieces. I will bet my money when keepers get a chew out it could have been avoided if the tub was examined a little more closely.

When ever I clean my tubs I check them very closely for any marks or dents. Good luck and who ever wrote me the email beathcing about that I do not break my posts up, is this any better? I think it was from the guy that never posted the pics he promised a few post back showing how he built his birthing rack.

Good luck,
Mark
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STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Mark is right, if rodents have an exposed corner to chew, they will and eventually will chew a way out. The cat box and mortar tubs are smooth surfaced with no spot for them to chew on.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

>>
>>I'm measuring them...
>>Mortar tub ----- 26x24x6
>>Sterilite tub ---20x14x6
>>10 Gallon tank---20x10x13
>>
>>Sooo--- They are all close to the same size-- the mortar tub is bigger but solid black- they can't see out (is that a factor- should they not see out? not sure why I care?)
>>The sterilite tubs are bigger than the 10 gallon tanks are smaller than the 10 gallon tanks they are in now... so for space that would be better...
>>

Um, not to nit pick but the chief importance is square inches of floor space and the mortar tub is more than double that of the other two. Height over 6 inches is useless unless you give them wheels or something to climb on.

I use sterlite for mice because I don't use a rack and I totally prefer them to tanks for me and for the animals and I like to open an enclosure and not have them come shooting over the sides when I turn my back.
I use wire cages for rats...similar reasons as mice and airflow. And yes, I give the critters wheels and boxes. I also only have 6-10 groups of each.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Busing tubs work great as well. I built a rack with them and love them. Also the tubs fit my FB rack as well a little short but otherwise fit perfect.