Building a Rat Rack

[Falcon Boy]

www.arbreptiles.com/cages/rat_rack/ratrack.shtml

Alternative rack for those who aren't as skilled at building
www.ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?p=551580#post551580

[cliff]

Unfortunately the photos for the easy-build rat rack have been deleted from the thread. I've joined the group and PM'ed the builder. If I can get some plans or pics I'll make them available here.

[Deleted]

Saw this thread and thought these pics might be of some use.

[Falcon Boy]

Thanks for the pics. What kind of numbers are you able to produce with that set-up?

[Deleted]

Litters ranged from 12 -17, with 14 being quite common. 3 weeks gestation, 3 weeks to 40 grams, one week rest for the female, then back with the male for two weeks. I never really kept good track of the numbers/time frames, but always had rats on hand.
The drinking valves came from here:
www.agselect.com/ED/showdetl.cfm?&DID=11&Product_ID=179&CATID=12

[Falcon Boy]

Sounds like a good set up. I've had a hard time finding out how much the rats actually produced.

Do you do 1.1 per tub or one female and rotate the male?

[Deleted]

I rotate the females in and out of the males bin. One male, 3 females is what I started with and ended up with 5 females, as I built a new rack and added some bins. I can hold 8 bins now, but currently they are all empty. I will probably start up again this fall.
The auto watering system is the BOMB. Just fill the large container when it needs it, and I add a couple teasSpoons of bleach.

[rdpeters21]

Why are you adding bleach to the water? Is it to keep the container and the lines clean?

[Deleted]

Jun 11, 2011 18:44:22 GMT -5 rdpeters21 said:

Why are you adding bleach to the water? Is it to keep the container and the lines clean?

Exactly. Keep bacteria at bay

[kachina]

I know this thread is a bit old, but wanted to add a feeder-growing system I came up with a couple years ago. I breed ball pythons, and always need a steady supply of mice, rats, and soft furs. I used these feed troughs to grow my soft furs to appropriate feeder size, but see no reason why someone couldn't get a good rat colony going in one.

The troughs themselves were 4x2x2, from the local feed store. I drilled a hole near the bottom in each, to accommodate the automatic watering system valves. In theory the sides were too high for rats to jump out, but I went ahead and built some simple screen tops to make sure they stayed in. Feeders were made from pig feeders with the trough parts cut off and 1/2" wire attached so they could eat through.

Worked great during the time I used it, and I plan on setting up some more of these once I am again able.

(click for larger picture)