Just a Video

[Abraxxos]

I just thought with the litters I have going right now, I might post a video.
Rat Update - YouTube (http://youtu.be/khxWjYj43LE)

[smy_749]

Hows the smell with something like that?

[Abraxxos]

Hows the smell with something like that?

Just about non-existent amazingly. I dreaded the idea of breeding rats but without a freezer big enough to make bulk orders and with local prices being so high, with 12+ snakes to feed it really wasn't an option. However, I'm really enjoying having the colony because they aren't hard to take care of, they're really social and unlike breeding mice, they don't smell as bad. They have a slight musk but it's just like how a dog smells like a dog. It isn't really malodorous or anything.

It also probably helps that the racks are on my porch which is well ventilated. I would also attribute the lack of smell with frequent bedding changes. I'm sure if I didn't change it, they'd smell more.

[smy_749]

You don't have to heat it in the winter?

[Abraxxos]

Actually, I don't know yet. I just started the colony a few months ago. I have a fan set out there for cooling during the summer, but I'm still not 100% on how I'll be going about keeping them warm. I've experimented a bit with using black out curtains to help maintain temperatures. That and a combinations of wrapping comforters around the racks may help. And during the day, even in winter, being in Florida, we don't get very cold, so I'd only have to worry about them at night. I've thought that, if it becomes a problem, I can just roll the racks and set them inside at night. Hopefully by that point I will have my second rack system, too.

[Mikoh4792]

Maybe some walls of insulating foam could help.