**pics** Oh No ! What Did I Get Myself Into !

[Clubkidcarlos]

Hey all !
Need some advise here !
I finally decided to try my hand at breeding just a couple pairs of rats for my 3 snakes( all boas - btw), so I whipped out the tools, wood, bandages and beer and set to work creating a small extension closet to my back patio.
As the day progressed, the sun burn worsened, and the beer flow ran dangerously low... but I had a simple set up with supplies on the left side, and a couple shelves to the right.
Once stocked with supplies, bins and rats ,... I could stand back and marvel that my structure was decent ! Not leaning like the TOWER OF PISA, structurally sound (-used enough nails and screws to ward off a atomic bomb),.. and actually put most of the paint on the walls and not over the dog. ( Hey !.. I think my dog looks good in CORKSCREW cream )
Here is where the dilemma comes in ! I live in SOUTH TEXAS,....known for it's BIG LAND,...BIG SERVINGS OF FOOD, AND BIG, BAD HOT WEATHER ! I read AFTER building, that temps should be moderate for the purpose of breeding, as rats and mice don't care to "divulge in carnal desires" when it's hot.
DOH !...Hmmmmmmm.... so my question is,.... can I add some oscillating fans in there to help dispell the heat and provide relief enough for them to "do the BIG nasty " ?

Has anyone had outside ratteries, where fans were enough to get the WHOPPEE going instead of installing A.C. units ?
Thanks all !.. I mean... if I need to install a A.C. unit well,.. I'm willing to put a KEGGER on ice for the project, and the dog could use a new LOOK for SUMMER,..(hmmmmmm...how about SAFARI TAN ?!?!?!...thehehh :p

-- HERE IS CHIEF !-- WATCHING HIS FLOCK OF RATS. IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT DISTRACTES HIM FROM EATING HIS WEIGHT IN JUNE BUGS !
-- " HMMMmmm... LOOK AT THIS RAT ! TAUNTING ME !....TEASING ME ! MUST EAT YOU !.. I WANT TO EAT YOU !... HEY .. IS THAT A JUNE BUG OVER THERE ??!?!"
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1382dog3-med.jpg

-- HAD TO TAKE THIS PICTURE TO SHOW THE GIRLFRIEND THAT THIS LARGE RAT IS SOFT AND FRIENDLY, .....MABYE I SHOULD CURE HER PHOBIA BY REMOVING THE CAT WHEN SHE'S CUDDLED UP WITH IT IN BED, AND REPLACE IT WITH THIS GUY ! :eek:
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1382petbigpoppa-med.jpg

-- AND FINALLY-- THE "GLIMMER" QUEEN OF RATS HERSELF--
MA-RATTA' CAREY... "Take a picture of my good side you IDIOTS!...just the right side !! "
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1382ratcloseup.jpg

[reptilez]

Sorry, cant help with your question but it looks like you did a wonderfull job Clubkidcarlos, just make sure that your cat doesn't break into your breeding rack.;)

[Clubkidcarlos]

-- I just don't want to keep the "FOOD" in the house with the smell of pine and rats,.. before long you'ld find me installing some sort of misting system over the cages hooked up to a bottle of POLO SPORT ! :p j/k.

No other replies ? No one else keeps them outside ?
Well, at least one guy does not mind the heat ! :sun:

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1382snakeeat-med.jpg

[Lisa]

Hmmm you might consider making something to provide shade, like an awning, that way there's no direct sun on the rattery it's self. Insulation may help as well.

[rattekonigin]

I'd install the fans, like you already suggested...because with the rats inside the rubbermaids, which are inside that cupboard, they're not going to get any ventilation...and being that it's hot, well...heat stroke rats probably aren't what you're going for...lol

Ya, the fans, or open up the sides of the cupboard by maybe cutting out squares on either side of each shelf and putting mesh in...that'll get the air flowing through...
I don't think direct sunlight would raise the temperature a great deal, because it's already white, which will reflect a fair bit of heat...it's more the lack of ventilation you need to worry about.

[Lizzy001]

lol...love the pics.....u could always MOVE the rats to a cooler place to ....DO THEIR THING and after a while put them back. i might be talkin COMPLETE rubbish because i only ever had a rat as a pet and never breed any animal before....!


Lizzy :zi:

[Clubkidcarlos]

HA HA !! ohhhhhhhh yes !! allready ahead on thinking and it's nice to know my thought patterns are on the right track !
The closet only gets the weak morning sun , and the rest of the day it's covered by shadow,........ little break from TEXAS sun that can make the temps in the shade still hover in the 90's..........
Yesterday I stopped by Home-Depot to grab some wire cloth mesh to really open up the tops and allow for more circulation, and I suppose we'll see what fans will do !

Thanks ya'll !
~ carlos

[Linds]

Rats definitely do not tolerate heat very well. I've noticed that anything over 85 degrees they won't even stand upright, but rather lay upside down on their backs with their legs sticking out. They look dead :eek: I've noticed mice seem to tolerate heat better, though neither will breed in extreme temperatures. I house my feeder rodents in my basement which is 55 degrees in the winter, 65+ in the summer. Sorry I cannot answer your question, but those are my observations on the heat tolerance of rats and mice. Good luck ;)

[marylyn101]

I suggest to use fans in the hottest part of the day and on top of you rattery so fresh air and cool air comes threw. do not place thew fans direstly at the rats or you will destroy there ears making them useless for breeding. Rats are picky when they want to get it on so you have to make everything nice.
you have a lovely rattery
chow

[fr0glet]

Also keeping a large shallow pan of water in their cages will give them a place to cool down... a lot of ratties will just chill in the water in hot weather.

Glad to hear you're replacing the tops with screen, that was my suggestion too! Good luck with that...

[Burmies]

Lools like you are doing allright with the breeding set up. Keep up the good work.

Burmies

[Blackwidow69]

:cool: I would definetly get more air circulation in the rat cages and set up a small fan to push some air.. I noticed how you only had air holes around the top part of there totes, try putting screen on the top. that gives them more air.. I have my breeder rats and gerbils and mice out in the horses barn durring the summer and durring the winter there in the house, rrrrrrrrrr good thing thats only for few months.. looks like you got a nice set up there..;) ;)

[snakemann87]

hey carlos, it seems like you did what you said you would and you did it good too. Very nice. Can't help you with the temp problem though. Good luck

[matt_winter]

Not sure on the question but nice pictures

[jwsporty]

Would a small window air conditioner be something to look at? Or how about setting up an intake pipe that draws air from the basement and THEN the fan venting out. Set the intake at the bottom and the exhaust at the top. Then set up the venting to run for 15-20 minutes every hour? This would naturally only work if the rat house is close to the human house. Maybe tap it into the dry vent and then put some sort of adjustable trap door. on the pipe. Flip the lever one way to vent the dryer, and then the other way to draw air..set the intake pipe as low to the floor as possible to draw the cooler air in the basement. Does that make sense? I use a similiar arrangement to vent mouse smell out of my laundry room/shop area. Ceiling fan over the mouse colonies, tapped to a Y-pipe, the dryer vent on one end, the fan vent on the other side and finally routed to the outside. Flick the switch, close the back room door and rturn in 15 minutes...voila..no mouse smell. No probs either with mousy smelling clothes.

[Clubkidcarlos]

Thanks Everyone for the advice and tips !
~ but I allready worked in opening the tops and creating more airflow back in March ( u can read it in the earlier posts )

Had the first batch of little "ratties" .... a bit on the small side, with only 3 pups. I plan on trying a second time with a second STUD male, just to see if it was from his side...or maybe her's... conditions are great as far as space, food, and water. Maybe a little warm, but the HEAT is yet to be a dominating factor.

Took a couple pics........ enjoy !

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1382littlerats2.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1382ratrack.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1382cuttop.jpg

[reptilesalonica]

That was very clever jwsporty! ;) I believe it's the final solution to rodent's oddor. Good tip!
~Greg~

[jwsporty]

No Problem Greg :) Glad I could help.

Clubkidcarlos: I wouldn't be too concerned about the pup count. My first litter was 3 as well and the second batch was 9. Just feed them well and be patient. They will come ;) Curious though, do you give your rats exercise? I don't see any wheels. I have two cages, both with wheels and they use them alot. If not you will definitely need the space for the juveniles as they are very active. Maybe build a playpen into your structure?

[Clubkidcarlos]

thanks jwsporty for the advice on the peculiar low PUP count.
We shall see what happens with the next round :)

ON the other side of the "rat closet" I have a large, wire, small animal cage where the bars are fairly close together. Plenty of room to run up laders and ramps, walls and what not. So they'll have their room to ROMP ! The YOUNG-ENS that is :p

[jwsporty]

Hey Clubkidcarlos,

That's great. Just a note the same mother that dropped the original three just had another litter yesterday, looks like 10-12, haven't been able to check as mommy was cleaning up the kids.
Good to hear you are giving them room the "play".

Best of luck to ya
Jim