How many rats to a tub?

[Oni5000]

I just built my rat rack. It ain't pretty. It's a little crooked, and has a short leg ;)

It works though and I feel safe that they won't get out. Anyway, it holds 5 jumbo van ness cat litter pans that I got from rens feed. I believe they are about 16"x22"x6". I currently have 3 females in one pan and 1 male in the other because the girl at the petstore said I should give them a week before introducing them. Is this necessary?

Given the size of the pan, is it feasible to keep a 1.3 and their babies in the top pan and then use the other 4 pans to grow the young? Or should I change it to 1.2 in 2 of the pans?

[annieb_mice]

It's not necessary to keep them separate for a week.... unless the females are still very young or small. You might find the pans might get a bit crowded when they have litters, but I use large cages for my rats so they have plenty of room.... they are totally spoiled... I know. LOL!!
Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~

[Oni5000]

Hmm...so in tubs this size should I take the mothers out before they give birth?

[mykee]

Toss the male in there, the more time they spend together before becoming a mating colony the better. I would put no more than 1.5 in there, it might get crowded with more, and the male feel overworked. Good luck.

[Oni5000]

mykee,

are you saying 1.5 in there even with the babies staying in there? or is that with moving the pregnant rats into their own tub?

[Linds]

I use Stylette jumbo kitty litter pans in my rack, and I run my colonies 1.2 - 1.4 in each, and never remove any members, except babies when it is time to get weaned. I usually keep them at 1.2 - 1.3 during the offseason though, as 1.4 can get kinda crowded. I have one colony of 1.5 that I run in a 3'x1.5'x1.5' tub.

[Oni5000]

I think i'll keep em at 1.3 then. I have dropdown wire mesh hoppers, but I think in the one with the 1.4 i'm going to change it to a non dropdown mesh with the food on top so they have a little more room in there. Makes it easier to remove the pan too since that's the one i'll be opening/closing the most.