A big thanks to our Wild Bill for the idea and the details!
http://www.reptileradio.net/reptileradio/showthread.php?t=9435

I finally got around to setting up a couple 4x2x2 galvanized troughs to grow out soft furs in. It's not 100% done yet, I'd like to add some blocks so the tanks don't slide on the shelves along with a rail system for the bottom deck but it's just about there. Also need some pavers to weight down the screen tops. Just wanted to share the overall design. I have very limited space, so side by side troughs isn't really an option. Skyscrapers it is! I can easily reach the bottom of the top trough with the dustpan I use to scrape out old bedding during cleaning, too. :cheers: Pieced together from scrap stuff I had lying around, so it was cheap to build. Cost for the troughs was something like $70 each at Lowe's, and since I don't have anything to haul them in I also picked up some other large items and got Lowe's to deliver everything.

Bottom trough is on a platform that has swivel wheels mounted underneath, and the top platform/shelf was built after that one. When I'm not down there messing around, the bottom trough will be slid out so those rats will get some light and air circulation. There is a window nearby, and I have a fan set up to the right that blows air across the rodents.

I drilled (so far) just one hole for drinking nozzles, just the standard Edstrom rat sippers. Mounted them with a washer because that just sounded like the right thing to do, and have a 5 gallon water bucket sitting overhead on top of the asf breeder rack next to these. My pig feed hoppers aren't in yet, but I'll be modifying them very similar to Bill's final design.

(click for full-size pictures.)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/kachinahl/BP%20Pics/th_rg1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/kachinahl/BP%20Pics/?action=view&current=rg1.jpg)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/kachinahl/BP%20Pics/th_rg2.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/kachinahl/BP%20Pics/?action=view&current=rg2.jpg)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/kachinahl/BP%20Pics/th_rg3.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/kachinahl/BP%20Pics/?action=view&current=rg3.jpg)

Looks good, I'm up to 3 with breeding rats in them now. Work like a charm....:yessir:

I've got one tank like that with rats in it that's operating (I have another tank set up, just don't have any girls for it yet)... I LOVE the way it works!!!

I have been trying to come up with a way to stack them like that... I really like your pull-out design.... I'm going to work on that... after the sun goes down... I'm currently digging through my yard on all 4's looking for a 4 leaf clover...

~Beth

Thanks for the mental image. :lmao: Good luck!

I did it that way because I needed for them to be short enough that I could get into the top one without a step stool that I would just continually fall off anyways.

<----- Clumsy

This will hopefully work out nicely, I just have to remember to slide out that shelf on my way upstairs so they get air and light.

I may have to look into this. I would love to move the grow up rats outside.

Thanks for the mental image. :lmao: Good luck!

I did it that way because I needed for them to be short enough that I could get into the top one without a step stool that I would just continually fall off anyways.

<----- Clumsy

This will hopefully work out nicely, I just have to remember to slide out that shelf on my way upstairs so they get air and light.

That was my first thought, I'd be too short to get into the top one. :lmao::lmao: I love the idea. With Jeff building a shed for my rodents that would be an excellent idea for the breeding and grow out tubs!

Thanks!

Thanks for the mental image. :lmao: Good luck!

I did it that way because I needed for them to be short enough that I could get into the top one without a step stool that I would just continually fall off anyways.

<----- Clumsy

This will hopefully work out nicely, I just have to remember to slide out that shelf on my way upstairs so they get air and light.


Out of curiosity... how tall are you??
I have been messing with mine and I'm not sure I can reach the bottom of the top tank like this....


<----- Also Clumsy.... and afraid of ladders/step stools, thanks to my ex husband.....

~Beth

I'm 5'11". I use a plain old dust pan to scoop bedding out of the bottoms, already tried it and it gave me a little bit of a sore armpit but was manageable. Worse comes to worse I can just lift the tank up and put it flat on the floor to work with. :lmao:

Some of the dust pans have a notch and you can use a piece of pvc to extend its reach and yours. I use it to clean cages on some spunky boas

I'm 5'11". I use a plain old dust pan to scoop bedding out of the bottoms, already tried it and it gave me a little bit of a sore armpit but was manageable. Worse comes to worse I can just lift the tank up and put it flat on the floor to work with. :lmao:

Yup Tama, you and I would be a no can do on that!:lmao::lmao:
(At 5'11" you've got a foot on us!:cheers:)

Yup Tama, you and I would be a no can do on that!:lmao::lmao:
(At 5'11" you've got a foot on us!:cheers:)

yea... I'm only about 5 inches shorter but I'm not thinking I could reach either... maybe I'll have the boyfriend build me a step stool with a cage around it so I can't fall off..... kinda like the trampoline net things...

~Beth

Maybe we clumsy gals could rig up some sort of a safety harness for use with step stools. :lmao:

Yup Tama, you and I would be a no can do on that!:lmao::lmao:
(At 5'11" you've got a foot on us!:cheers:)

:lmao: :lmao: Yep, she is a giant compared to you and Tams! She has seven inches on me as well. Just proud to hear we have another Clumsy one in the group! :cheers:

Very nice work!!! :yes:

I'm 5'11". I use a plain old dust pan to scoop bedding out of the bottoms, already tried it and it gave me a little bit of a sore armpit but was manageable. Worse comes to worse I can just lift the tank up and put it flat on the floor to work with. :lmao:

I barely make 5'5" in heels! I still like the idea though, will just mean I will have to have Jeff build me one of those cool ladders that wheel around the room like they have in libraries.:lmao::lmao:

Some of the dust pans have a notch and you can use a piece of pvc to extend its reach and yours. I use it to clean cages on some spunky boas

Very nice idea! Save the back and keep me from falling in.:yes:

Very nice idea! Save the back and keep me from falling in.:yes:

Oh that visual is a thing of joy right there! Tiny little Tama legs waving in the air, headfirst into the tub!:lmao::lmao::lmao:

Falling in, hell all I can picture is the feet sticking out from under the house in the wizard of oz...not that I would dare call any of you ladies witches...lol

Looks like a good design overall :rockon:

Oh that visual is a thing of joy right there! Tiny little Tama legs waving in the air, headfirst into the tub!:lmao::lmao::lmao:

It could happen.:eek::lmao:

I barely make 5'5" in heels! I still like the idea though, will just mean I will have to have Jeff build me one of those cool ladders that wheel around the room like they have in libraries.:lmao::lmao:


Here you go Tama, these are actually very sturdy.....:yes:

http://home-solutions.hsn.com/easy-rolling-stable-step-stool_pf-274089_xp.aspx?club_id=274089&sz=888&sf=HW0056&mr:referralid=d575917b-825e-11df-a6a3-000423bb4e79&rdr=1&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engine-_-NexTag-_-Home%20Solutions-_-274089

Here you go Tama, these are actually very sturdy.....:yes:

http://home-solutions.hsn.com/easy-rolling-stable-step-stool_pf-274089_xp.aspx?club_id=274089&sz=888&sf=HW0056&mr:referralid=d575917b-825e-11df-a6a3-000423bb4e79&rdr=1&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engine-_-NexTag-_-Home%20Solutions-_-274089

Well that takes all the fun out of it when it locks down when you stand on it!:lmao::lmao:

Well that takes all the fun out of it when it locks down when you stand on it!:lmao::lmao:

I'm looking out for Tams......:yes:

Falling in, hell all I can picture is the feet sticking out from under the house in the wizard of oz...not that I would dare call any of you ladies witches...lol

Oh do I now have a present for you come Tinley!:devil::devil:

I'm looking out for Tams......:yes:

Cuz you are a much nicer person than I!:cheers::cheers:

Cuz you are a much nicer person than I!:cheers::cheers:

Duh......:lmao:

Duh......:lmao:

LOL! Just remember, that ain't saying much!:lmao::lmao::lmao:

LOL! Just remember, that ain't saying much!:lmao::lmao::lmao:

:greenman::greenman::greenman:

Oh do I now have a present for you come Tinley!:devil::devil:

Make sure you bring something for my little dog too :lmao::devil::lmao::devil::lmao:

Here you go Tama, these are actually very sturdy.....:yes:

http://home-solutions.hsn.com/easy-rolling-stable-step-stool_pf-274089_xp.aspx?club_id=274089&sz=888&sf=HW0056&mr:referralid=d575917b-825e-11df-a6a3-000423bb4e79&rdr=1&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engine-_-NexTag-_-Home%20Solutions-_-274089

Have those at work. They are nice...but I now want that rolling ladder around the room. :devil: Seriouly I'd have to get something like that.

Well that takes all the fun out of it when it locks down when you stand on it!:lmao::lmao:

Safety Sara Safety. I know it would be much more fun to wheel around on it.

I'm looking out for Tams......:yes:

So sweet to me.:p

I think a full body harness tied to a rope hooked to a pulley system attached to the rafters is the way to go...then you can just float above the tanks and reach in to clean...:lmao:

Maybe this would help. I found it after some research :rebel:

Maybe this would help. I found it after some research :rebel:

Yeah...that's the ticket! :lmao:

Maybe this would help. I found it after some research :rebel:

:lmao:

If anyone in the south wants to try this I've got a graveyard of stock tanks going to waste.

I think a full body harness tied to a rope hooked to a pulley system attached to the rafters is the way to go...then you can just float above the tanks and reach in to clean...:lmao:

That sounds like fun. Might come in handy for the taller snake racks, too.

I got my hog feeders put in, done in the style of Bill's, and introduced the first group of soft furs. So far so good.