Aahhh!! What size rack and style?!?

[chapskis1]

Hi all. Sorry, I know this has been beat to death, but just looking for some advice.

Well, I am planning on buying a rack in the near future -- either from Reptile Basics or Boaphile. My head is spinning a little bit trying to figure out which one to go with!

Is a 32qt tub rack gonna be big enough for adults? Including females? Or should I go with a 41 qt rack?

Also, Boaphile has a sideways rack, and then you can also have a shelf or two of 16 qt. tubs in there as well (which would be cool). What do you folks think of the sideways racks? It seems like it might be more possible for a stong adult to escape from one of those (due to the way the plastic on the sides of the tubs bends). Plus, I know people use sideways racks, but it just seems weird how the hot and cool ends run lengthwise instead of on the ends of the tubs.

Any help and/or input is appreciated!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Style is really up to you as far as rack goes you might also want to check http://www.animalplastics.com/ (They have great racks too)

Males and females up to 1500 grams can comfortably be house in a 32 quarts rack however for larger individuals I would recommend 41 quarts rack.

[Sarin]

Well it all comes down to individual opinions but I'll give you mine..

I house my adult female in a 32 qt tub and she does fine. She's 2500 grams. I also just finished building a 32 qt sideways rack that has 9 slots. Each shelf has its own belly heat connection. It can hold 5 32 qt tubs and 12 15 qt tubs. Or if I need it to, I can also fit 3 6qt tubs per shelf for hatchlings. Since I only plan on having a very small amount of snakes for now, this is what works best for me. One rack fits all sort of thing.. The whole rack only cost me about $500 and that includes a Herpstat and tubs. I never built anything in my life so I admit I was pretty proud of myself after this was finished LOL.

Good luck! Can't go wrong with either company IMO.

[Aes_Sidhe]

I had the same dilemma... even Post a Pool here... most people advice 41 qt but in My very small room (shared apartment...) difference between 41 and 32 was "life and death" thing... i read couple opinions.... and send few PM talk to Bran from BHB and i decided to buy 32 from Reptile Basic... they say That You can keep ball up to 2000g in this rack... Maybe 2000 is to much but I think 1500g Female gonna be more that comfortable in 32 qt... I think Deborah told me that she was breed ball in 32 qt Tubs on the beginning... I plan to do that to but because i don't plan to "faten" my females to extreme sizes. I more than sure that 32qt will do fine I'm getting 1200g female from in middle of April and I put deposit for 902g male and they gonna land in this rack with one hide and water bowl each.... and I think they do just fine...

Hope That helps

[WingedWolfPsion]

I have both, and I have to say, honestly, 32s are not big enough for large female balls. I keep males and subadults in mine. One big male is starting to look a bit cramped.
I use 41 quart sterilites and CB-70s for my adult females.

[j_h_smith]

As you can see from the above posts, there is no single answer. I'm going to add a little more mud to this discussion and say that females up to 2000 grams will do well in a 32 qt tub.

However, if you're building or buying a new rack, it probably wouldn't hurt to just go ahead and build or buy the rack with the 41 qt tubs.

I think someone sells dividers for the 41 qt, so if you need to, you can devide the tub into 2 for your smaller sub adults.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

[Andrew24]

haha i like how no one told you which they like more out of the 2 companies they either don't say anything at all or say they are both good places to get racks from which doesn't really help you haha.. the reason i say this is cuzz this happened to me too... i post the same thing about those 2 racks on here.. you know the whole which one is better.. and the same thing happened to me no one said anything about which one was better..well not that i remember anyways lol...

wish i could help you out but i still do not have a rack so i can't really say which one is better to go with lol..

[chapskis1]

haha i like how no one told you which they like more out of the 2 companies they either don't say anything at all or say they are both good places to get racks from which doesn't really help you haha.. the reason i say this is cuzz this happened to me too... i post the same thing about those 2 racks on here.. you know the whole which one is better.. and the same thing happened to me no one said anything about which one was better..well not that i remember anyways lol...

wish i could help you out but i still do not have a rack so i can't really say which one is better to go with lol..

I didn't really ask where to buy from -- I was just wondering what size tubs to get.

Although the one question that hasn't really been addressed is preference between a standard rack, and a "sideways" tub rack -- and why.

Thanks

[WingedWolfPsion]

I would go for heat on the short side--if you put heat on the long side, it's harder for the animal to get away from it. Heat on the short side gives you a better gradiant for thermoregulation.
What's more, the unit would take up less wall space if the tubs are short-side out. The animals will likely feel more secure as well.

[j_h_smith]

I didn't really ask where to buy from -- I was just wondering what size tubs to get.

Although the one question that hasn't really been addressed is preference between a standard rack, and a "sideways" tub rack -- and why.

Thanks

The choice of which rack YOU decide to buy is up to YOU and how it will fit into the room which it will be set up. I can't tell you to buy the sideways rack if it won't fit in your room. I can't tell you to buy the standard rack if you can't fit that one in the room either. If both racks are made properly, they both will do the job. Either manufacturer will also do the job.

I don't mean to say it this way, but this purchase is really up to you. Find the one that will fit into th room best, then find the best deal on the set up they way you'd like it (belly or back heat etc). At this point money is the answer. Find the best deal for what you want and buy that one.

Jim Smith