Custom Snake Rack

[Snake Den]

I have spent many months researching how I wanted to design my rack. This is what I finally came up with.


It is designed to hold six 41 qt Sterilite tubs, and six 12 qt Sterilite tubs. This combination of tubs allows me to be able to divide them for either sub-adults, or hatchlings. I used 4" Flexwatt belly heat, which is controlled by the Herpstat 1. I also am limited on space so I included room for the rabbit hutch, since we have a pet rabbit Don't worry, the rabbit doesn't know about the snakes, and the snakes can't get to the rabbit!

Here is the breakdown of how much it cost me:

Home Depot:
-Foil Tape $7.88
-Screws (2" long for melamine) $7.88
-Two 3/4"x49"x97" melamine boards (will explain later how they are divided) $64.50
-Dry erase board material as backboard $14.88
-Tax from purchase $8.00
Lowes (because Home Depot had run out):
-Two 25' rolls of iron on melamine $10.94
-DAP 9 oz White silicone $4.47
-Three 8' long pieces of white edging to act as runners to protect the heat tape $8.01
Walmart:
-Six 41qt Sterilite Tubs $58.66
-Six 12 oz Sterilite Tubs $24.00
Online:
-Herpstat 1 (including shipping) $149.00
Reptile show:
- 28 feet of 4" flexwatt that was pre-wired for me $100.00
Total cost from start to finish, not including tools... because that's what friends are for :
-$458.22

The process of how I built the entire thing is on my blog, http://www.amaze-ballpython.com/

I hope you like it

[AdamL8]

Looks great! You will be needing a second before you know it judging by your list of snakes.

[Mephibosheth1]

Kinda off topic, but how exactly does the flex watt provide the temperature gradient that the snake needs??
Wouldn't it need to all be on one side of the snake's tub??

[Snake Den]

Kinda off topic, but how exactly does the flex watt provide the temperature gradient that the snake needs??
Wouldn't it need to all be on one side of the snake's tub??

The Flexwatt is only run on the back 1/4-1/3 of the tub. It still provides a heat gradient to the front of the tub. Basically the back of the tub is the hot side, and the front is the cold side. Plus our house tends to be maintained around 75F, so it helps the gradient a little. Judging from my rack it is working well. I have some snakes curled up on the heat tape, and some that are cooling off at the front away from the tank, and then they swap out (except my pregnant one who is on the heat 24/7).

[gator8811]

So since the tub sizes are different is the temp in both tubs staying the same?

[Snake Den]

So since the tub sizes are different is the temp in both tubs staying the same?

Yes, they are staying roughly the same. Since the big tub is in the rack sideways, and the small tub is in lengthwise, the area of the bottom of each is 1/3 covered by the recommended amount of heat tape.