Building a big new rack advise!

[Ladybugzcrunch]

Hello all. Income tax returns have allowed me to build a new big rack and I need some serious advise here Subject is tub sizes. Currently the biggest tub I have my biggest ball python in is a 28qt tub( She is about 2500 grams). So many of you out there recommend 41 qt tubs for big females but I need to know if this extra long tub is really necessary. Due to their odd shape, the 41 qt tubs are hard to work into a mixed tub rack and 41 qt tubs take up a lot of space compared to their 28 qt counterpart. This is my second season breeding and my females seem to be comfy in their 28 qt tubs but I don't want to make the mistake of not adding them if they are really going to be necessary. So please give me your opinions and reasons why/why not etc. on what size tubs.

[steve_r34]

I would just build 2 racks one to hold ur females with the bigger tubs and then a big rack to size everything else u can do the 1st 3 or 4 shelves hatchlings and juvs and then move ur breeder males to the bottom rows in bigger tubs

[Slowcountry Balls]

I would definitely build an adult rack. I wrote a thread for how to build a 41 qt rack (12 tubs). I used melamine. I would use Vision V-70 instead of 41 at Sterilite because the V-70 is much easier to clean (no grooves). The V-70 tubs are a little more expensive, but they will make up for that every time you clean your tubs. Here is my thread for the Sterilite 41 at tub rack.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...96#post1622496

[Ladybugzcrunch]

Here is my sketch of the rack I am thinking of building. The grey lines are the heat tape. I currently have 2 racks that hold either 12 28QT tubs or 24 12QT tubs. I have seen a few big breeders (100+ animals) that do not use 41QT tubs at all so that is why I ask. My gut tells me to build to accommodate big girls but wanted to hear how many do without big tubs. I have 3 2000+ gram females that were bred and have ovulated this season in 28QT tubs but can see how if they get to be 4000 grams they might have an issue. What do you think (the rack will be 5' x 6').

[led-zep]

IMHO I would, at the very least have 1 rack that holds at least 4 (41) qt tubs on standby just in case you need it. Some females gets HUGE, most stay average size. There is really no way for you to know for sure what a female will do growth wise, if you really want to chance it by all means. But I wouldn't..

If you do decide to incorporate some 41qt tubs into a rack system sideways (like your design appears to), make sure that the tubs can recess in at least 2-3 inches. I built a rack that had a couple 41qt tubs sitting sideways, but I had to re-engineer it because some of the females were bending the tub at the middle and getting their heads through. Just a heads up.

[jsmorphs2]

Definitely incorporate 41qt tubs or build a separate rack for them. They are an annoying shape but the females can really use the space when the male is in with them, to thermoregulate, bowl wrap, stretch out when they ovulate and lay their clutches. I'm considering converting some rack space into 60/67qt tubs for our biggest girls. They just don't seem to fit in the 41qts anymore.

[Ladybugzcrunch]

I just found a nice looking bin. It is 18x26x6. This equates to 48 quarts. Would this be a good size bin for an adult female full size ball python?

[jsmorphs2]

Even though that size is longer than the 28qts I'd still try to find something over 30" long. I thing the 41s are 34" x 16". But if you can't get anything bigger or don't have the space, those would be better than the 28qts.

[Expensive hobby]

I use Iris MCB-S tubs for babies, and sterilite 41qt for adults. I even have a 10lb burm in one right now. Ya it's a lil cramped but I'm building a new stack of enclosures as we speak for them. 41qt tubs seem to be plenty for any BP's.

Anything bigger than that and the price is ridiculous(just look at the large FB racks, over $2k)

If it's too big for a rack it gets an enclosure. The tubs just don't seem to hold up to the weight of bigger snakes. Here's my setups:

MCB-S racks(13.5qt)


4x2x1 enclosure stack:


Sterilite 41qt racks:


Solo juvie retic enclosure:



I like my Dubstep to go Wop Wop Wop Wop

[coldbloodaddict]

Almost all my breeder females are in 28 qt and 32 qt tubs...I only have about 18 monster balls in CB-70s.