Rack system suggestion?

[BPGuy]

I'm looking for a suggestion for a rack system and currently am trying to decide between Animal Plastics or Reptile Basics (though I am open to other suggestions).

We've got three ball pythons in our house. Two are adult males; the third is a female that is between 12 and 18 months old.

For the past year, the two males have been sharing a T8 (with a divider, of course). Until a few months ago, I used heat tape and flourescent light fixtures as the sole source of heat for the T8. That worked great until the winter hit; the heat tape and light fixtures just didn't seem to warm the enclosure enough. As a result, I switched to Pro-Products radiant heat panels (one one each side of the T8) and, at the strong urging of Bob at Pro-Products, removed the heat tape from the T-8. Although the heat panels have been great at warming the T-8, I wonder whether the panels are a bit too big/strong for the divided T8. Right now, the hot sides run about 92 degrees at substrate level (sometimes getting up to 94), and the cool sides run about 85 degrees at substrate level (though sometimes the "cool" side gets as high as 88). Thus, as you can see, I don't have a large temperature gradient.

Both males have been on hunger strikes for the past several months (as I type this post, I'm at work and don't have access to the feeding logs, but I know it's been at least 4, maybe 5 months since either male ate). I've read the Psychology of Feeding article, and am wondering whether a change of habitat might encourage the males to eat. As a result, I'm looking at either the Reptile Basics CB70-5 Rack (http://www.reptilebasics.com/flat-pa...s/cb70-5-rack/) or one of the Animal Plastics CB70 Adult Racks (http://www.apcages.com/home/). I've already ordered a six-pack of Iris CB70s from Amazon and should receive them tomorrow; thus, I don't need the tubs. The RBI rack seems to be a good deal because it is $349.99 for a five-bay rack with no charge for shipping whereas the Animal Plastics four-bay rack is $310, including shipping (unfortunately, AP doesn't offer a 5 or 6 bay rack, and the seven-bay seems a bit excessive for my needs). However, I don't know what differences there might be between the RBI rack and the AP rack so I would greatly appreciate any information/assistance you can provide.

I'm also curious if anyone thinks that, before I buy a rack system, I should try reinstalling the heat tape on the T8 and then turning down the temp on the heat panel so that it provides an ambient temp of, say, 80 degrees and use the heat tape to get the hot side to 92 or so belly heat. For whatever it is worth, both of these males went on long hunger strikes during last year's breeding season two, but at that time each was in its own 40 gallon glass tank. Also, I feed them both live small or medium rats (though a long time ago they would eat frozen-thawed).

Incidentally, my female is in a 37-quart Sterilite tub that I keep on top of the T8. The heat from the T8 warms the Sterilite tub, and I've got a small ZooMed heat mat that provides a hot spot under the Sterilite tub. Thankfully, the female (which I've had for 11 months) is a consistent eater and has never skipped a meal. My kids affectionately refer to her as "Ms. Piggy."

[CryHavoc17]

What kind of thermostat are you using for your heat panels?

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[BPGuy]

Herpstat 4. It controls both RHPs and the a ZooMed for the tub.


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[BPGuy]

So, any thoughts on the AP rack versus the RBI rack? Differences between the two? Recommendations?

[MJT_23]

So, any thoughts on the AP rack versus the RBI rack? Differences between the two? Recommendations?

They cb-70 5 rack and the iris do look very similar. I'd like to know the differnce as well.

[PeterPieBaldPython]

Just wondering, what did you go with? (and are you pleased?)

Thanks!!

[BPGuy]

I ended up getting the RBI rack that holds five tubs. I bought the tubs from Amazon (pack of 6). I have been very pleased with the rack. Put it on a folding table I bought from Costco. Keep it in my home office, which has a bunch of computer stuff running (so it warms the room). Very easy to clean the tubs (I use newspaper as a substrate). I miss the aesthetics of my T-8, but the rack has proven to be far more practical.


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