What tank/rack is the best?

[mikesmelly]

So I'm looking into new caging options, and I'm not sure what the "best" method would be.

If I went with the rack system:

• http://www.reptilebasics.com/iris-cb-70-rack
  
  • Iris CB-70 rack with three tubs. About $100 per shelf.
  
  
• http://www.reptilebasics.com/flat-pa...s/cb70-5-rack/
  
  • CB-70 five rack, tubs not included, and some assembly required. Found tubs on LLLReptile which would make the total price per shelf ~$91.
  
  
• http://www.boaphileplastics.com/rhin...ball_room.html
  
  • The "Ball Room Rack". Comes assembled. $114 per shelf.

Now if I went with a traditional cage:

• http://www.boaphileplastics.com/421d.html
  
  • The 421D cage from boaphile. This is the cheapest one I've seen for $289.

I want to have multiple snakes in the future. I want to give them the best environment possible, but for $289 per tank, it really pushes me towards racks, but are those good options? Will snakes be happy and healthy in a rack for all their lives?

What about building my own cages, does anyone have any guides on how to do that and how much it would cost?

[frostysBP]

I make 4foot cage out of hdpe plastic and a 2x2 frame with sliding glass doors .that are 4lx2wx1.5h for 100$ all supplies at manards there are a lot of how tos in the diy section

[Albert Clark]

C serpents racks are tops to me. The 3 tub v70 is for adult animals over 2000 gms. I think it comes in a 5 tub selection also. The racks are stackable and have a pretty good record for quality.

[DennisM]

You can get an animal plastics T8 for $150 plus shipping . Same size as the 421D. I use AP cages for my adults, but there's nothing wrong with an appropriately sized rack.

[bondo]

You can get an animal plastics T8 for $150 plus shipping . Same size as the 421D. I use AP cages for my adults, but there's nothing wrong with an appropriately sized rack.

Yup AP makes nice cages they also have racks. I would definitely go rack before cage. It takes up less floor space and gives you room to grow.

[anicatgirl]

I appreciate this thread. I have been pondering what I want to do for my BP when she gets bigger. And what I would put a larger snake like a short-tail boa or a carpet into for life. Good info to have

[AllieKin]

I did this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLDxk2yp2Vs

Except I used heat tape. Not attractive, but so cheap and so functional.

[C2tcardin]

My only experience owning a rack is from CSerpents and I love it. Have the 5 tub V70 rack and I'm hoping to get the 3 tub version this Summer/Fall. I've seen the Reptile Basics racks and they are very nice too so I wouldn't hesitate ordering from them. If the Repticon show ever comes near you Chris at CSerpents tends to be there (at the east coast shows) so you can pick them up right at the show and save money on shipping.
My other 7 tub rack I made myself from expanded PVC board which is much lighter than Melamine and is flame resistant and you never have to worry about water as it's impervious. I was able to get a 4x8' cut sheet of it from a local sign shop for $189.20 (includes NC tax, and cost for cutting in to the pieces I needed).
Here is the total break down of my cost to build a 7 tub Vision rack.

$31.50 for heat tape (14' of 4" THG tape)
$4.99 for wiring cord
$189.20 PVC cut to order (4'x8')
$92.54 Vision tubs shipped (7-V70's)
$29.22 for birch sides (4x2'x1/4")


= $347.45 total
I close the sides of mine with the Birch plywood sheets that I painted black to match the PVC, this holds in the heat and humidity better.

Having started with glass tanks and struggling with keeping temps and humidity in the right ranges I have to say racks are without a doubt the best option! They are easier to clean, keep temps right, adjust humidity, and move, and the list goes on and on. I have some build shots but I didn't make a video or anything like that but if anyone is interested I could provide some more detailed instructions on how I did it. I would say don't follow the youtube video of the guy doing the stack method of tubs and shelves with spacers unless you secure each shelf one at a time then move up to the next. If you do it his way the weight will compress the bottom tubs and your gaps will all be wrong. I made my first rack this way and the top tubs were so tight I could barely get them in after assembly despite using 1/4" spacer boards. Hope this makes sense?

[C2tcardin]

Ooops, one typo, the 7 tub rack I built was for Vision V-28 tubs not the 70's, that's my 5 tub rack from CSerpents.