Daytona 2008. Rack search

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I need a 41 quart rack with heat that holds at least 10 tubs. I have been reading and researching for a year. I need to take delivery of something at Daytona show this year.

In time they will be kept in a snake room kept at 82 degrees. For the next two years tho, they will be kept in the living room that is kept at 76 degrees year round.

Right now the front runners for me are:

1.) Vision rack that holds 11 tubs, has adjustable heat cable, offers no insulation, and does not come with tubs. The price at the daytona show is $599. Total including high quality tubs comes to $720.

2.) Reptile Basics rack that holds 4 tubs, has different flexwatt options, has insulation, and comes with normal tubs. The price at the daytona show is $275. Total for three racks (12 tubs) $825.

Any comments, or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Any others that you know of who will be in Daytona that are comperable??? They MUST be 41 quart tubs, and they Must come with heat. I am also getting a helix or herpstat, so any bundle type deals anyone knows about would be perfect.

[jglass38]

My recommendation would be Reptile Basics racks over Vision. I don't like the quality of the Vision racks and I don't like heat cable as a heating source. It gets entirely too hot and if you have a malfunction of the thermostat it could easily get to 125 degrees and cause serious damage or death of an animal. I won't use heat cable for any reason. With the RBI rack you'll want to get belly heat considering that you will have to have the racks in a room below 80 degrees. Otherwise back heat works fine in a temperature controlled room above 80. Hope this helps!

Jamie

[m00kfu]

I wouldn't let the insulation be a deciding factor for you. You can go to home depot and pick up a 4'x8' sheet of foam insulation board for right around $10 if I remember right. Cut it with a utility knife or table saw to fit the outside of the rack and attach it using velcro or double sided sticky tape. I did this for the rack I made when the snakes were being kept in my bedroom, which was kept at 70 degrees year round. The insulation kept the heat in the rack and with the flexwatt set to 94 degrees the ambient temperature in the tubs stayed right between 80-83. I'm pretty sure Connie has posted pictures of this rack in the past, but if I can probably dig some up if you need a visual reference.

[frankykeno]

Mike, I've had no experience with the Vision rack so can't make a fair comment on that one. I do have one RBI rack (the 15 qt, 8 tub one) and can say that it's been a perfect experience. After about a year of owning this rack it's in still new looking condition. Not a bit of warp or anything at all malfunctioning on it. It was plug and play when it came, it's still ticking along a year later without a single worry. Very good workmanship I'd say.

The only issue I ever had was accidentally throwing away the little white pegs that keep the tubs from coming forward (cleaning....oops...tossed them out!). I mentioned it to Rich when I was ordering my new rack supplies and bingo....in the box is a little bag of replacement white pegs. The guy sure does know about good customer service. I wouldn't think you could go wrong ordering from Reptile Basics.

[Rapture]

I purchased a Vision rack, and I never will for my ball pythons... I think the rack is too open and I don't think ball pythons feel very secure in them. In my solid sided Reptile Basics racks almost none of the balls even need a hide box. The Visions also don't hold humidity as well. I do think, however, that there are some Vision rack owners that like them just fine. If I were shopping for a new rack I would personally look at ARS, Reptile Basics, or Animal Plastics.

The only issue I ever had was accidentally throwing away the little white pegs that keep the tubs from coming forward (cleaning....oops...tossed them out!). I mentioned it to Rich when I was ordering my new rack supplies and bingo....in the box is a little bag of replacement white pegs. The guy sure does know about good customer service. I wouldn't think you could go wrong ordering from Reptile Basics.

I don't use my pegs, but that's a good example of Rich's good customer service. He's done some really nice things for me as well and he continues to earn my business.

[Reediculous]

Call Rich (reptilebasics) and tell him exactly what you need! Your search will be over, and results will be great!


Booya!

[Nate]

I've been pretty happy with my Vision over the past year. The quality is pretty good if you ask me. It's not solid metal like Freedom, but it is definitely solid.

The heat rope is great...I've wired and re-wired my rack a few times and it was extremely easy...especially when I had 7 unexpected hatchlings come along and I had to adjust my rack....yep, half of the rack holds adults, and the upper two levels hold babies...I didn't have to buy a baby rack.

As far as I can remember, Jamie, there have been a few cases of flexwatt doing quite the melt job on tubs. T-stat malfunction? flexwatt malfunction? not wired properly? I dunno. Based on my limited experience, the heat rope has been easier to deal with and control over Flexwatt.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I've been pretty happy with my Vision over the past year. The quality is pretty good if you ask me. It's not solid metal like Freedom, but it is definitely solid.

The heat rope is great...I've wired and re-wired my rack a few times and it was extremely easy...especially when I had 7 unexpected hatchlings come along and I had to adjust my rack....yep, half of the rack holds adults, and the upper two levels hold babies...I didn't have to buy a baby rack.

As far as I can remember, Jamie, there have been a few cases of flexwatt doing quite the melt job on tubs. T-stat malfunction? flexwatt malfunction? not wired properly? I dunno. Based on my limited experience, the heat rope has been easier to deal with and control over Flexwatt.

what temperature is the room you keep them in? do you have any problems with humidity?

[Nate]

what temperature is the room you keep them in? do you have any problems with humidity?

Bro we're in Florida Humidity is rarely an issue. sheds are usually good, occasionally broken up and rarely need additional soaking...but when that time comes, I follow this advice.

High 70's - low 80's is my ambient room temps with about ~92 on the warm side.

[sho220]

As far as I can remember, Jamie, there have been a few cases of flexwatt doing quite the melt job on tubs. T-stat malfunction? flexwatt malfunction? not wired properly? I dunno. Based on my limited experience, the heat rope has been easier to deal with and control over Flexwatt.

I've always felt more comfortable with the heat cable on my AP racks than flexwatt. I've heard many stories about flexwatt overheating, shorting out, causing fires, etc. Never heard anything like that about heat cable.