This is getting ridiculous

• From Target: 28 - 15qt tubs, 13 - 32qt tubs, 1 - 60qt tub = $293
• Reptile Basics: 100ft 3in heat tape, 50 clamps = $261
• Helix Controls: 4 Helix thermostats = $549
• Wal-Mart: Appropriately sized water bowls for 27 juvenile tubs, 13 adult tubs , and 1 huge adult tub = $156

$1200 today and I still need like 3X more tubs and water bowls, a large cooler to turn into an incubator, materials for 3 large snake racks, materials for the rat rack, and heaters for the snake room, garage, and quarantine room. Oh...my...god! I was *completely* clueless as to what I was getting in to when I let my wife talk me in to this. lol...

I love all of these little guys to death, but can the unforeseen expenses be over now? Please? :please:

Unfortunately, this is very common. Snakes aren't cheap and it seems as if you have almost 50 snakes, so that is quite a load to take care of.

But i have heard of people spending tens of thousands to get caging and supplies, so $1200 isn't all that bad.

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Originally Posted by spitzu

• From Target: 28 - 15qt tubs, 13 - 32qt tubs, 1 - 60qt tub = $293
• Reptile Basics: 100ft 3in heat tape, 50 clamps = $261
• Helix Controls: 4 Helix thermostats = $549
• Wal-Mart: Appropriately sized water bowls for 27 juvenile tubs, 13 adult tubs , and 1 huge adult tub = $156

$1200 today and I still need like 3X more tubs and water bowls, a large cooler to turn into an incubator, materials for 3 large snake racks, materials for the rat rack, and heaters for the snake room, garage, and quarantine room. Oh...my...god! I was *completely* clueless as to what I was getting in to when I let my wife talk me in to this. lol...

I love all of these little guys to death, but can the unforeseen expenses be over now? Please? :please:

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These aren't unforeseen these are just expenses of getting set up. You'll learn like you could have saved yourself a couple of hundred buck by buying a Herpstat pro that'll run 4 rack's. Wait to buy tubs till after Christmas they go on sell.

Just some friendly advice.. Buy an extra Helix and extra Probe with winter coming and the power going on and off I've lost a helix to power surges and flickering, you don't want to get suck with a rack that is without power for 4 days waiting on a replacement thermostat. As for the probe they tend to get caught or mangled so have an extra one on hand.

Best of luck.. Now you see why people tend to get scared off their first year.. with the thousands you spend just to get started..But it's so worth it..

Like we all see now, this may not be really a cheap hobby to start. I think the unforeseen costs will be like the substrates, medicines if they get sick, and the electricity to run all those heaters, mine.......

The cost of a good set up is well worth it in the end. And I agree keep a extra helix around.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spitzu

• From Target: 28 - 15qt tubs, 13 - 32qt tubs, 1 - 60qt tub = $293
• Reptile Basics: 100ft 3in heat tape, 50 clamps = $261
• Helix Controls: 4 Helix thermostats = $549
• Wal-Mart: Appropriately sized water bowls for 27 juvenile tubs, 13 adult tubs , and 1 huge adult tub = $156

$1200 today and I still need like 3X more tubs and water bowls, a large cooler to turn into an incubator, materials for 3 large snake racks, materials for the rat rack, and heaters for the snake room, garage, and quarantine room. Oh...my...god! I was *completely* clueless as to what I was getting in to when I let my wife talk me in to this. lol...

I love all of these little guys to death, but can the unforeseen expenses be over now? Please? :please:

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If you are good with solder iron, you could of saved a good chunk of change not buying clamps.

Heh, I'm not sure which the OP is probably disliking more right now. The cost of set up... or being told he could have saved money.

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Originally Posted by ace_singapore

Like we all see now, this may not be really a cheap hobby to start. I think the unforeseen costs will be like the substrates, medicines if they get sick, and the electricity to run all those heaters, mine.......

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Don't forget the food bill. For some people it can really be INSANE!!!!!!!:taz::taz::taz:

Like it's been said before, this is not a hobby to try and make a quick buck or even a profit out of. Most likely your prob be down 10K or so by the time it's all said and done.........
But goodluck to you in w/e your goals are

With that kind of investment I'd highly recommend a back up generator. The bad news of this is that cheap generators and proportional controls (I am not 100% sure of helix but herpstats absolutely) don't play well together (anything other than PURE SINE WAVE can cause the thermostat to 'stick' wide open and cook the collection) I know Honda are pure but I am not sure about others most are modified sine wave which is questionable.

sorry for that one but I believe it is prudent unless you live someplace warmer than I do!