Snake room suggestions!

I want suggestions for my snake room!

My current set up:

I have a rack in my office. It is homemade out of 2 x 4's. Looks ugly, but works. It holds 32 41qt. tubs with lids. I bought it with my ex's entire collection so my snakes would have a place to live when we broke up. I'm going to keep this rack in my office as my breeding rack because their is plenty of room for breeding in a 41 qt. tubs, and I'm a cold person and love how it keeps this room the warmest in my house. LOL I have a tank in my room set up for QT.

I'm ready to expand now! I spent the past 2 weeks painting my extra bedroom (10ft x 13ft) yellow! Yeah, I know that it's bright, but I wanted it to be a happy room. My mom laughed at me when she tried to give me her extra bed. I told her that it would be a cold day in HE#* when I put a bed in that room. I have too many friends that would take full advantage. LOL. The snakes and the American bulldogs help, but there will never be a guest room at my house. I think that a snake room would be way cheaper in the long run. I have too many friends that are mooches.

Sorry about the long story:
It is an extra bedroom without plumbing, so a sink is out of the ?.

I am making my racks currently out of 3/4" melamine board. The 3/4 inch thick stuff makes it difficult for me because its so heavy. I'm 5'2 100lbs. Where can you order or find thinner than 3/4" in a 4 X 8 sheet? I'm just trying to find lighter stuff to work with.

What does everyone use for thermostats? I know that one thermostat can operate multiple racks with the same heat tape, as long as its under the recommended wattage.

I'm building my baby racks with 6 qt sterilite tubs and 11" back heat. My adult male and grow up rack is going to be built around Sterilite 28qt tubs and 4" belly heat.

Can a Herpstate 2 handle 2 different sized heat tape because of the 2 probes? Or, do I need to buy separate ones for the different sized heat tape racks?

What brand do you recommend and how is your snake room set up?

Here is my first rack!!!! Its a baby rack with 6qt tubs. I figured everything out, but had help with the cutting, nailing, and hooking up the heat tape.

http://dailybulldogs.com/message/img_9231.jpg

Now that I know how to do it, I just bought 3 4 x 8 sheets of melamine.

How many teeth do you recommend that the blade have to cut melamine? The saw my friend used ate it up a bit, but not real bad.

I don't really know anything about building racks, but one thing I do know... get an oil-filled radiator heater and a Ranco thermostat to keep the entire room a toasty 80 degrees. :D Best purchase I've made for my snake room.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wax32

I don't really know anything about building racks, but one thing I do know... get an oil-filled radiator heater and a Ranco thermostat to keep the entire room a toasty 80 degrees. :D Best purchase I've made for my snake room.

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I have thought about going that route, but do your snakes do ok without a hot spot?

I know that heat tape and thermostats are a bigger investment up front, but is it easier on the electric bill in the long run?

I have my office rack that has heat tape, night drop ect... for cooling my females.

Would I be better off heating the entire new room?

The balls have heat tape also set to about 90 degrees, just makes keeping the ambient temps in the tubs that much easier. My corns are just kept at the 80 degree room temp.