Lidless Hatchling-Safe Commercial Rack

Does anyone know of a lidless rack system that's hatchling approved? I want one that is commercially made (because I'm not very good at DIY racks) but I also watch it to be essentially escape proof. I'm not really opposed to a rack that requires lids, but it seems like most commercial racks are lidless. Next season will be my first season breeding corns and I want to have a hatchling rack ordered and on the way by the end of the year.

I was looking into this rack: http://www.reptilebasics.com/interde...or-68-tub-rack Any comments? I've already e-mailed Rich to ask about the gap between the tub and the rack. He replied saying this rack was specifically designed for small hatchlings like that. His gaps on the sweaterbox and CB-70 rack (I use these for my ball pythons and adult corns) are very, very minimal. My only other concern is that the tubs in this rack are very small and the corns will probably outgrow them in a few months. HOPEFULLY I won't have many babies by then but I'll have a back-up rack with 6qt tubs just in case.

I've also looked into getting a custom made rack from Herptastic Reptiles (a facebook-based company). Chris just came out with a new line of XPVC racks and I had him quote me on building a 60 tub rack out of these containers for tubs ( http://dgc.imageg.net/graphics/produ...185238v380.jpg ). It's actually cheaper than the 68-tub RBI rack. However, with both racks, I don't want to order a rack and it not be tight enough to prevent escapes.

Do you think either of those options would work? Or do you suggest something completely different. I'm really open to options, but I would rather stick to commercially made and steer clear of melamine/wood-based racks. I like the look of XPVC and the fact that they hold heat well and are light weight. Not to mention, it pleases the slightly OCD part of me that likes all my racks to "match". I'm not sure if there is an plastics place in Houston, TX were I can get sheets of XPVC. On top of that...I'm not sure I'm handy enough to know how to drill in plastic. Worst case, I build my own melamine rack. I'm just trying to keep things nice and pretty.

I'm getting two of these 18 tub hatchling racks delivered tomorrow! Chris is super to work with!

http://cserpents.com/C_Serpents/V-18.html

And his main page is http://cserpents.com

If anyone can put up with me and my endless questions, they've got to be a good guy!

Seriously though, I've seen Chris at many shows, and know lots of people that use and love his racks.

You really can't go wrong with Reptile Basics' racks either!

I like the idea of reptiles basics rack for colubrids but the size maybe an issue, if you wholesale your corn right away or move them very fast it won't but if you are selling them retail and it takes a while 6 quarts maybe the best option.

I use to house my Milksnakes in 6 quarts tubs from AP (Economy line), looks huge at first but it gives them room to grow and you can use that rack for other species as well.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I'm getting two of these 18 tub hatchling racks delivered tomorrow! Chris is super to work with!

http://cserpents.com/C_Serpents/V-18.html

And his main page is http://cserpents.com

If anyone can put up with me and my endless questions, they've got to be a good guy!

Seriously though, I've seen Chris at many shows, and know lots of people that use and love his racks.

You really can't go wrong with Reptile Basics' racks either!

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I've got a V-18 rack purchased and on hold for me from Chris. I'm picking it up at the NARBC in a couple of weeks. I'll get a good chance to look at his hatchling racks and if I like them, I would consider those as well. I just wasn't sure about the gap with regards to baby corns.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I like the idea of reptiles basics rack for colubrids but the size maybe an issue, if you wholesale your corn right away or move them very fast it won't but if you are selling them retail and it takes a while 6 quarts maybe the best option.

I use to house my Milksnakes in 6 quarts tubs from AP (Economy line), looks huge at first but it gives them room to grow and you can use that rack for other species as well.

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My thought was to use the smaller tubs for the brand new babies and those that don't sell get moved up to a 6qt rack. However, it may be in my best interest to just get the 6qt racks and get one from AP that can hold a lot of tubs.

With regards to the AP racks, can you use them lidless? I wasn't sure if the tubs would be tight enough. What I may have to do, regardless to what rack I end up purchasing, it creating a little shim underneath all the tubs to make sure they are flush against the top of the rack. I worry about this because the DIY rack that I have is so tight I can barely get my tubs opened. I house subadult and adults corns in those while the top rows are my ball python hatchling racks for now.

I have one of the reptile basics 68 tub baby racks and I love it. I've kept as small as 4 gram hatchling spotted pythons in it and never had a worry about escapes, there's not a lot out there that will be much smaller than them hardly, unless you hatch out the occasional extra small runt of a corn, they will be larger than the spotteds. I've also had a number of newborn kenyan sand boas in it, I think 6-8 grams was the smallest of those although that would be much fatter babies than the spotted pythons were. I do have some hatchling bp's in it right now, although they won't last in it for long before quickly outgrowing it and needing to move up to something else soon.

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Originally Posted by rascal_rascal_99

I have one of the reptile basics 68 tub baby racks and I love it. I've kept as small as 4 gram hatchling spotted pythons in it and never had a worry about escapes, there's not a lot out there that will be much smaller than them hardly, unless you hatch out the occasional extra small runt of a corn, they will be larger than the spotteds. I've also had a number of newborn kenyan sand boas in it, I think 6-8 grams was the smallest of those although that would be much fatter babies than the spotted pythons were. I do have some hatchling bp's in it right now, although they won't last in it for long before quickly outgrowing it and needing to move up to something else soon.

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This is the kind of response I needed! Hatchling corns are anywhere from 5-8g but most in the 6-7g range. I'm just super paranoid about escapes because the people I live with HATE snakes. The last thing I need is a bunch of escaped corn snakes.

I've hatched plenty of corns in the past, the spotted pythons I hatch now are definitely smaller. I'm not saying some corns can't be as small, but I've never hatched a corn myself that couldn't take a day old mouse pinky, I have had a few spotted pythons that couldn't.

I don't put holes in my bins for my RB68 baby rack either and have not had trouble with them not getting enough air. I think some people may drill small air holes in them, I don't though and have not had problems because of it.

I've never had to drill holes in the RBI racks.