Iris Stacking Drawers?

Well, now that I've got three tubs sitting around our computer room (and keep thinking about all the snakes I'd like to have), hubby and I have seriously started to think about getting some type of rack system going. Thing is, I don't really want melamine (heavy), and I don't want to dish out $200-$300 on a commercially built rack.

At OfficeMax today, I saw these: http://www.irisusainc.com/drawers%20...%20drawers.htm

They stack very nicely, they have sizes for each size of snake, they're fully enclosed so there's nowhere for the snake to get out except the front, and the bottoms are recessed up a little so I could put some flexwatt underneath. Any thoughts? Has anyone tried these?

My only thoughts would be what happens if you run into a heat element problem? At least the fabricated racks are made with materials that are fire resistant. It may not help the snake on that particular level of the rack but it will keep your house from going up in flames.

With some slight modification should work fine.

Be very careful about potential escape routes. Those drawers arent really designed to hold snakes. When I first started keeping bps, I rigged a rack out of sterilite drawers. Had 3 escapes the first night and decided to use the drawers for a different purpose.

Steve

I am pretty sure there is a gap between the top of the drawer and the outer casing. This seems like it mght be a bit hazerdous for a bp.

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

My only thoughts would be what happens if you run into a heat element problem? At least the fabricated racks are made with materials that are fire resistant. It may not help the snake on that particular level of the rack but it will keep your house from going up in flames.

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From what I can gather online, the melting point of the polypropylene is ~160 degrees C (320 deg F), which seems comparable to the lower/mid-grade PVC that some of the commercial racks are made out of, and is still really freakin high. Now, eventually, I want to do something like this: http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/41qt/finished.jpg, but I'm in the military for at least another year, and need something a little more portable.

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Originally Posted by hoo-t

Be very careful about potential escape routes. Those drawers arent really designed to hold snakes. When I first started keeping bps, I rigged a rack out of sterilite drawers. Had 3 escapes the first night and decided to use the drawers for a different purpose.

Steve

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Yeah, hubby tried to get me to buy off on the sterlite drawers at Wal-Mart, but conceded the point when I pushed from the inside of the drawer and was able to wiggle my finger through. :colbert: That's why I was excited that these are fully enclosed. I think the only way the snake could get out is if it pushes the front of the drawer out.

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Originally Posted by MissMowgli

Yeah, hubby tried to get me to buy off on the sterlite drawers at Wal-Mart, but conceded the point when I pushed from the inside of the drawer and was able to wiggle my finger through. :colbert: That's why I was excited that these are fully enclosed. I think the only way the snake could get out is if it pushes the front of the drawer out.

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Well.... since you mentioned pushing the drawer out.... a year or so ago, one of my snakes escaped a tub in a rack (due to the drawer/tub being left slightly open). She proceeded to crawl to the next level down, crawled in behind the tub and get comfortable. In the process of getting comfortable, she pushed the tub out a few inches, which was enough to release the snake in that tub. Two snakes loose in one night, one released by the first escapee!

I think it may have been planned as a mass jailbreak!

Steve

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hoo-t

Well.... since you mentioned pushing the drawer out.... a year or so ago, one of my snakes escaped a tub in a rack (due to the drawer/tub being left slightly open). She proceeded to crawl to the next level down, crawled in behind the tub and get comfortable. In the process of getting comfortable, she pushed the tub out a few inches, which was enough to release the snake in that tub. Two snakes loose in one night, one released by the first escapee!

I think it may have been planned as a mass jailbreak!

Steve

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Hahaha! That cracks me up. I am probably going to install little clips onto my rack (when I build it) to prevent this!

I've seen those at the Container Store and have also seen other snake keepers using them to house the larger Ball Pythons. From what I've noticed, they are fairly escape-proof, or at least as much as a normal rack. Plus they are easily stackable.

You could probably do side heat or something on them instead of in between(under each tub). A strip of 11" flexwatt on each side at the back should work pretty well.

I thought belly heat was better for them. How much difference would the back heat make for digestion, etc?