Pros vs Cons of having a rack system

I have two Animal Plastic racks currently (hatchling and a 1753 model (I think, anyway) for my males, juvenile females) and a third being built for my breeder females. Rich (at RBI) has great customer service but I haven't purchased any of his racks so I can't say on that aspect of things. The only draw back I really see to the racks are that they don't allow you to really see the animals very much...but with a ball python, that kind of goes with the territory, lol! I keep mine in a temperature controlled room that's heated and cooled and they hold the temps extremely well. As has been said, I'd say buy what you like and want the first time rather than settle. Animal Plastics has incredible customer service and their lead times for construction aren't too bad at all (6-8 weeks on the 12-slot CB-70 rack I have coming), plus their products are built like tanks. The only drawback to their racks is that they don't come with tubs, so figure that cost into your total price if you look at them versus RBI.

The cons no one comments on...

The temps are not as accurate heat rises there is often a difference from the bottom and top hot spots as apposed to the middle where the probe is usually located.

Difficulty in cleaning and disinfecting, A tank tub or enclosures can easily be reached into a rack slot is not so easy. I take as much time cleaning and disinfecting each rack slot as I do for a fully decorated enclosure.

Ambient and cool end temps have few heating options. Most rack users heat the room rather than the rack. I have never found a rack to hold more than 8º over the ambient room temps so if your room where the rack is located gets below 70º there is a huge issue to keep the cool end temps correct. It can be done (I do) but the simple solution is just to heat the room.

Humidity, correctly ventilated IMO any and all enclosures should with out a water bowl and snake with dry substrate the enclosure should be the same as the room in one hour or less (one air change per hour). So well ventilated a rack is about the same as anything else that way.

Racks are pro tools they save space in a serious way. They save money if there is a large collection of animals. I am not sure if I had a a room that average temp was in the 60s and only a few snakes if I would look at a rack. I currently own 2 tanks (side converted) two commercial enclosures (sly and vision) two tubs , and one 5 slot (animal plastics) rack. If I had room the rack would be gone it takes too long to clean (too many bruises and sore knees) and it way too complex to heat in my cool snake room (ave 63º winter and 77º summer)

I have seen many rack systems, (like at the Daytona Expo a couple of days ago), but I have never seen one that is as transparent as a tank. I like the tank because I can peek in and see my animal without moving its entire sense of the world. This is more true for my corns, as my BP is rather lazy, but either way....that is one con I can think of for a rack system, they're hard to see through. They look very industrial and I wouldn't enjoy that in my apartment. The tank has a better ambiance, with the hides and the fake leaves and substrate. I don't like the idea of keeping my pet in an opaque enclosure.

There are many pros to rack systems, such as conservation of space, but for somebody like me with 1 ball python, I don't see a need for a rack system.

every since switching to a rack system, my snakes eat so much better, all sheds come off in full, humidity is easy to maintain. cleaning everyone's tub/water dish is all in the one area, so I'm not running around. heat is consistent with all racks. I was lucky and found two of the exact same racks off kijiji, and I think I must have saved $450 buying them used.

Very happy with the racks. Can't wait to find more. :gj:

There are no cons to a rack systems for ball pythons. They aren't a display animal. If I want to enjoy the beauty of one I take it out of it's tub. I believe people use display tanks with ball pythons for their own enjoyment not for the benifit of the animal, not that there is anything wrong with that if all the specifications are being met.

Love my snake racks, it makes taking care of them so much easier, my husband just made me another one for my babies, i just needed a rack that will hold 8 tubs but came home and he made me one that will hold 36 :D.

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I believe people use display tanks with ball pythons for their own enjoyment not for the benifit of the animal

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Isn't that the definition of a pet, keeping an animal for the benefit of the human? If we didn't benefit (or think that we benefit)from having the animal, why would anybody keep it? There are a few rescue centers that might, but then those aren't exactly pets...yet.

Anything is a display animal if you put on display. That doesn't mean you should though.

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not that there is anything wrong with that if all the specifications are being met

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Thank you for this qualifier.

Back on topic....

One con for a tank, which equals a pro for rack system, is humidity issues. Tanks can be problematic at keeping humidity levels where they should be. Tanks also weigh a lot more than racks, which can be an issue for moving them around.

Humidity is a minor concern at the best of times. Personally I have never had a bad shed and no humidity problems with rack tank enclosure. Even when the room is 30%rh. It only takes understanding of what you are dealing with. There are so much false information about humidity out there it is ridiculous!! Light bulbs suck the water from the air for example... Glass is as close to 100% water proof as you can get.

Racks ate great tools but the cost of heating a whole room can be exceptionally hight depending. Too high in many cases. If you are unwilling unable to do so it may not be the best tool.


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[QUOTE=captainjack0000;1899549]Isn't that the definition of a pet, keeping an animal for the benefit of the human? If we didn't benefit (or think that we benefit)from having the animal, why would anybody keep it? There are a few rescue centers that might, but then those aren't exactly pets...yet.

Anything is a display animal if you put on display. That doesn't mean you should though. QUOTE]

Most of the things you said I can agree with, I keep animals because they are benificial to me. What I was stating is that using tanks is only benificial to the human not to the ball python. Even though I know it can be done properly I firmly believe using a proper rack system is much better for them. I've taken peoples ball pythons with all the proper setups with all the fancy decor one could imagine because they couldn't get it to eat or other issues. After being put into a rack every single one of them thrived never showing the "issues" they had previously.

Sure you can say a ball python is a display animal because you put it in a tank, but ball pythons are not display animals. They spend 80+% of their lives hiding in tight burrows they can barely fit it not displaying themselves.

So back on topic, all pros with racks and plenty of cons with display enclosures.

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Light bulbs suck the water from the air for example

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Whatever the reason, I had lower humidity when I (used) heat lamps in the past.

Either way, I can't imagine people using heat lamps on a rack system, so that is another pro for racks.