Noob breeder looking for some advice

I made my first rack out of melamine, but it was a disaster from the start, that stuff is HEAVY!

The ones we have now are made of 1 X 4 boards, with some water resistant shower board as the face boards. My husband made the frame from 1 X 4's, used 2 X 2's for the shelf supports, and the shelves themselves are 1 X 4. They are very light weight, immensely strong, and fairly cheap. Our three cost roughly $60 each to build. One is our main rack, it holds a total of 18 tubs of various sizes, most of which have lids. The breeding female rack, which houses my biggest females. And a smaller rack for my husbands newly started breeding colony of 5.

I can get some pictures up if you are interested.

Gale

Well, still haven't made up my mind. Appreciate all the input anyway, and thanks for the shot of your setup Sorraia. Building isn't really the issue as I would normally build all my own caging, just too darn cold in Michigan to be out in the garage trying to build anything. Also trying to factor in things like time spent(It would take me more than 4 hours to build 30 or so slots myself, probably a lot more), cost per slot, best use of space, and so on. Also thinking of potential resale value in a few years if things don't work out or something.

Slitherous, thanks for the link. Somehow never noticed that Vision made racks. One thing I did notice when comparing the different makers and their prices is that there really isn't a whole lot of difference in prices when you start breaking it down in term of cost per slot. Most were in the 70-100 dollar per slot range by the time you add T-stats and tubs for those that don't come with them. Still checking some things with that, and I still need to finalize the design for my own if I do go the DIY route.

Thankfully this isn't something I have to rush the decision on. Next show is March 9 and I won't know if the racks are even still available till then. If they are, I'll likely try to make a better deal with somebody( thinking around 1200?) or I'll just do the racks myself. Just want to get the caging issue under control before I look into getting too many more animals. Keeps the critters happy and I don't catch it from the wife because I'm scrambling to throw a setup together at the last second.

Btw, I've had an issue with that HAD(Herp Acquisition Disease) for a while now Slitherous, thats why I need more racks!! ;)

We were posting at the same time Gale. Wouldn't mind seeing your rack at all but don't go to any major trouble over it. I would really prefer a setup that doesn't require the lids if I can pull it off, but I like seeing how others do things anyway.

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Originally Posted by Darkbird

Btw, I've had an issue with that HAD(Herp Acquisition Disease) for a while now Slitherous, thats why I need more racks!! ;)

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I know the feeling! I was having that issue until I got my axanthics, now I'm happy FOR THE MOMENT. I've been eyeing some honeybees and orange ghost though.... hmmm.... ;)

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Originally Posted by sorraia

I know the feeling! I was having that issue until I got my axanthics, now I'm happy FOR THE MOMENT. I've been eyeing some honeybees and orange ghost though.... hmmm.... ;)

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Well, that's the insidiousness of the disorder, you will be sated for a time, but when you least expect it strikes again!! I was in "remission" for a couple of decades, but all it took was my daughter asking for a snake and a seemingly innocuous visit to a reptile expo and I was suddenly symptomatic again, (hopelessly so)! I know it's somehow related to GAS, (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), and MAAS, (Model Airplane Acquisition Syndrome), both of which I suffer from. I was thinking about forming a support group, but I figure we'd just start trading snakes and would get even sicker....I'm doomed!!

S

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Originally Posted by Slitherous

Well, that's the insidiousness of the disorder, you will be sated for a time, but when you least expect it strikes again!! I was in "remission" for a couple of decades, but all it took was my daughter asking for a snake and a seemingly innocuous visit to a reptile expo and I was suddenly symptomatic again, (hopelessly so)! I know it's somehow related to GAS, (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), and MAAS, (Model Airplane Acquisition Syndrome), both of which I suffer from. I was thinking about forming a support group, but I figure we'd just start trading snakes and would get even sicker....I'm doomed!!

S

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Oh no, I must be doomed too! Already looking at those honeybees, and there's an expo coming up in July that I want to go to. must resist!!!!

In addition to GAS and MAAS, I think it has to be related to MHAS (Model Horse Acquisition Syndrome). I have that, but have been in remission for a couple years. It's trying to sneak its way back into my life though!!!

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Originally Posted by sorraia

Oh no, I must be doomed too! Already looking at those honeybees, and there's an expo coming up in July that I want to go to. must resist!!!!

In addition to GAS and MAAS, I think it has to be related to MHAS (Model Horse Acquisition Syndrome). I have that, but have been in remission for a couple years. It's trying to sneak its way back into my life though!!!

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The "acquisition" aspect is what stitches it all together. I swear.....it must be genetic, and therefore inevitable; so yes.........you are doomed, but who wants to live without a passion(s) anyway? Not me!!

S

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Originally Posted by angllady2

I made my first rack out of melamine, but it was a disaster from the start, that stuff is HEAVY!

The ones we have now are made of 1 X 4 boards, with some water resistant shower board as the face boards. My husband made the frame from 1 X 4's, used 2 X 2's for the shelf supports, and the shelves themselves are 1 X 4. They are very light weight, immensely strong, and fairly cheap. Our three cost roughly $60 each to build. One is our main rack, it holds a total of 18 tubs of various sizes, most of which have lids. The breeding female rack, which houses my biggest females. And a smaller rack for my husbands newly started breeding colony of 5.

I can get some pictures up if you are interested.

Gale

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I would like to see pics:)

Sent from my EVO Design using Tapatalk 2.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sorraia

I know the feeling! I was having that issue until I got my axanthics, now I'm happy FOR THE MOMENT. I've been eyeing some honeybees and orange ghost though.... hmmm.... ;)

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Lucky, axanthics seem to be a trigger for me.

I recently finished my first rack built out of melamine. It is 4ft long X 2ft deep X 6ft tall. It currently holds (24) 32 quart tubs (or (48) 16 quart tubs). Total cost in materials including tubs and heat tape was around $450 with a VE-300 thermostat. Much cheaper than a comparably sized vision rack. I have had great success with my homemade version. If you have even a small amount of construction skill, building your own rack is definitely the way to go at this stage of your collection. And if you ask real nice, Home Depot will cut the melamine to your specifications for you. ;)