Racks vs Terrariums

So with all the information out there I would like some help in figuring out pros and cons of a rack system or each snake having its own terrarium, as well as space issues for the snake not where to put it

wouldn't a rack system go against the recommended perimeter at least 2x the adult length of the snake?
If you had say over 20 snakes wouldn't all the terrariums be a bit much to clean and maintain?
But what is you only had say 10 snakes?
What if you decide to breed then where do you keep the babies until sold?

There are just lots of questions and answers out there so I would like for the good people of BP.net to way in with your 2 cents

I have never heard of the 2x length of your snake thing... I have 17 snakes and I am a huge fan on my snake racks! Much more organized, saves space, provides more stable temps as humidity, my animals feed better, and it makes feeding and cleaning much easier. I still have 3 of my snakes in tanks (a 2 year old almost 5 foot sunglow boa, an adult female corn, and a sub adult hognose). The rest of my animals are in racks and I would t have it any other way.

As far as breeding and what to do with babies, hatchling rack! Ill be buying an 18 tub hatchling rack for right over 200 dollars. Racks make more sense financially as well.


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Originally Posted by missriss2012

I have never heard of the 2x length of your snake thing... I have 17 snakes and I am a huge fan on my snake racks! Much more organized, saves space, provides more stable temps as humidity, my animals feed better, and it makes feeding and cleaning much easier. I still have 3 of my snakes in tanks (a 2 year old almost 5 foot sunglow boa, an adult female corn, and a sub adult hognose). The rest of my animals are in racks and I would t have it any other way.

As far as breeding and what to do with babies, hatchling rack! Ill be buying an 18 tub hatchling rack for right over 200 dollars. Racks make more sense financially as well.


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perimeter answers to where I obtained the 2x length

http://www.anapsid.org/enclsize.html
Snakes

Dimension	Total Length
Minimum length (side to side):	3/4 of total length
Minimum depth (front to back):	1/3 of total length
Minimum height:
Terrestrial/Fossorial:	3/4 of total length
Arboreal/Scansorial:	1 x total length, max 6-8 ft

http://www.applegatereptiles.com/art...ookhousing.htm
Size of enclosure: Avoid extreme sizes. If an enclosure is too large, a snake can become "lost in it" making it generally difficult to monitor its overall health and behaviors. A snake in an enclosure that is too large and poorly designed may also stay at one end, hidden, and not venture forth to seek out food items. On the other hand, too small an enclosure will result in a snake that will be cramped, lying in its own feces, and unable to utilize heat gradients. A small cage will also "foul" faster and be more difficult to keep clean and properly ventilated. The proper cage is one where if the snake were to crawl around the perimeter, it would cover approximately half the perimeter measurement, with a reasonable width to length ratio (no long skinny cages!) A good general rule is a width approximately one third of the length of the snake. Although milk snakes will occasionally climb, tall cages are not essential for their maintenance. A standard 5 gallon vivarium will not be large enough for maintaining a hatchling snake up to a year. A standard 20 gallon high or 15 gallon low vivarium (12" wide x 24" long) will be a suitable minimum size for all but the largest subspecies of adult milk snakes. Large subspecies such as Honduran milk snakes will require commercial enclosures at least 30 inches long.

http://www.worldofballpythons.com/python-regius/care-sheet/
Enclosure

There are two ways to house your snake. The first, and most popular way is in a terrarium. The second method (used more commonly by breeders) is in a rack system.
The size of your enclosure should not exceed one and half times the length of your snake and should not be less than two thirds the length of your snake. In a terrarium, I prefer to go a little larger so that the enclosure is not too cluttered.
There are many who believe that there is no maximum size to the enclosure - provided the snake has plenty of hides and ample foliage.

to list a few not saying racks are a bad thing but how do you determine the appropriate size rack if that is your choice? I am just curious If my husband and I get into breeding we want to have the best possible housing for our breeders as we would keep things small and they would still be like pets to us.

I generally keep anything 500g or smaller in 15 qt tubs, 500-1500g in 32 qt tub and bigger than 1500 in a 41 qt tub.


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Im not a huge fan of racks. I can understand for larger breeders, and for for babies that wont really be their long. But I keep all of mine in a terrarium i built. Im able to house 8 full grown ball pythons, but since i only currently have three i put deviders in so i have all my babies in it as well. It looks nice, goes with my furniture and I can actually view the animals. I feel like if im spending a paycheck and a half on a snake, I want to actually be able to see it not just stick it in a tub. though i do agree it is a lot more work, changing bedding, hides, foliage, blah blah blah.. but i think its worth it.

They're both fine if you set them up correctly. A improperly set up rack is equally detrimental as an improperly set up terrarium.

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Originally Posted by PiercingPrincess

Im not a huge fan of racks. I can understand for larger breeders, and for for babies that wont really be their long. But I keep all of mine in a terrarium i built. Im able to house 8 full grown ball pythons, but since i only currently have three i put deviders in so i have all my babies in it as well. It looks nice, goes with my furniture and I can actually view the animals. I feel like if im spending a paycheck and a half on a snake, I want to actually be able to see it not just stick it in a tub. though i do agree it is a lot more work, changing bedding, hides, foliage, blah blah blah.. but i think its worth it.

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do you have a picture? I am interested to see what yours looks like

Racks all the way for BP's.
Pro's of racks (IMO): Easy to clean, easy to maintain proper humidity, easy temperature controls (If your room is not too cold to maintain a proper ambient/cool end), space saving, economic, security for the snakes, low risk of escape
Cons: Display (Honestly, this isn't a con for me. I don't like stressed snakes, even if that means I don't get to stare at them all day long), keeping ambient temps/ cool end right means your room temperature should be above 75*. (75-80)

Viv's/Terr Pros: Visibility / display(for the keeper), easier to micromanage ambient temperatures without effecting your home/room temps
Cons: Harder to clean, harder to maintain proper humidity (glass with screen, PVC usually does not have this problem), takes up A LOT more space per snake, costly to set up properly, snakes can feel stressed or "exposed" (this depends a lot on glass vs pvc, hides, substrate, and placement in the house of the cage), High risk of escape depending on enclosure.

my :2cent:

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Originally Posted by barbie.dragon

They're both fine if you set them up correctly. A improperly set up rack is equally detrimental as an improperly set up terrarium.

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I agree 100% with this. There's nothing wrong with either, and both can be great. Just make sure whichever you choose is set up properly and if they are, it comes down to keeper preference. Display vs not, space, and cost.

As others have mentioned, either way is suitable for housing your snakes. For many people, since racks are easier to set up in a way that leads to successful snake keeping, they much prefer a rack system. For others, the delight of viewing their snakes in a terrarium is more ideal, and worth a little extra elbow grease to maintain the terrariums in an aesthetically pleasing way.

I typically think of racks as the simple, efficient way to house larger numbers of snakes successfully, and view terrariums as more ideal for setting up naturalistic displays for a smaller number of snakes.

-Jen

I switched from tanks to tubs my first year after fighting with humidity issues, temperature issues, and space issues.
Even if I went back to 1 ball python as a pet it would stay in a tub.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I switched from tanks to tubs my first year after fighting with humidity issues, temperature issues, and space issues.
Even if I went back to 1 ball python as a pet it would stay in a tub.

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Oh god I've had a tank for a little shy of a month and it's a nightmare... Rewetting towels every night, lifting the screen to pull my snake out zzz

I have two tanks (side turned) three enclosures and a 5 slot rack. Lots of experience with all of them.

I find the enclosures easiest to clean then the tank and last the rack. disinfecting the rack (properly, according to the instructions on the disinfectant) is a nightmare. I have yet to find an efficient way to clean the rack if someone who says it is easier knows PLEASE let me know.

Heating I find to be about the same, my rack is in a cool room so it was a pain but the enclosures can be too. In a warm room (racks do best this way) neither is a pain both are dead easy.

Humidity I find also is about the same, it is common knowledge that low ventilation can lead to respiratory issues (same as sick building syndrome) so if a rack is holding a huge amount of humidity over the room I would be concerned about it not having enough.

Space is hands down the rack uses much less space. The big problem with that is having a modest group (11) I have sizes from 400gm to 5000gm. Kept solely in racks that means I would need three.

Temperature precision is way easier in an enclosure racks run on averages temps top to bottom vary the long runs of flexwatt vary. In my enclosures I have very good control over both hot and cool as well as ambient temps and can adjust one with out massive changes to the others (within reason) my rack is set up the same way but the best I can manage is 2º of each other and ambients I have some control over but not much I could not easily alter them (not in a heated room remember)

I have seen the 2x perimeter and other formulas like 1x the permitter. I use my version I use 100 sq inches of floor space per foot. IE a 5 foot snake would need at least 500 sq in about a 24x24 (576) enclosure, or a 41 qt tub (544).

I would not say racks are easier just different, nor are enclosures easier just different. Each method has its own issues and solutions it all comes down to the care knowledge and ability of the person setting up the housing.