To Buy a Rack or Not?

Hello everyone,

I have a chance to get a 6 28qt tub rack which has the tubs side by side. It measures 4 ft long by 2 wide by 2 ft high. It would fit either above or below my current AP T10 cages. My biggest concern is ambient temps. My room in the winter gets in the low 60s with the heat on. Also where would I put the probe?

Thoughts?

Nichole

If you can't keep an ambient of 80, I wouldn't even bother, tbh.

And the probe goes in the middle shelf, over the heat tape.

I was thinking the same thing but want to add to my collection. I kinda don't want tons of T10 cages all around for a total of 10 snakes in the future.

Racks are very hard to manage in temps as cool as you have stated. I also would recommend against unless you can raise the temp up into the mid 70s. They are harder to clean as well, far more surfaces than the T10s.

Hmm. I wanted to get a rack so I can get a pied, and a few other snakes but it seems like I may have to re-look at what I can do. If I have to get another T10, I gladly will. I love the cages. Sucks to set up though for cost wise due to RHPs being so high. I don't know yet. =(

Nichole

I have a space heater in my room to keep my room at 80 degrees.

Hmm. So basically I will have to trial and error it then? Darn it.

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

I have a space heater in my room to keep my room at 80 degrees.

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i keep one near my rack as well.

If I sit the heater right next to it, then the rack may work but would I have to get a rack that is only the size of the heater in height to help ensure the ambient temps work?

no just use it to heat the air in the room.

Hmm. Do you need it running year round?

If I was to get this particular rack, it would be stacked on top or in between my T10 AP cages. I don't want to get it and be out money. I like the T10 cages a lot and they are super easy to heat. Just expensive, but if I have to go that way then I will. =/

It depends. You have to have the temperature at 80 all year, so if you need to have a heater to attain that then yes.

Hmm. This seems like it is going to be expensive no matter which way I go. =l

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

It depends. You have to have the temperature at 80 all year, so if you need to have a heater to attain that then yes.

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80 ambient is recommended yes, but all my snakes are in my bedroom and 80 would be miserable for me.. i bought a little space heater with a built in thermostat at walmart for like $40. it keeps my room at 75 and all my snakes are eating and thriving just fine. bedroom at 75 was a little warm at first but i've gotten use to it and hardly even notice it any more.

You can keep the room in the mid to high 70's and it will be just fine. Just use a fully enclosed rack, not one of the economy ones or the FB type.

IMO once you are adding 15º of temp you might as well add the 20º 5 degrees is not going to make a huge difference. If you need it year around is what are the temps you see year around? If the room dip below 75 ish you will need it. It can get very expensive eletrical bill wise. Enclosures are more effecient full stop, they use less power to heat to the same amount. The only advantage of a rack is space.

I would go for the rack. If you want multiple snakes, imo a rack is the way to go. Just get a temp gun, n do whatcha gotta do to get the ambient temps in the mid 70's. I switched to racks a loooong time ago n i love em! My snakes have never had a problem, all eat great, breed great. Ill never go back to cages again.

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Funny isn't it I'd get rid of mine in a heart beat if I had more room. I love cleaning the enclosure but the rack... I dread it takes sooooo much time to disinfect! I have tried everything and in the end it always comes down to pulling it apart and laying on the floor scrubbing with my arm wedged in a little hole.


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Yep. Reaching the back of lager racks in a pain in the bum.

As long as the room is in the 70s you'll be fine. An 80 degree ambient temp isn't necessary.

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Originally Posted by mebigbadbrat

Hmm. This seems like it is going to be expensive no matter which way I go. =l

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Ohh yes quite the investment but it pays off very very well (if everything is taken seriously.)

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

As long as the room is in the 70s you'll be fine. An 80 degree ambient temp isn't necessary.

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I don't completely agree. Yes the room can get down in the 70's sometimes but then your more susceptible to RI and unless you have money to pay for the treatment I wouldn't advise it. The only time my room gets in the 70s is during breeding season and 77 is the absolute lowest I will let it go. Ambient room temp for us is 81-83.

In either case if you believe low 70 is ok or mid. ( I believe the lowest constant temp be over 74-5) is irrelevant the op said the room is 60 in the winter. They require a heater. Once you are heating the room a few more degrees doesn't matter.


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Doesn't everyone also say 75 and below will bring on respiratory infections?...

I guess I've just been super lucky so far then. They are the fragile flowers we make them out to be :rolleyes:

My animals are kept in rooms the same temp as my home, which in the summer is 70. They have warm ends in the high 80s. I used to keep it low 90s. I've never had a RI in my collection.

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We are talking of 60 there is no way with out serious health issues!


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

Doesn't everyone also say 75 and below will bring on respiratory infections?...

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that's what people SAY.. but before i got my space heater, while my snakes still had a hot spot of 92 degrees and an ambient of 72 degrees(ish) for more than 6 months none of mine ever showed any signs of distress.. just my personal experience. below 70 is definitely too low for sure.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

In either case if you believe low 70 is ok or mid. ( I believe the lowest constant temp be over 74-5) is irrelevant the op said the room is 60 in the winter. They require a heater. Once you are heating the room a few more degrees doesn't matter.


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if you are heating "A" room a few more degrees it doesn't matter. OP said "my" room, so assuming it's his/her bedroom, a few more degrees does.. at least in my opinion. 75 is tolerable for me.. 80. not so much.

gotta work with what ya got. ball pythons are wild animals and thrive in environments with temperatures that fluctuate much more than the "recommended." the recommended temperatures are what keeps them perfectly comfortable.. such as us humans constantly staying in a house that is 70 degrees 24/7.. yes that would make me perfectly comfortable, but i still thrive in other temperatures, granted i'm not cold blooded, i still believe balls are not as fragile as the internet makes them out to be..

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

We are talking of 60 there is no way with out serious health issues!


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I'm addressing ambient MUST be 80 (which I have never done). It's much easier to get a 60 room up 10 degrees with a space heater than to get it up 20 degrees.

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I think some folks that haven't read VPI's book would flip when they hear how cold the Barkers allow their females to get. I'm not at home right now (traveling for work), so I don't have total recall of the exact details, but I do know it's for months under 70 degrees.

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If I remember the barkers it is mid 80ºs with no hot spot is how they keep the collection. I recall them speaking to a slow creep of temps over the years but I believe they stated mid 70s. The point still remains a rack in a room of 60ºF will need supplement heat it is too cool full stop. It is a huge influence in the to buy a rack or not if you need to change the heat of a room. Enclosures offer far greater heating flexibility. It is easier and cheaper to heat a few square feet than to raise a room 10-15 degrees.

In rooms under 74, I would suggest a rack is a poor option, and that enclosures are far superior and cheaper. That is the question, to rack or not to rack.

Wow. I came back to a lot.

Thanks everyone. I am going to get out my little black temp gauge tonight and leave it outside of the T10 cage. See what the highest it will be and the lowest. Go from there. I am guessing low 60s for the winter. I have to wrap the windows in plastic during the winter time.

On a side note, I have to wait for a rack now any ways. I had to trade in my car. Just couldn't keep doing all the repairs anymore. I hated to trade it in as I love the monte carlo vehicle but I also hated fixing it every three months for over a thousand bucks.

I am going to buy a tub this weekend and try to set up just a tub to see what the temps can get. If I have to get a small heater for the winter I will. My bedroom gets cold to me. For Christmas I finally got a heat blanket. Used it every night until a few weeks back. Now the window is cracked open and it gets too stuffy in here.

I will let you all know.
Nichole

My temps since last post have been in between 66-78 degrees in my room which depends on how cold it is outside.