Lids On VS, Lids Off

I know that with most rack systems the lids for the tubs are left off to help with airflow and humidity, my question is does it really matter if you leave the lid on? I'm currently in the process of building a rack that is 5 shelves high and can hold 3 tubs per shelf. I still live at home with Mom & Dad, and while they support my snake hobby, as long as they are in a secure enclosure and can't get out (happened once, Mom almost had a heart attack, she found it before I did...), I don't want to take that chance of having a tub slightly askew and having someone getting out. So my question, for added security can the lids stay on? I am using the 32 quart by sterilite, the ones with purple handles. I'm planning on drilling holes in the tubs themselves to help with airflow and humidity, if I drill holes into the lid (many many holes) would that suffice and work as if the lid was off?

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...ps5d2d233b.jpg

Look close ;)

It is kind of a pain because you have to take the tub out of the rack to get in it but I have a hospital bedside table that goes where I need it.:gj:

Ha! Awesome! Did you have to drill any holes in the lids? Or did you just do it on the tubs themselves?

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Originally Posted by Montypython696

Ha! Awesome! Did you have to drill any holes in the lids? Or did you just do it on the tubs themselves?

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Don't need holes in the lids if you have holes in the sides of the tubs.

Just the tubs.

That's how I have mine, holes on the side and lids on. But its a pain in the butt having to take the tubs all the way out.

1.1 pastels, 1.0 lesser, 0.1 het blurry, 0.1 spider, 1.1 norm. 0.1 dinker,

This is my first rack. I decided to go without lids. 8 holes burned into the end of each tub. And for security I've drilled a small hole in the end of each shelf and inserted a golf tee. Each tee prevents the tub above and below from being pushed open by a snake. I added the security measure because I'm going to be moving in with some family and it will bring them peace of mind.

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/...psa9b27914.jpg

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/...psc2fb941b.jpg

Depending on where you buy your tubs, you might be able to find a size that works for you with a hinged lid. It might take some searching. Or, if you're crafty, you could make your own hinges for the lids by cutting them in half and gluing or otherwise adhering a hinge in the middle.

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

This is my first rack. I decided to go without lids. 8 holes burned into the end of each tub. And for security I've drilled a small hole in the end of each shelf and inserted a golf tee. Each tee prevents the tub above and below from being pushed open by a snake. I added the security measure because I'm going to be moving in with some family and it will bring them peace of mind.

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/...psa9b27914.jpg

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I don't believe I've ever said this to a guy before, but, nice rack! :gj:

Much appreciated, especially from a BPnet veteran. Lot of work went into that and I don't think I could've made it better in any way.

Thanks for all the replies, really putting me at ease, and I cannot wait to start building this rack tonight. Snakeguy, I'm digging the golf tee idea. I may steal that from you and use it myself.

Go for it, it's super easy and super effective.

Definitely no lids. You'll really regret it if you do one with kids, trust me :P

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Originally Posted by SquamishSerpents

Definitely no lids. You'll really regret it if you do one with kids, trust me :P

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:confusd::confusd::confusd: not here

I'm gonna run them with lids. I feel it'll be a lot safer that way. Also just ordered my thermostat. Herpstat 1 redline by spyder robotics.

Nice! I think no lids would be easier for me IMO. If I had little pegs to hold them in.

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

This is my first rack. I decided to go without lids. 8 holes burned into the end of each tub. And for security I've drilled a small hole in the end of each shelf and inserted a golf tee. Each tee prevents the tub above and below from being pushed open by a snake. I added the security measure because I'm going to be moving in with some family and it will bring them peace of mind.

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My husband is outside building a rack right now and he was trying to figure out how to increase the security so we wouldn't have escapees. He loves this idea - quick, cheap, and effective. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Capray

Nice! I think no lids would be easier for me IMO. If I had little pegs to hold them in.

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Agree. If you have 2 or 3 snakes it's probably not a big deal. Any more than that and it's a big inconvenience. And completely unnecessary as long as there isn't too big a gap. The golf tee trick has been used for years as a little extra peace of mind. I've never used them. I've sat and watched them at night for hours and there's no way they will be able to slide a tub out...

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Originally Posted by bcr229

My husband is outside building a rack right now and he was trying to figure out how to increase the security so we wouldn't have escapees. He loves this idea - quick, cheap, and effective. Thanks!

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So glad I could help. It may look flimsy but there is no way for even a 5,000gram ball python to push that tub open. It would have to cleanly break off not one but two wooden golf tees while having nothing to push against besides the shelf above. You could also use a long thick metal nail, but it doesn't have the tapered shape like a golf tee. Good luck.

I run my racks with lids on. I like the ability to pull a tub out of the rack and have the snake still enclosed. it does make it a bit of a pain sometimes when you just want to peek in quick. but I still prefer it to no lids. another plus is it's a lot easier to scrub clean a lid then it is to scrub the underside of a shelf.

You make a great point dillan. It makes for disinfecting a lot easier, than scrubbing the underside. Never thought of that one.

I would do lids off, and go with the golf tee idea. Saves time.

ask kitedemon about cleaning racks :rofl::rofl:;):rofl::rofl:

I've done it both ways and while I prefer lids off, the lids on is much more secure. I built one rack that I designed using sterilite 6 qt tubs with the lids on, and I discovered afterwards that I can also use the rubbermaid 6 qt tubs (which are just a little bit taller) in the same rack with the lids off. So now I can use lidless rubbermaid tubs for the baby ball pythons and I can use sterilite tubs with the lids on for baby colubrids in the same rack. It's convenient.

I left lids off and used storm window clips to hold in the tubs. screw them in so they just move freely and you never have to worry about losing them and they automatically lock when you close the tub all the way

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps03bb4c4a.jpg

Thanks Rob, I wish I had lids, anything to save the massive cleaning efforts. I firmly believe in disinfecting correctly. (read the instructions and follow them) The only way I have found to do so with a lidless rack is to remove all the heat tape disinfect each shelf and side flip the rack upside down and disinfect the 'top' and than dry it out return everything and finish up. It takes a day of effort I do this every two months I just can't bring myself every month. I would NEVER again have a rack with out lids. The time saving is monstrous! I figure 6 hours ever cleaning.

Incorrect disinfecting has been linked to not only disinfectant resistance in bacteria, virus. But antibiotic resistance as well (even if the bacterium has never been treated with that antibiotic) This is a HUGE reason to push for correct disinfecting practices!

spotlessly clean - saturate with disinfectant- wait the correct contact times

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Thanks Rob, I wish I had lids, anything to save the massive cleaning efforts. I firmly believe in disinfecting correctly. (read the instructions and follow them) The only way I have found to do so with a lidless rack is to remove all the heat tape disinfect each shelf and side flip the rack upside down and disinfect the 'top' and than dry it out return everything and finish up. It takes a day of effort I do this every two months I just can't bring myself every month. I would NEVER again have a rack with out lids. The time saving is monstrous! I figure 6 hours ever cleaning.

Incorrect disinfecting has been linked to not only disinfectant resistance in bacteria, virus. But antibiotic resistance as well (even if the bacterium has never been treated with that antibiotic) This is a HUGE reason to push for correct disinfecting practices!

spotlessly clean - saturate with disinfectant- wait the correct contact times

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The method I use, which may help...

I take a garden sprayer with F10 diluted mix and put it on a fine mist. I spray the top and bottom of each shelf, wait about 10 minutes and wipe it off. At first it was a big pain because my arm couldn't fit all the way back. Now I use what looks like a large swiffer, but it's a cotton cloth instead. I use it to easily wipe the top and bottom of each shelf. The heat tape is water resistant, since it's covered with plastic - but I still turn off the power, try my best to keep it dry and wait for it to totally dry before I turn the power back on.

I'm always looking for better ways to disinfect though, this is my current 'best' solution.

I used to keep lids, but it became a pain having to lift off the lids when feeding.

This seems to work for me, for now - may work for you :gj:

I do something similar to Ricky, except I actually DO use a swiffer, lol! For my female racks, at least. I'm a tiny person (height-wise...haha!) so my arms aren't very long. I can manage cleaning to the back of the upper part of 34/28 quarts, but not the CB70s, lol.

I use f10scxd wash with hot water (1:250) and a sponge to wash the full area and rinse with water two or three times. (As per the instructions) Then F10sc to disinfect but the instructions say to flood the area. I was spraying but it requires many repeats I found flipping it over I could soak the area and not need to constantly re apply on the upper surface. I have tried everything but the detergent then water rinse and saturated disinfectant upside down I found far easier.

Failing to clean first renders disinfectants neutral. With the amount of liquids I find it easier to remove the heat tape completely water soaks under it and around the connections and makes me uneasy. The new heat tape (TNG) I just got a sample of is not sealed at all so there is no question of it needing to be removed.


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Originally Posted by kitedemon

The new heat tape (TNG) I just got a sample of is not sealed at all so there is no question of it needing to be removed.

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Not to change the subject but I wonder how hard it would be for you to seal?
Maybe "liquid electrical tape"?

I was just sitting here thinking idle thoughts and was wondering if one of those squeegees that they have at the gas station for cleaning the windsheild of your car would work well for cleaning the underside of your racks? I wonder where you could get something like that?

most auto parts houses sell them Mark

Mark I started with exactly that. It works well for soap washing and ok for rinsing but was a failure for disinfecting. It is questionable about it not containing organics. And did not carry enough solution. The surface needs to be wet really wet think puddle. Sprays can work but they need basically be every min re apply for ten min (or longer depending on the chemicals) I found it a lot less messy flipping it over.


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Rob I am certain it can be sealed. The sample I have it would be very easy I'd suggest blue silicone dot squeezed into the open end. top and bottom then pinched closed would do it really well. I don't think I'd trust tape but you could see the seal with blue silicone.


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Super flex blue RVT is what I was thinking. Or similar.


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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

most auto parts houses sell them Mark

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I picked one up at home depot for 5 bucks. I think I'll give it a try anyway. It's gotta be better then sticking your hand in there up to your armpit with a sponge.

http://shopping.rexmar.com/Merchant2...001/167115.jpg


kitedemon, not tape..............liquid tape, used it when I use to rig boats ;)

Rob that too would likely work. The little sample I was given I disinfected it and learned that this was not a good idea as capillary action took over and wicked disinfectant to between the layers. That is a bit of an issue. It means for sure it will need attention either water proof connections and sealing or removal.

On a side note no idea you work on boats! I spent many years teaching wood epoxy boatbuilding until epoxy sensitivity side lined me.


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Originally Posted by kitedemon

On a side note no idea you work on boats! I spent many years teaching wood epoxy boatbuilding until epoxy sensitivity side lined me.


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USE TOO LoL................ I don't miss them at all

I do actually but there is a huge difference between building a boat and fixing one. I hated working with many owners...


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