Best First Rack system to buy?

Hey guys, just wanting to get some opinions on which rack system I should go with. This started as just wanting A snake, but I am now completely obsessed and want to pursue breeding. So, I was looking at reptile basics website. They seem very nice and decently priced, but I am unsure of which one to go with. I was looking at the shoebox rack, but I want something that the hatchlings or hold backs or whatever could grow into a little bit. I don't want just a hatchling sized rack is what I'm saying I guess. What do you guys think?


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There's a fine line between future proofing and immediate needs with racks. How large are your snakes currently? Are you dealing with hatchlings now? When is your first breeding season going to be? These are just a few things to consider. My go to racks are 28qt tub racks. I find that sub adults and males can be housed in them quite well. You could use them for young snakes too if you clutter them up, which is what I do. Some keepers offer hides, some don't. It's personal taste I suppose. I tend to have hides for them. As an aside, the 28qt tub in my experience has been great for females after laying if they don't go back on feed. I put them in there and they are eating again in short order. They like the confined space and feel comfortable, despite seeming cramped. For larger females I use 41qt tubs. Of course these tubs are for my snakes that are not in display cages. Hope that helps.

Dave

I'll point you in the direction of the rack systems I like.

http://cserpents.com/C_Serpents_Hot_...K_SYSTEMS.html

I've met Chris in person at some of the local shows years ago and he's an overall great person to deal with. For racks I would only buy from him, but that's purely my preference as others may prefer different places. One thing I don't really like about ReptileBasics is I can seemingly never get somebody on the phone. The ONLY way I ever am able to reach them is by email and to me that throws me off doing business with a lot of people.

A good rack for that is C-Serpent V18 racks you can keep hatchling up to 600 grams and than move them to their permanent adult enclosure.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

A good rack for that is C-Serpent V18 racks you can keep hatchling up to 600 grams and than move them to their permanent adult enclosure.

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And what would a "permanent adult enclosure be? Like a 41 qt tub? I like plastic. The snakes respond great to tubs.


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Originally Posted by AKA Dave

There's a fine line between future proofing and immediate needs with racks. How large are your snakes currently? Are you dealing with hatchlings now? When is your first breeding season going to be? These are just a few things to consider. My go to racks are 28qt tub racks. I find that sub adults and males can be housed in them quite well. You could use them for young snakes too if you clutter them up, which is what I do. Some keepers offer hides, some don't. It's personal taste I suppose. I tend to have hides for them. As an aside, the 28qt tub in my experience has been great for females after laying if they don't go back on feed. I put them in there and they are eating again in short order. They like the confined space and feel comfortable, despite seeming cramped. For larger females I use 41qt tubs. Of course these tubs are for my snakes that are not in display cages. Hope that helps.

Dave

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Thank you for your reply Dave. I currently only have 4 hatchlings. If that's what 3 month olds are considered. They will all be bred together though and I definitely intend on adding to the collection more and more. So they are all 2016 babies. So I'm shooting for around two years I will be ready... do you guys like anything from reptile basics?


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My main purpose of getting the rack is two fold really. To get them all adjusted to it and also, so that my fiancée doesn't continue to complain about so many tubs spread out all over the place. Lol!


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I built mine, when that filled I added to it, and now I have my ARS rack. I found a good used one. It is bigger than I need but I have plenty of room to grow.

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Originally Posted by Neal

I'll point you in the direction of the rack systems I like.

http://cserpents.com/C_Serpents_Hot_...K_SYSTEMS.html

I've met Chris in person at some of the local shows years ago and he's an overall great person to deal with. For racks I would only buy from him, but that's purely my preference as others may prefer different places. One thing I don't really like about ReptileBasics is I can seemingly never get somebody on the phone. The ONLY way I ever am able to reach them is by email and to me that throws me off doing business with a lot of people.

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Thank you for the link. I am looking into it. And yes, I completely agree with your mentality. Email sucks. Voice to voice is the best option. When I first started collecting, which was only like 6 weeks ago lol, I tried calling BHB reptiles. They NEVER answer. ... he's probably making a YouTube video or sumthin lol. .. but I'm glad they didn't because then I was introduced to Garrick Demeyer. ... best customer service ever. That guy will just spew his knowledge. I've talked to him for an hour on the phone on a couple of occasions, and I'm just a small timer beginner. He earned a customer for life.


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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

And what would a "permanent adult enclosure be? Like a 41 qt tub? I like plastic. The snakes respond great to tubs.


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Depends on the animal Males and Females up to 2000 grams generally go in 32 quarts tubs, females over 2000 grams go in 41 quarts or V70 tubs

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Originally Posted by Deborah

A good rack for that is C-Serpent V18 racks you can keep hatchling up to 600 grams and than move them to their permanent adult enclosure.

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I looked at the the v18. I love it and it is WAY more affordable than reptile basics... ok, so another question. It comes with tubs and heat, but I know I need a thermostat. But does just one thermostat control all of the tubs or do I need one for EACH tub? If that's the case, dang. Talk about upfront cost! :(


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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

I looked at the the v18. I love it and it is WAY more affordable than reptile basics... ok, so another question. It comes with tubs and heat, but I know I need a thermostat. But does just one thermostat control all of the tubs or do I need one for EACH tub? If that's the case, dang. Talk about upfront cost! :(


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Almost all commercial rack systems only require one thermostat outlet to run the entire rack.

To answer your initial question: I would make sure of two things: (1) Make sure whatever heat tape system/layout they use has a way to keep the sliding tubs from rubbing on the heat tape. Most systems have taken this into consideration due to experience, but I would double check. (2) Ensure that there is a reasonable way to pull the heat tape in the event of failure. I have always liked the open back style racks because everything is more accessible in the event of a problem.

Size-wise: For adults, I would recommend the 41 qt. This may garner some disagreement, but I have a ~2200g male and I can't imagine keeping him in something smaller. For babies/juveniles, I suggest something kind of the middle as it gives them room to grow. If the snake is stressed by the tub feeling "too big", you can almost always solve this by crowding the tub with hides,terrain, etc.

Any of the vision or IRIS tubs are my preferred style. They are completely smooth and super easy to clean.

Get a sweaterbox rack from reptile basics with the dividers they sell seperately. It will hold hatchlings, adult males and females until they are about 2000grams.

QUICK UPDATE!: I am going to order the v-18 rack. I spoke w Chris at cserpents and he's a good guy and I am SOLD. However, what thermostat do you guys think I should go with? I just need a single thermostat he said to control all of the tubs, so would the ve-100 from vivarium electronics be sufficient? He sells him on his site, so I could get everything I need at once.... that IS all I would need right? Lol


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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

QUICK UPDATE!: I am going to order the v-18 rack. I spoke w Chris at cserpents and he's a good guy and I am SOLD. However, what thermostat do you guys think I should go with? I just need a single thermostat he said to control all of the tubs, so would the ve-100 from vivarium electronics be sufficient? He sells him on his site, so I could get everything I need at once.... that IS all I would need right? Lol


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Yes the thermostat sold are sufficient, after that it is a matter of preference I like Herpstat myself but I have a single Vivarium and it works fine.

Too late now! Lol. I just order the 8 tub v-18 with the ve-100 thermostat. I wish you guys knew how excited I am! Lol!!... oh wait, maybe you do because you've all been there too! [emoji106]


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It's awesome that you found what you were looking for, so let me help you with "your next step"... what's next.

You already said that you are looking to add more snakes, which is awesome, and you also mentioned that you plan to breed in 2-3 years, so I would suggest that your next major husbandry purchase is a multi-output thermostat. I am moving my snakes out of a Vision 5 tub V70 (and two stand-alone 32q tubs), into a custom enclosure, and my MAJOR concern is heating it all. I will be going up from 7 snakes to 25+ (I have 4 females all within a few hundred grams of breeding)... so my thermostat is going to be the Herpstat that can control 6 different zones. I'll have control for the following from one t-stat:

• Hatchling tubs (normally a few degrees hotter)
• Juveniles
• Adults (difference from juvies is that adults cool during breeding)
• Incubator
• 2x space for more future racks!

Just helping you look forward a few years.

I can't wait for that juice box. Going broke for these little animals will be so much fun!! Lol!


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