question about Sideways racks

i want to get a rack from pvccages but i'd like to get some input first from you guys. If i end up getting a sideways rack, what would be best for heating, back heat or belly heat? My room stays around 65-75 degrees so i wouldn't know what would work best for providing heat for my snakes. Also, i don't plan on breeding in anyway and i just want to get males. I've read several times on this site that you can keep a male in a 32 qt size tub for the rest of his life. Would i still need to provide 2 hides for them in a sideways rack or would one be fine? Would 2 hides even be able to fit in a 32 qt with a full grown male ball?

back heat is so-so in a heated room.. in a room that cool your best bet is with belly heat.

If I were in your situation I'd go for a deep rack instead of a sideways one. It would be pretty crowded if you put two hides in a 32qt tub along with a water bowl and an adult ball python. Most of my ball pythons that live in deep racks do fine with no hides at all. The back end of the tub stays very dark in the deep rack so they just go back there to hide when they want.

I have 32qt sideways racks and I have had issues with my cool side temps in the winter. 68ish ambient temps in the room. I needed to insulate the exposed area of the tub in order to correct this issue, been fine since then.

Edit: I have belly heat for mine.

With sideways bins, belly heat for sure. That way the heat gradient can still be along the length of the tub rather than the narrower width.

I'd say belly heat with those room temps. I have back heat in my racks and it works really well, buy my room temp stays between 78-82. Deep racks are kind of like one big hide since the back half is pretty dark.

I hate belly heat!!

I have two six slot 32qt sideways, and one 5 slot. and then a four slot. all of them, except for the four slot have two rows of 11" flex on the backs. The four slot has one row, that i will be upgrading to two for the cooler months of winter. Works great :)

When I got my racks I was researching and everyone recommended belly heat. I went with back heat cause of my room temps and i'm really happy I did. My temps are great.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mooingtricycle

I hate belly heat!!

I have two six slot 32qt sideways, and one 5 slot. and then a four slot. all of them, except for the four slot have two rows of 11" flex on the backs. The four slot has one row, that i will be upgrading to two for the cooler months of winter. Works great :)

---

Any particular reason why you hate belly heat? Just curious...

Ditto the question above... I love belly heat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spaniard

Any particular reason why you hate belly heat? Just curious...

---

The times ive used it, be it under tank heaters, or 3" flex, i did not like it, or had problems with it. In the time i have been using back heat specifically, i have had zero problems with it, and feel it provides a more even gentle *consistant* temp gradiant. even on the bottom of a rack * which is always a little cooler*

Actually, 3" belly heat burned on me. It does not work in a cooler climate. and had one heck of a time keeping the temps where i wanted them.
http://pics.livejournal.com/mooingtricycle/pic/0006q0h6

Ill never use it again. * though i would consider 11" belly heat, but that would mean dismantling my racks to do so. and honestly. It aint worth it.

so i decided to go with the 32 qt deep rack from reptile basics. I know my two little guys are still hatchlings so i ended up buying some of his dividers to keep them in a small enviroment until they grow more. My questions now are, Now with a new home and heat type for my little guys, how many holes do you recommand to drill for air flow and humidity control in a rack? With belly heat being installed in this rack, where would you recommand i put the thermostat probe at? With it being a deep rack, do i still need to provide two hides or can i get away with just putting one?

I believe with belly heat that Rich includes slots for the temp probe. The dividers work great for small snakes. I use them for the babies and I love them. You will not be disappointed. I had to make a ton of holes in the tubs to get the humidity down. I didn't make any in the back of the tubs, just on the sides and front. I would suggest setting everything up and leaving it for at least a couple of days before putting your animals in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thefnshow66

so i decided to go with the 32 qt deep rack from reptile basics. I know my two little guys are still hatchlings so i ended up buying some of his dividers to keep them in a small enviroment until they grow more. My questions now are, Now with a new home and heat type for my little guys, how many holes do you recommand to drill for air flow and humidity control in a rack? With belly heat being installed in this rack, where would you recommand i put the thermostat probe at? With it being a deep rack, do i still need to provide two hides or can i get away with just putting one?

---

RBI is a good choice. I have 8 RBI racks. Your ventilation holes are going to depend on a few things - the humidity in your room, and the humidity inside the tub. The humidity inside the tub is going to vary depending on what bedding you use, how large of a water bowl you use, and temperature. Personally what I would do to figure things out is set up the tub the way you'd like it without drilling holes. Measure the humidity inside and start drilling holes as you watch the percentage decrease. Once you get to your desired range, add your ball pythons.

I have six of the 32 quart racks, and I still don't have enough holes in my tubs. I have about 15 on the front and about 8 down each of the sides. I use newspaper and every time they pee I clean their tub because there is very little evaporation...kind of a bummer, but oh well.

JonV

I have 15-20 on the front and about 40 on each side. I would just keep adding a few until it's right. Now that it's gotten colder here i'm using an oil filled heater and it dropped the humidity big time.

ok cool guys, thanks for all the help so far, but can anyone answer my hide question. Can i get away with just giving my baby balls just one hide now instead of two since they will be in a rack?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thefnshow66

ok cool guys, thanks for all the help so far, but can anyone answer my hide question. Can i get away with just giving my baby balls just one hide now instead of two since they will be in a rack?

---

Yep! i use one hide for mine. No problemo

Our baby spider has no problem having only one hide. most of the time he prefers to wedge himself in between the hide and a side of the tub. He has no problem laying ont he cool side by his water. I should add that the sides and back of his tub are covered.

I think, so long as they use both sides and look comfortable, it should be quite alright. So - I second the notion! :gj:

I have a sideways rack..for the rest of my snakes. I love it. Makes it easy to have both a hide and a water bowl on the warm side, and still have room for them to lay outside the hid, on the warm side. They all love it.

Hopefully that helps!
Pita

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rapture

If I were in your situation I'd go for a deep rack instead of a sideways one. It would be pretty crowded if you put two hides in a 32qt tub along with a water bowl and an adult ball python. Most of my ball pythons that live in deep racks do fine with no hides at all. The back end of the tub stays very dark in the deep rack so they just go back there to hide when they want.

---

I am actualy in the process today, changing over from asideways rack to a deep rack. I feel that my snakes will much more secure, and comfortable in this setup. Ball pythons like small, dark, warm places so I would go with the deep racks.:gj:

i have a side ways rack and am having issues with cool sides and the room is heated. deep rack is the way to go.