question on racks

Hi,
I am looking to extend my collection, well I wouldn't call it a collection I only have one normal BP. I was wondering if any had any advice on an inexpensive user friendly rack. Would it be best to attempt to build my own? I saw the AP economy rack is fairly cheap but how is it compared to some of the more expensive racks?

Although I don't have bunches of snakes ...yet, I think for the pure value, and versitility if you are able to, just build your own. There are a lot of DIY racks, and they can be built better to fit what you need.... I'm building one later this week.:D

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Originally Posted by JamieLynn

Although I don't have bunches of snakes ...yet, I think for the pure value, and versitility if you are able to, just build your own. There are a lot of DIY racks, and they can be built better to fit what you need.... I'm building one later this week.:D

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I think thats the route I might take but I am not sure about the heat. Being in CT it is tough to heat anything.

I'm in SD, so i understand heating issues....I would say use the flexwatt as most of the breeders recomend it, and get a good thermostat.

After you have your rack built, you can give Rich (www.reptilebasics.com) a call and he will go over with you, what route best suits your heating needs as far as what size flexwatt and how much, he will even wire it for you so that all you will need to do is stick it on the inside of the back panel of your rack (back heat) or loop it through your shelves for belly heat! Hope this helps, i get all my flexwatt from Rich he has never let me down!

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Originally Posted by juddb

After you have your rack built, you can give Rich (www.reptilebasics.com) a call and he will go over with you, what route best suits your heating needs as far as what size flexwatt and how much, he will even wire it for you so that all you will need to do is stick it on the inside of the back panel of your rack (back heat) or loop it through your shelves for belly heat! Hope this helps, i get all my flexwatt from Rich he has never let me down!

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That is pretty amazing. That is what I call costumer service!!

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Originally Posted by juddb

After you have your rack built, you can give Rich (www.reptilebasics.com) a call and he will go over with you, what route best suits your heating needs as far as what size flexwatt and how much, he will even wire it for you so that all you will need to do is stick it on the inside of the back panel of your rack (back heat) or loop it through your shelves for belly heat! Hope this helps, i get all my flexwatt from Rich he has never let me down!

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It will be a cold cold day...... before I buy from any one but Rich.

Outstanding customer service. He even answers the most mundane questions like he does not hear them 150 times a day.

Here is my set up, for racks

Rack http://reptilebasics.com/Iris-CB-70-Rack-p-16183.html

T-Stat http://reptilebasics.com/Helix-Contr...d-p-16151.html

it comes with belly heat.

for a display cage

http://reptilebasics.com/2x3-Cage-12-High-p-16286.html

This comes with a few options for heat, I used the Radiant heat panel, I really like the heat gradient that the heat panel sets up.

I used the same T-Stat

This is a great scale that I also bought from Rich. http://reptilebasics.com/My-Weigh-70...l-p-16191.html

There is so much money you can spend on that site!!! It is all high quality stuff. I have ordered my hides from him and are very happy with every thing I have ever gotten from Rich!!

I just can not say enough good stuff about him. Most of the people i have spoken with suggest going with Rich. Every thing you get comes pre-assembled (except the larger racks I think)

I do not think it is possible to go wrong with Rich @ Reptilebasics.com

Mike

You are probably talking $800 for a 6 tub rack with t-stat and everything. Anything more affordable?

i would suggest checking out natures spirit. Casey is a good guy. i have 2 of his racks and 3 boaphiles. Casey can build anything you want if you can't find it on his site. I also have 3 melamine racks and they are extremely heavy.

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Originally Posted by mdjudson

You are probably talking $800 for a 6 tub rack with t-stat and everything. Anything more affordable?

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You can get two 4 tub racks from Rich at Reptile Basics with T-stats, shipped for that.

If you don't mind having an extremely "ohmygodmybackhurts!@#$%^" heavy rack, follow this DIY thread:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=58302


You don't have to stick strictly to everything he did. I actually ended up making one extra shelf, and putting the excess wood that he has on the top, towards the bottom, so that my bottom shelf doesn't sit flush with the floor. Other than that, mine is essentially just like that. I can put 20 snakes in this. You just need to make sure that you decide which size tubs you want for each shelf, and then use that tub to make the space. I have three diff tub sizes, so I did the top shelf for my 16qts, the middle five shelves for 30qts, and the bottom for my 74qt for my boa.

Altogether it cost around $300, including t-stat and flexwatt. Got the melamine from Home Depot. We had to move this thing up our stairs and around a weird hallway to get into my bedroom, so I wasn't kidding about the extremely break your back heavy quality lol.

I understand you've only got one snake at the moment, but, the fact that you're planning to get another, means you're addicted :D And you'll eventually need room for this many. Even though I don't even use half the rack, I know I'll fill it up sometime, and I figured, as long as I'm building something for what I have, I might as well have room for what will come.

I would honestly say if you wanted something cost efficient, just go with stand-alone tubs for now, until you get enough snakes to warrant the need for a rack. While I do love the RBI racks, and refer them to anyone who asks, I can't afford them, especially for how expensive they are and yet how little they hold. DIY racks leave more money in my pockets, for more snakes :D

Here's mine after I got it all set up.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil..._001_thumb.jpg

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Originally Posted by Lateralus_Love

If you don't mind having an extremely "ohmygodmybackhurts!@#$%^" heavy rack, follow this DIY thread:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=58302


You don't have to stick strictly to everything he did. I actually ended up making one extra shelf, and putting the excess wood that he has on the top, towards the bottom, so that my bottom shelf doesn't sit flush with the floor. Other than that, mine is essentially just like that. I can put 20 snakes in this. You just need to make sure that you decide which size tubs you want for each shelf, and then use that tub to make the space. I have three diff tub sizes, so I did the top shelf for my 16qts, the middle five shelves for 30qts, and the bottom for my 74qt for my boa.

Altogether it cost around $300, including t-stat and flexwatt. Got the melamine from Home Depot. We had to move this thing up our stairs and around a weird hallway to get into my bedroom, so I wasn't kidding about the extremely break your back heavy quality lol.

I understand you've only got one snake at the moment, but, the fact that you're planning to get another, means you're addicted :D And you'll eventually need room for this many. Even though I don't even use half the rack, I know I'll fill it up sometime, and I figured, as long as I'm building something for what I have, I might as well have room for what will come.

I would honestly say if you wanted something cost efficient, just go with stand-alone tubs for now, until you get enough snakes to warrant the need for a rack. While I do love the RBI racks, and refer them to anyone who asks, I can't afford them, especially for how expensive they are and yet how little they hold. DIY racks leave more money in my pockets, for more snakes :D

Here's mine after I got it all set up.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil..._001_thumb.jpg

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What size tubs are those and how many does it hold?

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Originally Posted by shadi11

i would suggest checking out natures spirit. Casey is a good guy. i have 2 of his racks and 3 boaphiles. Casey can build anything you want if you can't find it on his site. I also have 3 melamine racks and they are extremely heavy.

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What is the website?

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Originally Posted by mdjudson

What size tubs are those and how many does it hold?

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The top shelf holds four 16qt tubs, the middle five shelves hold three 28qt tubs (the only difference between the 28qt and 32qt sterilite tubs was three inches of height), and the bottom shelf holds one 72qt tub. That's a total of four 16qt tubs, fifteen 28qt tubs, and one 72qt tub. Depending on what tubs you personally choose and find you need, the results will vary. The original person who did this (that's the link I provided in my last post) only had six shelves, with 32qt tubs (the added height).

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Originally Posted by Lateralus_Love

The top shelf holds four 16qt tubs, the middle five shelves hold three 28qt tubs (the only difference between the 28qt and 32qt sterilite tubs was three inches of height), and the bottom shelf holds one 72qt tub. That's a total of four 16qt tubs, fifteen 28qt tubs, and one 72qt tub. Depending on what tubs you personally choose and find you need, the results will vary. The original person who did this (that's the link I provided in my last post) only had six shelves, with 32qt tubs (the added height).

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I really like that. The best part about it is that you can customize it to what ever space you have availible

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Originally Posted by Lateralus_Love

but, the fact that you're planning to get another, means you're addicted :D And you'll eventually need room for this many. Even though I don't even use half the rack, I know I'll fill it up sometime, and I figured, as long as I'm building something for what I have, I might as well have room for what will come.

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So true.. I only have one at the moment, but I'm working on getting 5-7 more in the next month or two:D
little buggers get ya hooked.
If I could remember where I found it I saw a DIY for a rack made out of plywood, they just stained, and water proofed all the wood.
It looked very profesional, and I know plywood does not cost too much.
An 8' X 4' sheet is from $10.00 to $25.00 (depending on thickness and quality)
The plans I have for a rack would use 3 sheets
Then thermostats (depending on what brand/ where you get them) run from around $40 and up.
Then you have the flexwatt, for what I'm going to use it is going to cost around $50, give or take a few bucks.

So for what I am building...it will hold 5-34qt tubs, and 10-15qt tubs.
The rack will cost from $120at the cheapest, to $200......and around $75-$90 for the tubs. This is with a less expensive thermostat.

I too am a Reptile Basics fan...Rich is a great guy, offers great customer service and has quality products...Just ordered another 321 from him today...Can't wait for delivery...

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Originally Posted by JamieLynn

Then thermostats (depending on what brand/ where you get them) run from around $40 and up.

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I saw a zilla t-stat for around 30. Is that any good?

www.nsreptiles.com has racks at a price that you may like. He calls them snake shacks. His prices include backheat, tubs and shipping.

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Originally Posted by mdjudson

I saw a zilla t-stat for around 30. Is that any good?

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not sure...but I'll end up finding out:)

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Originally Posted by JamieLynn

not sure...but I'll end up finding out:)

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Let me know how it works out:), Let me know how your whole rack comes out cause I just might give it a try. I want to get 1.1 het axanthic but I have no where to put them!

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Originally Posted by mdjudson

Let me know how it works out:), Let me know how your whole rack comes out cause I just might give it a try.

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Oh you'll know I'll post my supply list and photos of the whole process in the DIY forum.....
And when it’s all done I'll post pics of the BP's I picked to fill it up:D
Till then they are a secret

Best of luck

I was going to bring up animal plastics, but for the first time I noticed that they don't include the tubs, so a 4 rack is like 355 dollars plus shipping on the tubs...

Hrm this may call for some math, but I think Reptile Basics would be a better bet.