DIY 9 Tub Breeder Rack (lightweight plastic shelving unit)

[SlitherinSisters]

Many people do it... but use a good quality power strip.

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Yeah def, a quality power strip should to the trick. I did weave the flexwatt through on my second rack. It's so much easier, and a lot less wires! It does take more flexwatt, but it's nice to only have one wire to worry about.

[toyota89]

I will be building one next week

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[steve_r34]

Very nice

[MonkeyShuttle]

I built this rack and its strange, some days the tubs slide smoothly and others its like the rack shrunk overnight and the tubs are tight


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[FBskateboarder]

Does anyone know the length you should cut the posts too? Im trying to build my first rack, and dont want to screw it up lol.
Thanks!~Joshua

[SlitherinSisters]

Does anyone know the length you should cut the posts too? Im trying to build my first rack, and dont want to screw it up lol.
Thanks!~Joshua

I couldn't tell you exactly. My front posts are 1/8th inch shorter than the back posts because I put the shims in. What I did was put the tub on the shelf (on top of the shims in the back) put a shelf on top of the tub, then put an extra piece of the hardboard between the tub and the shelf. That gave a tiny gap and I measured the posts that way. Hopefully that makes sense...

[whatsherface]

Just wanted to share my attempt at building this rack! I modified it a bit, since I have juvies and larger males to house but no big females (yet). I figure I'll be able to add a second shelf on top of this when I need to expand, but it will do for what I have now. The ambient temps in my room are weird, and it's significantly cooler close to the floor, so I left the bottom shelf at regular height for storage. All that's left is putting in the heat tape (due to arrive on Saturday) and drilling holes in the tubs.

[SlitherinSisters]

You can always put insulation under the bottom shelf. Even the aluminum sheets will help a bit. I still tend to leave my bottom tubs empty if I can.

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[whatsherface]

You can always put insulation under the bottom shelf. Even the aluminum sheets will help a bit. I still tend to leave my bottom tubs empty if I can.

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Thanks for the tips! I think this layout works best for me right now (I'm kind of tight on storage space) but once I have a snake room proper I definitely plan on utilizing the whole shelf as a rack! Its not like I can't change the configuration around later if I need to. Thanks for the awesome tutorial!

[whatsherface]

So I ended up not being so happy with my first attempt. Most of the poles were too short and were sitting on top of screws rather than being secured by screws. I also couldn't get the ambient temp over 70, and the tubs rubbed against the screws holding down the hardboard that I cut too large corners out of. It was kind of a mess. So I took it apart, found a used matching rack on Craigslist for 20 bucks, bought another piece of hardboard and some eucaboard for sides and a back, and then I tried again.



This is the result. I'm much happier with it. It's sturdier and can keep the ambient temps higher much easier. I bought screws that lay flush so they won't rub the tubs, and triple checked the legs every step of the way. I also used some glue to secure the board because i had noticed it sagging in the center between the screws. The shelves from the first set are in the back of my closet until I need 41 quart tubs, because the screws on the narrow ends are far enough apart to work with 41 qt.

I also got my herpstat 2 in the mail and I'm over the moon.