Switching to a tub/rack system Question...

[leylaraks]

So, I'm up to three snakes now, with the newest in quarantine. So, my house is full of terrariums, I'm tired of fighting humidity issues, and when Andromeda rolls off of quarantine I don't want to continue to have to tour my house to do my daily snake chores, as much as I love the extra cardio lol.

After a lot of research, I've decided tubs are the way to go (as I live in Ohio and managing humidity SUCKS). I've priced out some pre-done rack systems and I read the lovely sticky from Vyperz on how to create your own. So, my question is what do you recommend? Making your own or buying pre-fab system? And why? I think there are some benefits to plugging and going with a done system, but I think that making my own could have the benefit of letting me custom design my enclosures and how my rack is set up.

ANY feedback is greatly appreciated as I would like to do this right...my girls deserve the best.

[satomi325]

My rack is custom designed to blend in with my furniture. So there's that aesthetic part of building your own rack. Materials might be cheaper than buying a commercial rack depending where and how you build it.

However, I think it's easier to buy a commercial rack. It's already built so you just need to assemble it. They are really reliable and also come with heat tape, where as you have to order your own heating elements(and possibly deal with wiring) separately if you build your own rack.

It's all really personal preference and what sort of tubs you want to use.

[MrLang]

I recommend the 'economy' versions from Animal Plastics. For the price they charge with heat, you're not going to save much by doing it yourself and I can almost guarantee that what you create will be heavier and less effective.

I used to PM people when they said they had a snake escape and ask them if they had a professional rack or a DIY rack. I only had one person say it was a commercial enclosure and it was a tank where they forgot to put the top on. All of the rest said they had DIY racks that the animals escaped from.

I know you can make one perfectly escape proof, but I'm just sayin'...

[ROACH]

I thought about it for a long time and finally decided to just break down and buy a rack! I bought a ARS 7030 and I really like it! Just stack it and plug it all in is all I had to do! Yes building my own would have been cheaper, but at least I know this one is done right and will work for what I need it too!

[leylaraks]

Yep, one of my biggest concerns about building my own is that getting heat and ventilation just right will be a trial and error deal, whereas the commercial ones are ready to go for the snakes.


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[CryHavoc17]

I just picked up a 5 tub V70 rack from Chris at Cserpents and love it. My requirements went i look at commercial racks are pretty simple. V70s or CB70s over Sterlite 41 qt tubs, and the heat tape has to be recessed. I hate the idea of the tub sliding directly over the tape, that cant be good. I also prefer solid sided over the economy style for an insulating effect, I dont know this for a fact but I feel like the solid style will hold heat better. I picked it up at a reptile show whoch was excellent. Their were three different manufacturers at that show, so I could compare all there racks directly and pick the one I liked best. And I didnt have to put it together or pay for shipping!

Other then that it all comes down to price and lead time

I could have attempted to build my own, but I have several big DIY projects in the works right now and just didnt feel like taking another one on.

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[MrLang]

whereas the commercial ones are ready to go for the snakes.

Sort of... you'll need to make the ventilation holes yourself in the tubs. I recommend you buy a soldering iron from Walmart for 9.99 to do it. Much cleaner than other methods. Start with only a handful of holes and slowly add them until the ventilation is as high as you can get it without compromising your humidity.

One person recommended, and I like it - put the holes at the upper edge along the side where the heat tape is. Put the holes on the lower edge of the opposite side. What this will do is the heat will rise off the tape and out the holes at the top in the back, thus pulling air in from the holes in the lower front. It's a good way to ensure adequate air circulation in the tubs.

[leylaraks]

Yep, my hubby already has a soldering iron, so that's not too bad!


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[leylaraks]

I was actually looking at the V70 with C Serpents!!! Glad to hear you are happy with it! I might check to see if they would be at our reptile show coming up...


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