Throwing the glass AWAY!

[adizziedoll]

Jumping temps, lamps screwing up my humidity...... damn glass aquariums!!

I'm thinking about making the switch. I'm making a rack ANYWAYS cause I'm getting some new babies, and I think I'm going to put my 5 year old pair in some plastic. (YES, seperately!!! )

I wonder if they'll miss the space they had? My female is in a 55 gal., and i think the one my male is in is a 40 turned on it's side. If you all remember, I just seperated them about 2 months ago. Would it be too much stress to switch their caging... again????
I can try and tell them that they'll be warmer, but im not sure they'll listen...

[Johar]

lol, im not sure, but i think the smaller the place is, the more secured the snake will be , and if it means you're getting the right temp + humidity, i think they'll figure it out on their own and be happy. but maybe u'll need to leave them alone for a while to get used to the cage, mine only needed a week for the plastic cage.

but im no expert, so i dont know

[tigerlily]

Yes, switching cages probably puts some stress on them. The way I look at it, so does all those fluctuating temps. They can be stressed for the duration of their time while in a tank (if you can't keep the environment stable), or for a week or so while they adjust to their new tubs. In the long run, stable temps are more important. But that's just me. I'd vote for new tubs, but I'm slightly biased. (tubs rock!)

[kavmon]

when i first saw bp's in a rack, i thought "why are they cramming the snakes in those little tubs" after keeping balls for a while and seeing their nature first hand. balls do just fine in a tub, they like security and tight fitting hides. they are not an active snake that moves all the time. i have a few that are active and alot of times i take them out and let the kids play with them some. my vote is getting the temps,humidity, security issues straight will cause less stress so the sooner the better. balls really do well in rack setups!

vaughn

[adizziedoll]

Yep, I'm gonna do it. No no, don't try to stop me...


Has anyone bought just a regular shelving unit, and pretended it was a rack? A rack-wannabee?
Trick is trying to find one that'll fit adults and babies...lots of babies!

[Rusty]

Yep, I'm gonna do it. No no, don't try to stop me...


Has anyone bought just a regular shelving unit, and pretended it was a rack? A rack-wannabee?
Trick is trying to find one that'll fit adults and babies...lots of babies!

I was wondering about that myself. How do you plan to heat and control the temps in the tub(s)? I'm thinking of making the change aswell.

[frankykeno]

I've looked at shelving systems from Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. to use for my over-sized sterlite tubs. Somewhere here is a thread about it though I can't locate it at the moment. If I remember correctly it was suggested if your going to get a regular free standing storage shelving that you make sure it's metal framed with particleboard shelving not wire mesh or solid metal shelves. Then cover the particleboard completely with heavy duty aluminium foil (shiney side showing) to protect it and so it doesn't absorb your heat and waste it.

It isn't going to work as well as a snake rack but I'll be using this until we can get racks custom built as nothing I can find holds my 39" long tubs.

~~Jo~~

[adizziedoll]

I was wondering about that myself. How do you plan to heat and control the temps in the tub(s)? I'm thinking of making the change aswell.

I was going to do up the flexwatt and thermostat setup.

What are snake racks usually made of? I got the impression that they weren't anything special, just special built to hold our irregular sized tubs in... now i'm starting to guess that im wrong...?

[iceman25]

In reply to the first post, Kudos! The word stress does not apply to a snake as it would to you or me. Stress is a complex emotion/feeling/state of mind that a ball-python is incapable off. We should inturn talk about its capability to adapt to its environment. Newbies, in my experience, usually tend to keep their animals in a glass tank, an enclosure that does not retain heat and humidity very well unless one really knows how to achive this. It is this thermal chaos which eventually leads to a condition usually expressed through refusal of food and frequent shedding to name a few, that we tend to slap the word "stressed" upon. This is why I tend to encourage new owners to keep their animals in a rubbermaid/sterilite equivalent. Unlike its glass counterpart, they maintain AND retain heat and humidity much better. This in turn leads to a well adapted companion animal. Once again, I congratulate you on switching over

[Chad Schwinn]

Go with the rack... It will be better for you and the snakes in the long run. Temperature and humidity are better controlled. They are lighter (relatively, 1 rack, 10 tubs, or 10 55 gallon Aquariums) when it is time to move, or just rearrange the furniture. Get a really good proportional, digital thermostat (well worth the money in the ong run) for your heat tape.



Also, a few years ago, I purchased a large melamine "closet" from Lowes. It is made of a thinner material; so sagging may be an issue if you do not properly support each shelf with a center support. But with some imagination and the right sized tubs, it makes a great first rack. I don't think I cut a single piece! You have to work slowly and work with a spacer to provide the proper spacing. Also I left the doors off of mine for better ventilation. Get long drywall screws and a good drill and the proper drill bits (sharp too). Take your time and triple check everything before you start to drill or screw anything together (it will either be a huge pain if it is wrong... FOREVER, or you have to take it apart and redo everything.... and now you have extra holes). Good luck, be patient and it will be a good move!



Take Care,


Take Care,