My rack is only 10 shelves high. I put the top 2 hole strap on the 3rd or 4th shelf from the top. The bar is the exact height of the rack. This allows me to slide the bar up & out of the straps, & it comes just shy of the ceiling.
If you're using alluminum tubing for the bars, they should have enough strength up top to keep the snakes from pushing out & bending the bars enough for them to have room to escape. You should then be able to set your top 2 hole strap even lower on your rack so that you only have to slide the bar past 4 or 5 shelves before it clears the straps.
Remember that I used 1/2" 2 hole straps & 1/2" bars. This means that the straps will HAVE to be opened up a bit to accomidate the bars. I did this simply by straightening out the bent part of the straps where the screw holes are. I then bent them back into place right next to the screw holes so it left a little more than a 1/2" gap for the bars to pass through. Just keep in mind that you will need to bend the straps in order to create more of a gap for the bars.
Hope this makes sense & is not too confusing. Once you have all the materials in hand it will all make sense.

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