Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is anyone completely happy with their cage setup?? I was cleaning cages tonight and as usual I was thinking about what I need to do to improve the caging for my animals and for me. So are any of you out there really happy with your setups?? Do any of you think you have the most efficient caging or the best possible for your charges?? If so lets see em. I am planning on moving, in about 2 years , across the country so I want to start planning out caging and saving money for better setups so when I move I have them already.

later Jason

Of course theres a perfect cage, hahahahahaha I live between that little hill and the bigger hill. Its perfect for snakes.

Seriously, no I never had a perfect cage. I can only hope for cages that work. Cheers

I am going to be out in your neck of the woods for the last week of July for the monsoons. Maybe we can hook up for a burger or a beer. I would love to see your lair but I know I would not have anybody to my house that I didn't know very well. If you feel up to meeting up let me know. I will be in the Tucson area from the 21st to the 29th. And I will have every afternoon from about 1 to about 7 free except for that is when I plan to sleep. HAHAHAHAHAHA You see for me you live in heaven.

Later Jason

For me, something between Aquariums and Rack system would be ideal. I dont really like rack systems, but for ease of cleaning and heat regulating, very hard to beat. Aquariums look great, but are large and hard to clean, especially if your heat source is stuck to the bottom!! My ideal setup, which I will build when I get a chance, will be large clear Polycarbonate boxes in a wood framed system, allowing the removal of the boxes even though they may be 10-30 gallon or more. These boxes may need to be fabricated out of Plexi, but having the heat in the rack and NOT attached to the cage is the ONLY way to go, In my Opinion.

A friend of mine makes clear see-through racks for his kingsnakes.
Here is a link to his website and a pic of one of his racks.
They are very easy to clean and have heat tape in the back of the rack (under the back end of the tubs).
Karl

Rosys Rack Systems & More

Very nice rack, and similar to what I am talking about. If that Rack had taller "Aquarium" style boxes it would be great as a display rack too. But still, better than most of what I have seen out there with plastic sides and shelves!!

Last time I checked, Jason was working on a display cage to match up with his racks. You could email from his site and ask.
Karl

Cool, I will do that. I checked out the website and it looks like he has 4" and 6" high boxes available right now, and I would like more heighth for realistic displays with branches, etc. Prices seem a bit high for somebody like me that has the tools and skills to make my own, but the quality looks very good.

and I don't really like it.

Here is why. The bigest problem is that the tub runs the long way (great for viewing) and so does the heat strip. This means that there is only about 11 inches from the hot side to the cool side. I find it very difficult to get more the a 9 or 10 degree difference from front to back. I usually like to give my snakes at least a 20 degree range, and in a tub that size it is easy if the rack was oriented differently. Also its amazingly heavy. And although very well made, it is still overpriced. Lastly, the tubs are too small for adults IMHO. THe have almost the same footprint as a 10 gallon tank.

You can buy those tubs at any restaurant supply company. They are Cambro clear polycarbonate food storage boxes. There is a larger model then the one used in jasons racks but I don't remember the dimentions.

Personally, if you like that design and want a rack that you can still see into well, i would by the boxes, some nice plywood, and build youralf a nice rack with open sides for good viewing. Use a square foot of flexwatt under one and and connect them in series. (or put each on a separate plug for more control. It will be lighter, prettier, have better heat, and cost half as much.

Cheers
zach

I'll post pics later of some of my new cages that I am pretty happy with. Basically imagine a wooden bookshelf with plexi glass doors that hing down from the front. This design alows lots of flexibility in terms of size and viewing space depending on your needs.

Zach, I totally agree...the rach shown definitely has its drawbacks when it comes to proper heating. The Large Cambro boxes that are 12" high would be ideal, but set into the rack deep so that the heat is in the back. I dont like the 4" and 6" high boxes at all. I am trying to work out a deal with a local place on the boxes, and I will use Melamine shelving type material to construct it.

Scott
Origin Reptiles

>>You can buy those tubs at any restaurant supply company. They are Cambro clear polycarbonate food storage boxes. There is a larger model then the one used in jasons racks but I don't remember the dimentions.

back when Matrix Vivarium Systems was building racks in Massachusetts, i aarranged for them to build me racks utilizing the larger cambro boxes instead. The footprint's bigger than a rubbermaid sweaterbox, and though the front's not entirely clear on the larger sizes, there's a clear section covering the marjority of the ends (I had them built so the boxes slid in lengthwise, not sideways, for the heat-tape advantage mentioned in this thread.

I used 6" and 9" tubs, with the larger sizes closer to eye level. I'd keep males in those cages and introduce the females there, and with the clear Cambros and the greater (9" front it was pretty easy to see what was going on inside. I used this system primarily with Hondurans and was very happy with it. But i think it was superior more in functionality than as an exhibit or display rack.

terry

I just purchased several LARGE Cambro boxes for my rack project, they are 18" x 26" x 15"H, so they will look alot like aquariums as I will set them in at 18" deep with the 26" exposed. I will have to use individual pieces of heat tape to do this, but better than hiding most of the box inside a rack! My plan is to use Melamine shelving, 18" with bullnose ends and set the boxes in 2 wide and 5 high, with a rack size of 54" wide, 20" deep and 80" high. Going to be a monster, but with wheels will be easy to move and I will make it so I can take it apart if needed. I will post pictures when completed, probably a month as I am waiting for the boxes to ship to me.