Reptile & Amphibian Forums

starting a new thread from a long one below, Jake is looking to set up a BP complete rack 3 full sized bp...1 male 2 females..4 medium size holdbacks at a time and up to 9 babies.

Any suggestions on tub sizes? I believe the drawing showed large ones 1/shelf, med 2/shelf and small 3/shelf but I'm sure that could be changed depending on tubs
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
10.22 BRB
10.15 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

here is what i wanted

I would suggest two 1/2 height racks that would be stackable. Build one to hold 3 or 4 Sterlite 1960s for the adults, and another that would hold Sterlite 1754s and/or 1756s. Build the second one so that it will hold a single 1756 sideways, or two 1754s on each shelf, with 5 shelves. This will give you the most flexibility, won't cost much more than a single rack like you pictured, and can be controlled by a single thermostat. If you don't put a divider in between the 1754s, you can just slip them out, and put in a single 1756 for a larger snake. Actually, I just ordered a rack that has that very design.

Just a thought, you might even consider building the "1960" rack to hold two tubs side by side on each shelf. (I would put a divider in this one though). This would provide better vertical space utilization. Put this one on the bottom with the 1754/1756 on top of it.

Steve

sterilite is what im wanting to use...they dont have those numbers i dont think...what are those sizes in quarts ? i dont have alot of money so i cant afford iris box's just 2 expensive...

For the Sterlite 1960, 1754, and 1756, the dimensions are as follows -

1960....41qt....34 1/2" x 15 1/2" x 5 5/8"
1756....32qt....23 3/8" x 15 3/4" x 6 5/8"
1754....15qt....16 5/8" x 10 7/8" x 6 1/4"

Note that these dimensions are slightly off from the label. I didn't measure with the lids on, but I'm assuming that the stated dimensions include the lid. I got all of these at Target.

The 1754 and 1756 are labeled as "Sterlite ClearView". The 1960 simply says "Sterlite". The stock number is on the lower right corner of the label on each.

I'm currently using a homebuilt rack with the 1960 tubs to hold my adult ball pythons. The largest snake I currently have in the rack is around 4 feet and 1300 grams, and he has plenty of room. In the next day or so, I'll be moving a 2kg female into the rack as well. I have another 2kg female that will go into the rack after my 1754/1756 rack arrives. The tubs are actually a little too large for some of my yearlings (800 +/- grams), and I'll be moving them into 1756 tubs when the rack arrives.

Steve

This is a bit confusing.

Sterilite makes two very similar versions of their 41/27/12 qt. boxes. One has circular raised feet on the bottom and the other one has a continuous raised strip on the bottom. Otherwise the boxes are very similar. I think one type is distribued at Walmart, the other at Target and/or Shopko.

Now here's the kicker. With one of the styles all three boxes are the same height. TWH, an occasional poster here has built racks around these boxes. Each level can hold...

One 41 quart box that slides in width-wise.

Three 12 quart boxes that slide in length-wise.

One 27 quart box (width-wise) plus one 12 qt. box (length-wise).

Now even if the boxes are no longer the same height or if the design has changed slightly you can still use the tubs.

In that case just build the rack with gaps that are 3/16" greater than the height of the tallest tub. According the the website the Sterilite 1960 is 1/8" taller than the Sterilite 1956/1954. Make sure your tape measure agrees...

Then just use whatever you have to shim the individual levels so that the smaller boxes are secure. I have used hardboard, acrylic, posterboard, contact paper or whatever to make rack shelves secure enough for shorter boxes.

I think this will work.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Dave,
Its really tough to say for the 3 different tubs he would need there really isn't a set manufacture that makes 3 equal hieght boxes that would fill his need. I use 3 different sterilite tubs but only the 1754 and 1756 are the same hiegth the 1960 is different.

Also the 1960 is really only suitable for full grown males, large female Ball's really need some more room. The CB-110 is a good choice for females. Of course the CB-70 is perfect for young snakes as well as full grown males.

Its really a matter of preference, sterilites are easily obtained at Target and Walmart for next to nothing and a replacement, should you break a tub is easy to find. However eventualy sterilite will stop making the one model you may need. Iris boxs are easily obtained at some places none of which are near me but also available via the web.

Iris models don't seam to change as often and as much as the setrilite or rubbermaid tubs do. However the different sizes are hardly the same height which makes building a single rack capable of different sizes difficult.

I'm not saying he needs a rack that serves three different size tubs on every level but it is the most ideal. He could easily build one rack that served exactly what he wants in his pic. Than it comes down to what tubs he wants and where he gets them.

Personally I feel that hif he needs three tubs than he should have three racks on for each type or size of tub. This is my personal preference of course, although it makes assembly and construction as well as design and implemetation of the design all that much easier.

I understand he is limited on space but I am approaching this from the view point of the builder. He indeed has the skills and knowhow of a carpenter to build what he wants how he wants. I'm just saying its easier to build all one rack all one way.

Hopefully this helped a little in my rambling about tubs.

Good Luck
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

that all makes sense but due to space and money i will just have to make due with what i can do witch is only 1 rack for now
but i will go to walmart and target and look at the different sizes they have and try to figure something out
thanks a ton guys i'll message back in a few days when i need more help

I find Target has the best selection of Sterilite while maybe a little more expensive. You can get the 3 tubs I mentioned 1754, 1756 and 1960. All are good for what you want IMO. But like I said in the previous post a full grown Female may require a larger cage. If you are new to the hobby and have just a few young adults you still have some times as Balls grow a bit slower and most don't get huge. So for now the 1960 will be good and when the time comes you can just build a cage for large females and breeding cages which by the way cages work better for breeding. Balls like tigh spaces but breeding is different.

Other than sterilite at the local stores you can try Reptile Tubs for the larger Iris boxes which are quite a bit more expensive but incredably more durable and worth the money. Again its really your preference. Were here for you.

Good Luck let us know what you find and Sterilite can give you an idea of what to look for just remember the numbers above

1754/1756

1960

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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

ok well i did the sizing and such using those tub sizes...

Sterilite snap on lid tubs
3-41qt
4-32qt
9-15qt

i need ...so far the cheapest i've found with shipping is 134 dollars online
anyone know any online store with all those tubs ?

I don't know any online sterilite vendors, I use Target or Big Lots.
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

I mentioned this in a post above, but I'm not sure you'll see it, so here it is -

I got the Sterlite 1960, 1754 and 1756 all three at Target.

Steve

yea i know but sometimes if you find the right site you can get stuff cheaper but not having any luck so im just gona get the stuff at target

I did the same thing. I looked and looked, but couldn't find them any cheaper. By the time shipping was added, they ended up more expensive. I even checked with stores that carry Sterlite, but not those particular tubs to see if they could order them in. No luck. I even asked Target for a quantity discount. Nope.

Oh well.
Steve

.....that i've built better than i could.the tubs i use are sterilites: 41qt. 1960n
27qt. 1956n2
12qt. 1954n2

the spacers i use for the opening height in the rack are 5 3/4 ".the height of the 12qt. is a hair less than the others making a bigger gap between the top of the tub and the rack opening,for balls i don't shim and have never had an escape,works great.

for colobrids the gap needs to be closed.chris i don't shim the openings but rather the 12 qt. tubs.i cut shims in the shape of the number 7 from lids (the bigger the size tub the thicker the lid material is) and weld in place with a pencil solerding iron on all six sides,this way the tub can be used on any level,i prefer to keep males in the slightly cooler lower levels.

i have never had a shim come off but you can pull them off with a pliers if needed,i have boxes that have had shims on and off several times with no problems,the welding process only takes a few minutes.

as chris stated in a ten level rack you could have 10,20 or 30 tubs.have fun!

Are the boxes the ones with individual, circular feet or do yours have the continuous raised area all around the perimeter of the tub?

And where do you buy them? That might shed a bit of light on this subject.

Thanks for replying.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

....raised feet,the model numbers i posted are for the slightly raised continous foot.

i find these at shopko (a midwestern discounter),they have 1/2 price sales 3-5 times a year.recently wal-mart started carring the 41qt. model

jeremy (and others) the 41qt. has a floor space of 30" x 13" do you think that is sufficent for a full grown female BP? btw you never responded if you like the a-33 dry,thumbs up or down? have fun!

Personally I would not keep the largest female BP I ever kept in something with the equivalent floor space as a 20 gallon-long aquarium, although I think she would have done fine. I don't remember her weight but she was a monster.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

i was thinking the same thing,the largest female i have is 1800 grams and she does fine,but a 3000 gram female might be a bit cramped.by next year i may need to build a larger tubbed rack.

the next size up in a iris has how much in floor length?

If you read through the recent posts by Rainbows-r-us you'll find where he mentions the exact floor area of the Iris CB-110. I think he said it's 36" x 17". I'm pretty sure that's right as I recall it being darn close to the size of a 40 gallon breeder tank.

Ironically that's the size tank I kept that monster female in I mentioned earlier.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

just ask

The CB110 has a pretty large floor space for a relatively shallow tub. Remember, all tubs are maller on the floor than the top. The CB110 is about 20" x 39" at the top and at the floor is 17" x 36" or 4.25 square feet.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
10.22 BRB
10.15 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

First off I am sorry I did not get around to repling on the A-33 earlier, I have been really busy this summer, not that it is an excuss but it at least the truth. I absoulutly love the A-33 a great cleaning compound I use it every other cleaning cycle manly as a disinfectant but it cuts the tough stuff pretty good. I don't scub anymore but I have also drastically changed my husbandry practices after a IBD scare.

I also agree with the continous foot beating the single feet hands down exspecially when used over heat tape. But it makes the tub that much more strong.

Lastly I never recommend a full grown Female ball to be kept in a 41qt tub, male yes female no. In fact I often recommend a cage vs a rack for large females and breeding. Breeding in tubs is rather difficult.

I myself use the 41qt tub for yearlings and less RTB's and one last loanly Male Ball.

Thanks again for the A-33, now I just need to find more! LOL
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

i buy the a-33 dry from my vet,in fact she was the one that recommened it in the first place.chris found a local supplier,if you can't find any i'll be happy to ship you some.have fun!