Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How many others have experienced escapes of BP's from their Vision racks? How is it that BP's manage to get out of these things? What did you do to stop them from escaping?

I really like the Vision racks but really hate escapees!

I have a vision rack but have not had any issues (knock on wood) with escapees. The only way i think they could is if you didnt use the guides for the tubs. Or possibly you have to much of a gap between the tub and the rack itself. Try tightening the bolts on the six poles evenly but not excessively and maybe take up some space? Just a thought. Hope you find your snakes.

Ryan

thats why i dont buy racks. i build mine. my first was a vision rack and i had stuff escape all the time. but tightening the bolts might help. but BP are the best a getting away. my 5 foot female got out of a 3/8 in hole. good luck
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Jeff Kearney Orlando Florida (407) 766 6066

0.1 CB Spouse
4.4.1 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Mali Uromastyx
2.5 Ball Pythons
1.1 Blue Dumpys Tree Frogs
1.0 Armadillo Lizard
1.0 Tokay Gecko
0.1 Marble Gecko
1.0 Fat-tailed Gecko
1.0 Lucy Leopard Gecko
0.1 Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko
0.1 Speckeled Hog-Nose
0.1 Garter Snake
1.1 Dogs
2.3 Cats

did a 5 foot ball fit out of a 3/8 inch hole? thats impossible i could see if the head makes it out the rest can but man 3/8 is a small hole for a 5 foot head needless to say the rest of the body

i want to know the same thing. but when she got out of her tub the only spot that i was able to see was a 3/8 hole.
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Jeff Kearney Orlando Florida (407) 766 6066

0.1 CB Spouse
4.4.1 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Mali Uromastyx
2.5 Ball Pythons
1.1 Blue Dumpys Tree Frogs
1.0 Armadillo Lizard
1.0 Tokay Gecko
0.1 Marble Gecko
1.0 Fat-tailed Gecko
1.0 Lucy Leopard Gecko
0.1 Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko
0.1 Speckeled Hog-Nose
0.1 Garter Snake
1.1 Dogs
2.3 Cats

maybe she opened her tub and closed it back up on the way out to show good manors lol thats just crazy has to be another way cause 3/8 is frickin small for a 5 footer i know they can squeez into tiny tiny spots geesh thats a big snake for a tiny hole lol

I don't care what you say. If you have a 5' female in a box with a 3/8" hole in it, you could leave her there for 20 years and she would never get out. I don't care what you say, you will never convince me and I will never believe it happened.

The only way that happens is if the tub is not "in" all the way, leaving a crack. The snake can push it open even more on the way out, and the weight of the snake's tail pushes the tub back in on the way out. I've seen it happen. It would not be physically possible for even a hatchling to modify its anatomy enough to fit through a 3/8 inch hole...

I have 2 vision racks. One big female opened hers a couple of times. Only once did she get out but went back in before I discovered she had gotten out. That night a couple of the other tubs were pushed around like she had crawled around behind them. Her tub was open about 10 inches. But she was home an none of the others were out. I think they were having a party and I wasn't invited.(LOL) That was a wierd morning. I changed her water bowl to a smaller size. She was pushing the large one againest the front of the tub. An then pushing againest the top . I'm sure she was just trying to find a good nesting sight. She chose her tub. I also put a box of Arm and Hammer baking soda in front of her tub. It fits perfectly in the grid. Those people at Vision think of everything. (LOL) Love your racks really I do. Claude

LOL. You should get the tub locks so you dont have that problem anymore.

Ryan

i think arm and hammor might be cheaper LOL. what ever works
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Jeff Kearney Orlando Florida (407) 766 6066

0.1 CB Spouse
4.4.1 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Mali Uromastyx
2.5 Ball Pythons
1.1 Blue Dumpys Tree Frogs
1.0 Armadillo Lizard
1.0 Tokay Gecko
0.1 Marble Gecko
1.0 Fat-tailed Gecko
1.0 Lucy Leopard Gecko
0.1 Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko
0.1 Speckeled Hog-Nose
0.1 Garter Snake
1.1 Dogs
2.3 Cats

Those tubs slide around a little too easy for me...easy and inexpensive fix.

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Dale....dgoins222@yahoo.com
www.LibertyReptiles.com

Buy Animal Plastics racks. Problem solved.

My albino is a repeat offender -- when I kept her in the crap melamine rack I made, she managed to get her nose stuck out the tiny space between the tub and the edge of the shelf above her...and she would squeeze as hard as she could to get through it and pull the tub out with her to fit her body out. In doing this, she created a massive scrape on the top of her head and then all down her spine. She looks horrible right now. She's healing fine, but she's going to have a bad scar on her head. I've since moved her into one of my AP racks and moved a fat, lazy, non-escaping male into her slot in the melamine rack. I can't wait to buy another AP rack and get rid of my homemade one once and for all.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

Only had a baby get out once...and its because I didn't close it =P oops!

-John B

I really like the reptile basics racks also... Never had any problems with escapes.

I hate to admit using the lids on the tubs in my homemade rack, and masking tape too...lol...on the lids with the past escape artists.

I've had a snake work a teeny stress crack from an air hole (that I drilled) & then push the bigger crack open enough to squeeze out what must have been the most riduculously small hole ever. Had to be a painful excape. And then I'm assuming she had to have been at least sniffed at by our 3 dogs....lol...b4 she hid in the radiator cover (old house).

They can be boogers, but it's all good.

the fact that the Vision tubs are smooth is a cause of the problem?
If they weren't smooth on the bottom, maybe they would stay in place.

I have 22 balls in Visions, and never had an escape. Maybe, as someone said before, you don't have the guides installed on the rear sides of the rack. I don't really see how they could escape if those are installed properly.

Brad Chambers

no way out!

The day I got my racks up I walked in to find my Angolan half way out of the tub, once he saw me he scooted right back in. I was more than a little worried - I emailed Scott and he reassured me that it was virtually impossible for the snakes to escape if the tubs are set in the rack correctly - since that day every time I open a tub I make sure it's seated back in the rack correctly and have never had an escape since. I can hear them working on it some nights - but it's never happened. At this point I am 99.9% sure that my Angolan almost getting out was because I didn't push the tub in right. There are a hundred and one cheap easy ways to lock the tubs into place if it gives you the extra comfort.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

Insert Silly Quote Here

I had a similar situation with one of my sand boas on the first day that I set up the rack. I spoke to Vision and they sent me some stops for the front (just like the ones on the back but shorter). I just slide them out of the way when servicing the tubs and then back in front when I am finished. Works great and Vision was great about the whole thing. I am curious, however, about being "seated in the rack correctly". Could you describe that in a little more detail? Thanks.

Rob

P.S. - I am using the V-35 rack, not the CB-70 so I don't know if that makes a difference but I am still curious.

>>The day I got my racks up I walked in to find my Angolan half way out of the tub, once he saw me he scooted right back in. I was more than a little worried - I emailed Scott and he reassured me that it was virtually impossible for the snakes to escape if the tubs are set in the rack correctly - since that day every time I open a tub I make sure it's seated back in the rack correctly and have never had an escape since. I can hear them working on it some nights - but it's never happened. At this point I am 99.9% sure that my Angolan almost getting out was because I didn't push the tub in right. There are a hundred and one cheap easy ways to lock the tubs into place if it gives you the extra comfort.
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>>Tosha
>> JET Pythons
>>
>>Insert Silly Quote Here

Basically - make sure they slide in straight and all the way to the back so they sit squarely on the rack - I'm only using the ball racks so I'm not sure if you have the same issues with the smaller ones - but if you slide them in slightly crooked or hit a pole when sliding them back - it could cause the corners to jut out just enough for them to wiggle out the top. Just make sure you've got good coverage over the top of your tub and you should be ok. A set of guides or dowels or something to lock the front of the tub is a good backup as well. Again these are my observations using the bigger rack tho.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

Insert Silly Quote Here

Same issues with the other racks. I have a friend who has had 4 escapes now on the 15/32 qt tub setup.

Side guides are included with the CB70 racks now. If you purchased one that came without the side guides, I'm sure Scott @ Vision will be glad to take care of that problem for you. They definitely make a difference. Also, the CB70 rack shelves have 2 holes that are located just in front of the lip of the tub below, that are perfect for a 5/16" pin to use as a front stop.
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Louis Kirkland
Cornerstone Reptiles

I went on vacation and had a snake sitter who didn't push the tubs all the way to the back after he watered the snakes

when I came back 10 babies had broke out some were only 1 week old. they had all pushed the cages open, 2 others were open but they didn't leave the tub.

found them all but it took some work

the fix was to put a bolt in front of each of the tubs so they can't push out

there is a hole there that I had not noticed till the vision company suggested I use that to secure them
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

The same "slide on backstop" that we use on the V-70 rack can be used as a "slide on front lock".

One of the ways I know I have seen escapees escape is when a snake that is loose in the room crawls along the back side of a tub and pushes the tub out the front.

Beyond that, I am not sure how a ball python is going to push along a smooth ceiling panel and push the tub open.

If you have any issues, give us a call and we can provide those little front locks.

It's comforting to see you on the boards supporting your products.

We guarantee our racks as the best designed, highest quality racks on the market. I desperately needed all the breeder's feedback to get to where we are and I am always looking to improve the system.

The forums are very helpful in this regard and in addition, I have plenty of friends who are breeders who love to point out issues whenever they arise.

I do agree aside from the escapes I had due to human error more then the rack(and the bolt fixes that from happening again).
I love the rack and should have got one sooner then I did!
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

I think it is probably a user error. I don't have this problem in any way what so ever.