Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently have a fairly small collection of snakes, which mostly consists of Pits. But...I would soon like to increase my snake count (probably to low double-digits) with most of the snakes being Pits.
Right now, I have some snakes in plastic bins with snap-on lids and air holes, some in glass aquariums (which are a huge pain in the butt to deal with and clean), and one in a Vision display cage...and it just taken too much time to clean them.

I would like your opinions on what guys think are the BEST, EASIEST TO CLEAN/MAINTAIN, and CHEAPEST cages/racks for Pits and other snakes of similar size and husbandry requirments.

From what I am seeing, it looks like a rack would be the best way to go...and it seems like Vision and Freedom Breeder have the best ones out there.

So, when you give your opinion...I would greatly appreciate it if you give the most specific name you have for the cage/rack that you reccommend.

Also, I was thinking that the absolute cheapest way to go might be to build a rack. I have never attempted it though, so I have no idea if it would come out well...and I don't mind spending a couple hundred bucks if the product would be significantly better for both me and the snakes.

And one last thing...if I decide to buy a rack, will it likely be available from the producer at the Daytona Expo? (This will be my first year going, so I don't know what is there.)

Thanks in advance for any opinions,

Alex

P.S.

The only thing that troubled me about using a rack is that most of the bins seem too small for an adult.
So, if someone could also please give me an honest opinion of how big of a space an average adult Pit or other large colubrid (I'm thinking 4-7 ft.) really needs in order to live a "good" life (not a life in a box that it can't move around as much as it would like to), it would be much appreciated.

36x24x12 should be fine for 1 snake.

I use the cb-70 rack, which seems to work out well for all but the largest pits. This is the same size I use for adult ball pythons.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

What to you keep your largest Pits in? (I'm assuming you mean animals that are like 6 ft. or longer.)

Also, do you use the CB-70 for breeding as well, or just for single animals?

Once they pass six feet-it's time for a Vision cage!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

I use the VE-175 tub from reptiletubs.com. You can get them from wal mart at christmas time for cheaper (sold as christmas tree boxes). I had a rack built for them but animal plastics has a 5-high they make.

I wouldn't house pits in the cages described above. They are too big and they require more room than say a ball, pits are much more active. Mine are 6 ft. and I'm thinking the tubs they are in are too small.
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"Not so tough when you're hit from behind with a golf club are ya?"

A VE 175 tub with (20 7/8"W x 52 7/8"L x 14 1/16"H) seems like that would be fine for a pit that is 5-6 ft. long...but I guess anything past that would require something bigger.

Unfortunately they don't make the VE 175 any more. I just contacted them to order a couple and they gave me the bad news. Anybody know where I can get a tub equivalent to this size?
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1.1 Black Pine
1.0 Hypo Stillwater Bull

Quality, not quantity!

Reptile tubs told you this? Wow, that is unfortunate. The ones at wal mart were a little different, maybe they have changed the number? I want more myself!

The only other option I would consider would be freedom breeder, but they are rather expensive.
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"Not so tough when you're hit from behind with a golf club are ya?"

Yes, Eric at Reptile Tubs emailed me just today and told me that. He didn't say anything about replacing it with something else, just that there wasn't anything close that they sell that matches the VE175's specs.

Sucks.
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1.1 Black Pine
1.0 Hypo Stillwater Bull

Quality, not quantity!

I use both rack set-ups and vivs for my pits.

The vivs i made myself and this design/system i have used successfully for over 10 years now.
The tray ('underfloor') area is totally dark and seems to suit more nervous charges during feeding for example.

You could use a wide variety of items as the the tray and just build your viv around the dimensions.

RGDS...........AL

Very cool idea!

I think though...I am going to just end up building shelves around the demensions of the largest sterilite bins I can find at walmart, and use do a traditional rack.

I appreciate the suggestion though.