Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey, well im liking my setup at the moment. But realise that seeing i have 11 more brb babies on the way in the next few months i have to start thinking. I have the setup for them now, but they gonna grow. So im deciding some more options for my cage room. Its 360cmx210cm, and it too late for me to work that out in feet!!!

im looking into a few of the tub racks for my young ones, the photo below

is what they are in now, and i can fit quite a few more in like this system, but have realised it not always the best way, when i want to get them out, or just quick checks of the cages. As the clips holding the tops on are a bit of a pain in the arse. I think would be better to just have slide in tubs, does anyone use this kind of system for there young ones? and any problems with humidity, or does the bottom of the next level, do well enough to keep it in? I plan to make it myself, as i can get very cheaps tubs here from IKEA, and that ordering a repti-racks etc system from the states, is just not financially viable, given the postage.

Also for the adults caging, what i have now is very good, but i feel in some way the cages are too big, that i could do better with a double tiered cage. Also was thinking of spliting my big cages into 2, if can fiqure out how to do the partian via the sliding glass.

What is the smallest dimension cages, that any of you have, that are adequate? ie not that standard sizes from some website, but the smallest sizes that have worked for you. Ie colling, you have a lot and lot of snakes, what kinda of size cage were you adults in?

cheers
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Dave

2.2 Normal BRBs
0.1 Anery BRB
2.1 66% poss het anery BRB
1.1 het hypo BRB

Paid for, but stuck in europe somewhere hope to get from next german show
1.0 Anery BRB
0.1 66% poss het anery BRB
2.5 66% poss het new european line hypo

Hey Dave, looks like the addiction is hitting full force, now you're working out how to fit as many as possible in your dedicated space. Next phase is figuring out how to get another dedicated space and filling that as well!!

360 x 210 CM = 11 3/4 x 6 3/4 feet Sounds a bit narrow??? But actually a very efficient space for keeping reptiles if you consider a 2 foot cafe depth on either side leaves 2 3/4 foot aisle in the middle. One problem I have is my room(s) are more square so a lot of open space in the middle. Not really enough for a center row of cages but I have them in there any ways.

For smaller babies, neos and subadults, tub racks are VERY efficient. IMO they are best when they are lidless, with belly heat routed into the rack AND impervious to water. Of course to hold babies (and humidity), they need to fit pretty tight.

I have several styles....

Some I bought...
Boaphile rhino raxx - three black ones in the middle of the closet, total of 90 slots, great for hatchling to 6 or 9 months depending on individual (some grow faster)

Also have an animal plastics 45 slot one very similar to the boaphile ones but different tubs and different heat source.

Others I made...

Depending on tub size used, 10 32 qt or 20 15 qt (or a mix of the two sizes), I have full sets of both sizes. I have two, one on either side of the closet. The 15QT is size number two used when they graduate from the hatchlng rack and is good for another 6 to 9 months, again depending on individual. The 32 QT is good for up to a small adult. Note: even a small adult will be a bit crowded and I don't recommend for long term housing, only short term.
(shown with all smaller tubs being used. One larger tub takes up a whole shelf and replaces two smaller ones)

A 3 or 6 slot rack for the same size tubs...
You can see the options for putting one or two tight fitting tubs or with an added piece of wood, three smaller lidded ones.

Two more racks I built for Iris CB110 tubs. Large enough for any adult BRB but I personally do not like tubs for breeding. The frequent inspections are much better done through a viewing window, not by pulling tub and disturbing breeder(s)...

For adult breeding I made these cages. Each section is 2' x 2' x 18" . They can be connected in pairs vertically or horizontally via connecting pipes that are blocked off except during breeding season. Each section is for housing one adult and when joined in pairs, I add in a male with the two females for 1.2 in two cages. The water bowl sits on top of the hide so there is very efficient usage of space.

I also use Boaphile cages 421T and 421C. the numbers are the size in feet(ish) so is 4' x 2' x 11". "T" is townhouse or split into two cages with a removable divider. "C" is condo or split into four cages with removable dividers. The 1' x 2' are great for subadults while the 2' x 2' are good for adults. And when the dividers are removed making a 4' x 2' cage it's good for breeding but only 1.1 since they're only 11" tall and water has to take up floor space.
(older pics with boas in them but now are exclusively BRB cages)

Phew, got a little long, hope this helps!!!

Remember, this is all my opinion, not hard fast rules.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

cheers for the quick response. Yeah it hitting a bit hard, but i guess if im gonna have a go at breeding i might aswell get a few of the right ones to start with Im very interested in your adult cages though. It seems they are much smaller than i thought necessary, but yours seem to be producing great etc, so must be sufficient. I have noticed with what i have though, is that the brbs, sit in the same hide box or the water box for approx 23.5hrs of the day, the other 30mins spend going from one to the other!!! So if more room necessary. As for your heating though, how do you find getting the temp range, in such a small cage? or is there no temp range? im lucky here in finland, that all the windows are double glazed, and everything is central heating, thus i can have the snake room the perfect temp.

although one thing im a bit concerned about is, i have quite a large window in the room, now it ok now it spring, but im wondering what happens in the summer, at the moment those big black cages will have the sun straight onto them. Not sure if just need to cover the window up, but then that affects the cycles? or?

below is my cages, there great, but seem could do more with the space. And as i have this 2.5 new group coming, that is going to have to be raised to adults, really have to work this out.


-----
Dave

2.2 Normal BRBs
0.1 Anery BRB
2.1 66% poss het anery BRB
1.1 het hypo BRB

Paid for, but stuck in europe somewhere hope to get from next german show
1.0 Anery BRB
0.1 66% poss het anery BRB
2.5 66% poss het new european line hypo

That's exactly the point, they will not move much, I see them in the same spot for days at a time. Only coming out when thye get hungry!!

I control temps very closely with herpstat Pro thermostats, one channel per level. Each powering two radient heat panels, I go for optimum temps so there is minimal thermoregulating required.

Direct light on a black cage is not great but with thermostats and some room dimming type of shade you can limit the exposure. For photoperiod, they only need to have dim light vs night. No direct sunlight is required. In my snake room much of the window is covered by two cage stacks. Only difused light coming into the room itself.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

yeah have looked at those herpstat pros, pretty costly though, does your whole room temp fluctuate at all? or is there anyone out there, that doesnt even use temps for the cages, just for the whole room?

i think a trip to ikea for some blinds is next on my list

also have been looking into different rack systems, and getting prices for shipping to over here. Im guessing that shipping aint gonna be cheap, but think it probably better than a DIY job. If you could see my apartment renovations you would understand.

Have looked at repti-racks, boaphile, and vision. Any other good companies that i should check out?

cheers
-----
Dave

2.2 Normal BRBs
0.1 Anery BRB
2.1 66% poss het anery BRB
1.1 het hypo BRB

Paid for, but stuck in europe somewhere hope to get from next german show
1.0 Anery BRB
0.1 66% poss het anery BRB
2.5 66% poss het new european line hypo

Well, I have Boaphiles and nothing but good things to say about them. One option that may be better for you with the whole overseas shipping thing is animal plastics. Their racks and cages come dis-assembled. According to their site, they assemble everytthing to s=test the fit, then take it apart, pack it and ship it to you. WithOUT the tubs, you have to get those locally so have to check to see what you can get before deciding which one to ask about shipping costs. W/out the tubs and flat, I believe the shipping costs would be less expensive - lighter and smaller!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

yeah im having a very serious look into it know, checked out vision racks aswell, the v35 or v70. As i have found a distributor in sweden. It says that they have pre drilled holes in the top of each cage, and im just wondering about how this well affect the humidity, anyone got the same cages? i really need to get myself a good deal on sphaghnum moss. These is moss bloody everywhere in finland in the forest!! so there must be someone that grows it commercially, just wish my language skills were better, finnish has to be the hardest language in the world!!

Whether i get them or not, will depend on cost of course, i got a building mate, and will show him how they made, and see what kind of cost he thinks it would cost me to build it here. In theory it seems simple enough, and if spending lots money, would be better to get actual cages as opposed to racks. But im just a bit worreid about how to heat them, guessing ehat mats or heat cable. If using heat cable, can i run a whole rack of one piece of cable, and one thermostat???

cheers
-----
Dave

2.2 Normal BRBs
0.1 Anery BRB
2.1 66% poss het anery BRB
1.1 het hypo BRB

Paid for, but stuck in europe somewhere hope to get from next german show
1.0 Anery BRB
0.1 66% poss het anery BRB
2.5 66% poss het new european line hypo