Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey Guys,

I finally got the bins for the new rack that I am going to be building to house primary Pits (and a couple of pythons).
I'm using MONSTER 74 quart Sterilite bins (44" L x 19 3/4" W x 6 3/8" H) in a rack 10 bins high.

I would like your opinions on a question that I know has been asking many times in the past...
whether you would recommend using the lids the bins come with or having the shelves form the lids of the bins below. What are the pros and cons of each method?

By the way, these bins have have small notches cut in the middle of them to make room for the split-lid that they come with...
so if I didn't use the lids, one of my concerns is a snake sticking it's rostrum into/through the notch and either getting out or spinning and hurting itself. Does anyone have any suggestions for that possible problem?

Also, what have you guys found to be the best method to make air holes in plastic bins to avoid cracking?
And what spacing would you guys recommend to use between the top of the bin (or lid if I use them) and the bottom of the next shelf to ensure that snakes can't escape, but avoid sticking?

If anyone has any other suggestions for someone building a rack for the first time I'd love to hear them as well.

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Alex

Great q's, I have used both types of systems. If you keep the factory lids there is more tolerance for error in fit regarding the system and you never have to worry about a really small individual squeezing out. With that said if you use a lidless system you can access and maintain each box easier, there is one less thing to clean (the lid), and you get a bit more air circulation w/o lids. More air moveing means less airholes created by you! I wish I had back the afternoons I spent with a sodering gun melting thousands of holes in rubbermaids and sterelites.......

The one other bit of advice is this......dig deep into your pockets and buy more than double the number of bins you think you will ever need. You will break some, and they will discontinue making that size and fail to send you the memo!

Also, It is so much easier to do deep cleaning/100% change outs when you can just go through with a clean replacement tub all set with clean bedding and a fresh water dish.

I have one system that holds 33 tubs of a size of steralite that they no longer make and deep cleaning takes all day of moving, and soaking, and loading......

hope this helps

jg

you can go either way but if you go lidless make sure the bin fits snugly or they can & will move it around. if you use the lids, you can allow a 1/4'' to the bottom of the next shelf as the lids have an 1'' overlap. almost by accident, i stopped using bins all together except for the smaller stuff. i used to use the exact size you refer to. somewhere along the line, i began replacing bins w/ screen doors. [see pic] this has eliminated so much work for me & the extra airiness drys out the feces & odor very quickly plus now i can see my snakes much better. good luck whichever way you go.....

I'm not going to win any prizes with this answer but for pits, bulls and pines especially, the dimensions you are building are too small after the third year. Pits are large, active snakes and yet most keepers house them as if they were just long, sedentary ball pythons, or worse, postage stamps. Personally, I'd like to see a little less attention on quantity or diversity in collections and a little more on housing. My 2 pennies. Bryan

I use the same exact tubs you are talking about and I like them a lot. The notch where the lids fit would be a problem if you decide to go lidless. A fellow snake keeper that I know makes racks for these style boxes with each rack holding ten boxes with the long side of the box's facing out. He makes metal flashings to put in each of the gaps at the mid point. Makes for a very functional rack system.

Plan on getting some of these from him in the near future since rack building is not my forte.

Phil