Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just thought I would share a couple picts of the new home-made melamine rack I built to house pairs of garters. The left side is 14qt tubs for the males and/or hatchlings since they are smaller, the right side is 28qt for the females. I used the new 4" 5-watt flexwatt heat tape, that stuff is perfect to use and I will use it in any future racks too, because I didn't even need to wire in a rheostat, just plug it in and it's the perfect temp. In fact it runs a bit cooler at full throttle than my 3" 6-watt flexwatt runs at 3/4 dimmed.
It's a lot safer and less worry about overheating and having cooked snakes, I highly recommend it.
Jeff

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Jeff Benfer

1.0 pastel Python regius
1.1 mojave Python regius
0.1 normal Python regius
1.3 Terrapene carolina thriunguis
2.3 Terrapene carolina carolina
4.1 Kinosternon baurii
1.1 Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
2.2 double het albino and anerythristicThamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.0 anerythristic Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
2.2 Iowa snow Thamnophis radix
0.2 het Christmas albino Thamnophis radix
1.1 double het cherry erythristic, albino Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
1.1 melanistic Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
1.1 triple heterozygous for amelanistic,carmel, and stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 anerythristic motley Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 Okeetee Pantherophis guttatus

that and not get slapped.LOL.....

Hey, if you don't mind I will make a suggestion for you.You should get some pieces of sheet metal cut to lay on each shelve.Then have it bent over in the front also.I have sheet metal on every one of my racks and it is very nice.It covers the heat tape and lets the tubbs slide very nice and easy and it desperces (sp?) the heat more gratual from rear to front.
Its pretty cheap and the tubbs never get hung up on the tape etc....
Also if you have a spot where the tub is a bit loose and you are afraid of any snakes getting out you can just ad a couple sheets and they work like spacers.

L8r Shannon

my wife, sometimes I get slapped; other times I'm toooo fast!!!
Shannon, HELL NO, I don't mind suggestions, or for that matter advise, input, feedback, criticism, or otherwise. As long as my personal character and integrity are not being attacked, I am very open.
That’s a very creative great idea and that sheet metal probably does work really well, because yes inevitably sooner or later the tape does become a problem and hangs up and needs to be reworked, I can see how that would slide reeeeeally nice! I'm guessing you just hold onto the lip that is bent over the front with your thumb when you pull the tubs out or do you glue the sheet metal down? Only problem using it with my rack is I used really thin linoleum for a spacer when I was building, and so it ended up being really tight tolerance, not sure it would fit as I have virtually zero gap. How thick is the sheet metal you use? and where do you buy it, do they sell it at Menards? Or would I need to find a metal shop to have it cut for me?
Thanks for the great suggestion. Sharing ideas, that’s how we keep improving and refined the process and making it better and easier to care for so many mouths.
Happy 4th!
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Jeff Benfer

1.0 pastel Python regius
1.1 mojave Python regius
0.1 normal Python regius
1.3 Terrapene carolina thriunguis
2.3 Terrapene carolina carolina
4.1 Kinosternon baurii
1.1 Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
2.2 double het albino and anerythristicThamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.0 anerythristic Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
2.2 Iowa snow Thamnophis radix
0.2 het Christmas albino Thamnophis radix
1.1 double het cherry erythristic, albino Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
1.1 melanistic Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
1.1 triple heterozygous for amelanistic,carmel, and stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 anerythristic motley Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 Okeetee Pantherophis guttatus

Best part is you don't have to tack it down at all.It never moves even with super tight boxes.
I just buy mine at a metal shop.I am not sure the thickness but its really super thin.Maybe 1/8 inch or so.
Try it you will love it.Just measure the spot and leave a touch on each side and then ad 1/2 for length and have them bend it with a lip.
Its the best thing you can do when using heat tape.
L8r Shannon

Nice carpentry work there Jeff!

I am moving my pre-made "Gorilla Racks" up from the basement to stack my housing on for now.

I'll be building one just like yours soon! especially since "Gorilla Racks" are over $100 each at Sams club.

I take it you hunt Turky??

You would love our back yard! Wild flocks everywhere.

Regards,
Wayne
Dances With Reptiles

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1.0.0 Ball Python - Python regius "Cane" Rescue
0.1.0 Eastern MilkSnake WC "Carmella" adult super sweet temperment (seven egg clutch!)
1.2.3 Storeria dekayi Casper, Xena, Athena, & Kids (30 plus released!)
2.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis - eastern Garters
2.0.0 Thamnophis sirtalis - eastern Garters (rusty orange phase)
1.1.0 Thamnophis RADIX - Snow Hets, Scott Felzer
0.0.1 Thamnophis sirtalis - Red Phase Eastern Garter red and white stripes
0.0.16 Thamnophis sirtalis - newborn Eastern Garter babies 7/11/08
0.0.17 HET Anerythristic Red-Sided Garter Scott Felzer stock.
1.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis CB "Flame" & Melanistic Scott Felzer
1.0.0 Thamnophis pickeringi - Puget Sound Garter "Sky" (adult, Sky blue)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon - Water Snake - "Aqua" adult WC
0.1.0 Storeria occipitomaculata - Red Belly snake (Her children were raised & released)
0.0.1 Amelanistic Corn Snake "CY" Juvinile CB
1.0.0. Pueblan Milk snake "Oreo" adult CB
1.0.0. ASIAN GREEN SNAKE 3' WC Cyclophiops major"Limon"
0.0.1. Savannah Monitor "CHOMPER" Growing fast!
0.1.0. Green Anole "Crystal" WC
1.0.0. K9 "ACE" Black Cockapoo
0.2.0. Feline"Felix"(R.I.P. 4/27/08) "Kaja" & "Silver"
2.1.0. calico RATS
2.4.?? Mice - Feeder farm - Crickets / fish
More herps than I could ever list out back on the land.