Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to get a nice hatchling rack pretty soon to get ready for this coming season. I thought about building one but I don't think it will turn out too well,lol. I was looking at the boaphile racks, has anyone had them or any others you could point me to? Thanks

Sara

I'm very impressed with my Animal Plastics racks... you should check them out. I can tell you first hand that the Animal Plastics racks are great.

I have used both the baby racks, and the sweater box racks... I'm very happy with both.

Check them out. I posted the link below.

Animal Plastics Racks

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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

Do have the ones with belly heat or back heat? Is either one better?

Sara

Hi,

I use the ones with back heat... there are a couple reasons I like the back heat better.

1) The heat does radiate into the shelves to create "belly heat", but there is not a risk of burns if your rheostat/thermostat was to malfunction.

2) It allows for a perfect thermal gradient.

3) If you use lay boxes, there is no chance the females will push them over the heat source and cook your freshly laid eggs. Even if your hot spot is only 90*f (with belly heat), the heat builds up in the moist vermiculite and the temps will get above 90*f.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with the belly heat option, but I personally prefer the back heat.

Good luck with your new racks.

Take care.

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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

Hi Ross,

I like your points about the belly heat, and I can see by your finished products that your line of thinking works, and works very well. I like those racks by animal plastics too, let me ask you this, what kind of temperature gradient do you get with the back heat? I know it has to be hotter at the top, and of course that is probably true for any system. I would think it would be safe to keep babies at the top, and breeding and gravid geckos in the middle, with the males in cool down on the bottom? I can only afford one rack at this time so I would appreciate any advice from the experts in here. Please be gentle, remember I'm a newby.

Tim
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LEOs: 3.7.0
1.1 High Yellows (Barney and Betty);1.1 Hypo Tangerines(Bam-bam and Pebbles); 1.1 Rescued Normals (Shleprock) 0.4Tremper Albinos (No names yet), Lookin for a good male breeder
BEARDIES 1.0.0
Snow and Yellow (Fred)

Hi Tim,

First of all, thanks for the compliments =)

About the racks...

I honestly have not experienced any problems with the heat "rising to the top of the rack". I have an infrared temp gun that I use daily on all of my racks. It allows me to get instant readings at the push of a button, and every time I check the different levels they are all within a degree or two of each other, and the top shelves are not always the warmest ones. I think most of this has to do with the design of the rack, but I should also add that I have the ceiling fan on at all times in my reptile room on low. It spins just fast enough to promote gentle air circulation, without causing any "wind" or "drafts".

As far as a heat gradient from the front of the tub to the back... the heat gradient is perfect. The back of my tubs are around 88-90*f, the middle is around 84-86*f, and the front is 80-81*f. Right now I'm using rheostats, and I have some Ranco thermostats on the way.

And I also want to say, never hesitate to ask questions becaue you're a "newby". People on this forum are usually very helpful, and there is hardly ever any bashing going on. We were all newbies once, so don't be afraid to ask any questions you come across.

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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

Hey Ross,

RANCO thermostats, I saw them in the classifeds for about $85. Do you prefer those over the Helix systems? Could you do me a favor and send me some pics of your setups. I'm trying to get ideas. I've seen Rob Jenkins & Marcia McGuiness. also what kind of incubator do you have? I was going to get a laser temp gun, is the IR gun better. Never open the question door on a newby LOL

thanks,

Tim
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LEOs: 3.7.0
1.1 High Yellows (Barney and Betty);1.1 Hypo Tangerines(Bam-bam and Pebbles); 1.1 Rescued Normals (Shleprock) 0.4Tremper Albinos (No names yet), Lookin for a good male breeder
BEARDIES 1.0.0
Snow and Yellow (Fred)

Hi Tim,

These will actually be my first Ranco's, I have heard nothing but good things about them. There are a couple reason I picked them over Helix or other proportial type thermostats.

1) I like on/off thermostats better than proportional. They seem to use up less electricity, and it seems that when I use on/off thermostats instead of proportional that the ambient temps in my reptile room stay cooler. (which is a good thing, my room can get too hot during TX summers)

2) The Ranco can hold up to 1500 watts without any upgrades, the Helix has a limit of 500 watts without any upgrades (I think) and the Ranco is cheaper.

3) The Ranco has 6 plugs, so you can run 6 different heat sources off of one thermostat.

4) If you want to be extra safe you can get the Ranco "Double Thermostat" from Boaphile Plastics.

I attached a link below to Boaphile... that is where I orded by Rancos.

My setup is very basic. Shoeboxes for the babies/juvies. Blanket boxes for breeding colonies. Papertowel substrate for all the geckos and young snakes.

For the babies I have them set up with a humid hide in the back of the tub, mealworm/calcium dish in the front. They will lick water off the sides of the humid hide, no need for a water dish.

With the adults I have the lay box in the rear of the tub, a water bowl and two dry hides. They also get a calcium/mealworm dish.

I don't think I'm forgetting anything... definitely a very simple, clean setup.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

Forgot the link...
Ranco Thermostats

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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

How much did you spend on that model if you dont mind me asking? Also what are the sizes of the plastic shoe boxes, or quart size if you know that.

I was considering getting a rack fomr them. Any info from you would really help!

Thanx!

Shayna
Leo Lovers Lizard Lounge

Hi Shayna,

I think it cost me a bit over $300 after shipping... the shoeboxes it uses are the ones you find at Walmart, the 5.7qt $.99 shoeboxes.

If you order an Animal Plastics rack I think you will be very happy with it. Soon my whole reptile room will be free of my old wooden racks and be filled with the ones from Animal Plastics.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Talk to you later.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

I give forum member discounts on the AP cages and racks.
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