Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm sure this has been asked many times but I'm not finding anything on it lately. First of all, I recently ended up with a CB70 Freedom Breeder as part of a group deal. I've always been partial/loyal to Animal Plastics. I like the way the FB is built but not a big fan of how open they are. Can always throw in hides, I guess, but I'm wondering with the way each level has it's own plug and heat source, does anyone know if they use more electricity than an AP rack with the power cable and single plug? I also wonder about a bigger chance of possibly being a fire hazard. And of it being effective with the snakes eating and breeding because of the wide-openness, but I guess they wouldn't be so highly regarded if the animals hated them. Any input is very appreciated.

Also, I went to Target and Wal Mart today looking for 32 qt. Sterilites. Been years since I've had to buy any new ones. I found 28qt. but no 32s anywhere anymore. Target always used to be the best place to find them. Anybody know where they can be found now? Thanks.

The only place that has the 32 qt that I know of is Big Lots...
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Jason Amos

Ball Pythons
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Dogs
1.1 Staffordshire Bull Terriers

Thanks! I actually found them this morning at the Big Lots a mile down the road from my work. They only had 3 in stock, so I bought them all. $7.40 each now, with the handles on them. Guess ya gotta do what ya gotta do though when there's only 1 option.

I can't really tell you much about freedom breeder in general because I'm still dreaming of the day I get to own one. But as for the openness, I do own the AP economy line which is open and found it to be no problem switching animals from enclosed to open. Everyone of my animals is fine. The one mistake that I did make was I drilled to many holes in the tubs thinking that a larger tub needed more holes. Not a big deal, though, I just tape up some holes and mist a lot when the dry season comes along. As for the extra power usage. I'm sure, but my guess would be about the same or less. Think about all the flexwatt that runs up the sides of an AP rack and the left over at the bottom. All together that's an extra three feet of flex watt on a 12 level doing nothing but wasting electricity. I'm sure the extra wire will use some. And if your going from a 12 tub to a 30 tub you'd have to expect a little more electric cost, but tub for tub I'd say the freedom breeder is cheaper.
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My APs have the heat cable. I've never used Flexwatt on anything, seems like a pain. And a fire hazard. The FBs have a separate plug for each level, so I feel like it's like having 6 coffee pots plugged in all the time. Whereas with the heat cable it's just one. I don't know what the actual wattage is, guess I could look into it from that angle and figure it out. I like the way the FBs are built but totally prefer Animal Plastics in every other way.

3" flexwatt uses 10 watts per foot. At about five foot in length for a level and 10 levels that would only be 500 watts for a 30 tub rack. 500/30 is almost 17 watts per tub. The 12 tub ap rack uses I think at least 25 feet of flex watt. That's 250 watts total for the rack. 250/12 is over 20 watts per tub. Plus the freedom breeders heating element is usually insulated better I believe which would make them even more efficient per tub. Of course if you're going to a larger rack. Then that's a different story.
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1.1 Spider Ball Python
1.0 Albino Ball Python
0.1 Pastel Ball Python
0.3 Het for Albino Ball Python
0.1 Pinstripe Ball Python
0.1 Bumble Bee Ball Python
1.0 Hypo Ball Python
1.0 Lesser Ball Python
0.1 Mojave Ball Python
0.2 Het for Piebald Ball Python
0.2 Normal Ball Python
0.2 Het for Axanthic Ball Python
0.1 Axanthic Ball Python
1.0 Piebald