Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friends of mine (who has also become addicted to corns) has offered to build me a rack for my snakes. What I want to build is a rack that can hold 12 adult corns, maybe 2 per shelf and 6 shelves high? I only have 11, but plan on getting a zigzag or aztec to see if my odd patterned hatchlings are actually carrying that gene.

So, what size boxes do you all reccomend, and does anyone have a nice drawn up plan for building a rack like this? I plan on using heat tape down the back of the rack for heating, and will likely use the covers on the tubs in the rack. Any helpful pics or plans would be greatly appreciated. We plan on starting the project this week.
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
0.1 Snow (Ruby)
1.0 Anery A (Breaden)
0.0.4 Normal het-snow (no names yet)
1.1 Bloodred (Vlad the Impailer and Natasha)
0.1 Anery Stripe (Morticia)
1.0 Candy Cane (Kane)
0.1 Amel (Christine)
1.3 Cats (Alexys{f}, Mikki{f}, Timothy{m}, Seven{f})
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

I wish I had the plans I used for mine - but I can't find them. I would build them around a 28 quart sterilite or Tupperware - whatever lid clamps down better.

It's pretty easy to build one around those containers. I made mine out of 1/2 inch plywood - and I love it because it's very light. The back I used pegboard, but I glued the heat tape to that shiny tinfoil wrapped foam insulation that comes in 4x8 sheets. I cut it to size - then put the peg board on the back - so you have Pegboard, tinfioil foam insulation, then the heat tape glued to that. I screwed through the pegboard and attached it to the back of my rack. It keeps the heat much more even.

Good luck.
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Monte Meyer
Powergeckos
Email

No Fru-Fru morphs in the herp room

I'll give you a little info based on what I learned through trial and error. Also, visit the Caging Forum and look for links provided by Chris Harper. There are some nice pics.

Anyway, there is a right way and a wrong way to approach this. The right way is to get all your boxes BEFORE you attempt to build a rack around them, and to buy a few extra. There has been some info floating around that Rubbermaid is discontinuing making the polypropylene storage containers so common in the herp industry. I suggest using Sterilite or getting the more expensive but bigger and stronger Cambro food boxes, or else check for Iris tubs at any large office supply (mainly sold as file cabinets and such.)

Here is a simple design that works pretty well and is about as easy as it gets:
OK, cut the pieces for the top and sides. Attach the sides to the top, and lay it down upside down with the top on the ground. Put a box on the top piece (inside), then put a piece of 1/8" thick hardboard on top of the box. Now put your shelf on that and secure it to the sides using screws or nails and glue or whatever method. Pull the hardboard spacer out. You now have one slot. The box should slide in and out with about 1/8" gap. Repeat the process for the next shelf until you fill up your cabinet.

A more effective thing to do is to cut two spacers (a piece of plywood) to the height of the box 1/8", then use those to size the shelf distances. This way you get an exact spacing for each slot.

For the back, I agree with the other poster to use a styrene foam insulated back, and run the Flexwatt down the inside back of the rack. You can even use the cheap vinyl-coated pegboard inside with the heat tape run down, and put the foam insulation on the outside back of the rack.

Wow, sounds like you've had some experience...very good tips...I love to learn from others experiences and will def use styro insulation in my future herp room's racks.

Just one question: any pics?
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BA HUMBUG until Dec 12th
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We'll be getting started on it soon here. I never thought of the foil/insulation, thanks for that suggestion.

Now to find the place I got those Iris boxes from so I can get more. Can't find them for less than 20$ a piece I know they're out there cheaper.........
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
0.1 Snow (Ruby)
1.0 Anery A (Breaden)
0.0.4 Normal het-snow (no names yet)
1.1 Bloodred (Vlad the Impailer and Natasha)
0.1 Anery Stripe (Morticia)
1.0 Candy Cane (Kane)
0.1 Amel (Christine)
1.3 Cats (Alexys{f}, Mikki{f}, Timothy{m}, Seven{f})
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents