Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello there, I currently keep a variety of sized northern copperhead snakes
(none more than 36 inches) and am interested in switching my set-up to a
more breeder-friendly environment, with mind for minimal clean up duty.

Right now the snakes are being kept in diferent sized retro slate-bottomed
aquarium tanks with custom wood/screen tops with locks. Due to my permit
regulations the snakes must be kept locked at all times. The setup is good
on the eyes, with fake plants, repta bark, and all that, but i aim to just use
1.) newspaper as substrate 2.) only a waterbowl and hidebox being the other
objects contained - when i get the rack system.

I am interested in breeding these snakes, and am looking into the below rack
system. I am curious if anyone thinks that is an appropriate starting point
for copperheads. The tanks sells for about $520 US dollars, from boiphile plastics,
but i am not sure they have the best deals. Is this the cheapest i can do without
sacrificing quality? I'm also not quite sure how this setup works. I need to have
locks for the shoe boxes im guessing, and am curious how some of you might go
about doing this. I am guessing a hinged bar with lock on the end, for each row?
good idea, bad?

Also, how about heating these boxes? IS there a way to do it cheaply/efficiently
myself, without creating a fire hazard? Also, i am interested in an directions/plans
for constructing anything else i might need, cheap hideboxes or waterbowls, possible lighting (which im not sure is a neccesity).

Basically, i am new to these types of snake storage units, and
interested in any info you feel like sharing..

Thanks for any help or suggestions.
AK

I would email Alan at Junglehabitats.com for a quote on a custom set up. He does customs most of the time and charges well below the competition from what I have seen. I am sure he can get a lockable rack system set up designed and built for you..

Later
-----
Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com
.

The only one plastic rack I would keep live-bearing species in would be those available from Jason's Jungle. No surprise his are so secure given he is a Rosy and Sand Boa enthusiast. All the other plastic racks I have seen have not been the most secure. To be fair I have not seen the exact Boaphile rack you showed in your post.

I have kept numerous venomous species in rack systems. I did not individually lock each drawer but instead built removable doors that locked onto the front of the rack. This was somewhat easier since mine were made from 3/4" material. I have built these racks for friends in two different states who had random venomous inspections and they passed the criteria of lockable cages.

What I liked about them is that if a baby did even manage to escape it was contained in the rack.

Another concern with any venomous rack is the ability to open the drawers with a snake hook. I have kept numerous Copperheads and other Agkistrodon-type snakes in racks and they frequently greeted me with food responses as the drawer was slid open. Nice to have a hook on the drawer rather than your hand.

I can't remember what other questions you answered. Hope that covered what you needed.