Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I'm finally building a rack system and i have 2 questions before i start. 1.) what size is best for pairs of the rubbermaid or anytype like demention or containt size. also 2.) is heat tape ok to use for heating or I've seen new heat cable, would this work for heating and no one carries heat tape around here, or does anyone have anyother ideas. Any help is welcomed and tanks in advance.
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Leo Gex
1:3 noramls or hi-yellows
1:0 Giant normal phase het for temper albino
1:1 Temper albinos
2? Tangerine
0:1 Blizzared
Others:
1 giant day gecko
1 Giant plated lizard
1:1 dogs
and 2:0 chinchillas

>>Well I'm finally building a rack system and i have 2 questions before i start. 1.) what size is best for pairs of the rubbermaid or anytype like demention or containt size. also 2.) is heat tape ok to use for heating or I've seen new heat cable, would this work for heating and no one carries heat tape around here, or does anyone have anyother ideas. Any help is welcomed and tanks in advance.

for pairs you can use 15 quart containers or 26 quart cntainers

you can buy heat tape from beanfarm.com for about 3 bucks but you need to know how to wire it and you also need a good thermostat, there are sites that give you a tutorial on wiring heat tape, just do a search
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Breeder of Leopard geckos
Bearded Dragons
And soon Knob tail geckos

Dan Quinn
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www.geocities.com/tokaydude/Enter.html?1096182519939

when you get it built, post some pics, would love to see it. Good luck.
Bill
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Leos
1.0 Blizzard "Mr.Freeze"
1.0 SHCT Baldy "Thor"
0.1 Bell Albino "Pinky"
0.1 Tremper Albino "Betty"
0.1 SHCT Baldy "Lemon"
0.1 Hypo Tang "Sherbert"
0.1 Hypo Golden "Dott"
0.2 juveniles " Spot & White Stripe"
Domestic Livestock

0.1 WIFE "PAM"
0.2 Daughters "Haleigh & Chloe"

Canines
1.0 Beagle "Chance"
0.1 Pit rodesian ridgeback mix "Missy"

I agree that the 15qt. (16 L) size sterilites are good. The rack in the pic is with the 15qt tubs. If you use heat tape be careful that the boxes aren't rubbing on it, this may cause problems later down the road. You might use a router to put a channel in the wood for the heat tape if you use belly heat. If you use back heat you won't have to worry about the boxes rubbing on the heat tape, but it is a little less efficient. Good luck with your rack!

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www.hullabalooherps.com

hello again
this ? is for hill. First off nice rack system and second how many leos do you hold in each 15qt container? Do you have the whole rack on one thermostat or individuals shelves and what type of control do you use?
thanks for the info
Bill
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Leos
1.0 Blizzard "Mr.Freeze"
1.0 SHCT Baldy "Thor"
0.1 Bell Albino "Pinky"
0.1 Tremper Albino "Betty"
0.1 SHCT Baldy "Lemon"
0.1 Hypo Tang "Sherbert"
0.1 Hypo Golden "Dott"
0.2 juveniles " Spot & White Stripe"
Domestic Livestock

0.1 WIFE "PAM"
0.2 Daughters "Haleigh & Chloe"

Canines
1.0 Beagle "Chance"
0.1 Pit rodesian ridgeback mix "Missy"

Hey geckobill...I house one adult or up to 3 hatchlings in one 15 qt tub. I usually only use the rack for geckos when I am building them a cage and I need some where to hold them or when I have lots of hatchlings. I use the red rope light and no thermostat (gasp!). The rope light keeps the cack near 85-90* and the front usually hits low 70's. I keep the light on a timer and it goes off at night. The temp in my herp room doesn't get below 72*, right now it is close to 76* and it is 10:30 pm! We seem to be having unseasonably warm weather here in Hotlanta. I mostly keep snakes in my racks...some of those are waiting on new cages as well.
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www.hullabalooherps.com

thanks for the info Hill. It helps I'm planning to build a rack system myself
Thanks again
Bill
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Leos
1.0 Blizzard "Mr.Freeze"
1.0 SHCT Baldy "Thor"
0.1 Bell Albino "Pinky"
0.1 Tremper Albino "Betty"
0.1 SHCT Baldy "Lemon"
0.1 Hypo Tang "Sherbert"
0.1 Hypo Golden "Dott"
0.2 juveniles " Spot & White Stripe"
Domestic Livestock

0.1 WIFE "PAM"
0.2 Daughters "Haleigh & Chloe"

Canines
1.0 Beagle "Chance"
0.1 Pit rodesian ridgeback mix "Missy"

Racks are easy to build, make sure you have the tubs you plan to use handy while you are putting your rack together! Makes it easier to get the right fit. Best of luck to ya!
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www.hullabalooherps.com

I bought and used some of that heat rope you are talking about from BigAppleHerp.com. The stuff dominates heat tape. For starters, you don't have to worry about burning your house down if you didn't wire it right or it touches on itself. Second, you can use it inside or outside of terrariums. For my rack I just routed a tiny groove about 3/8" thick and 1/4" deep, placed the heat rope in and covered with insulating tape. You can buy the foil tape from BigApple, or run to your local Home Depot/Lowe's and buy what they call Pipe Foam Insulating Tape, found in the plumbing section where they sell pipe insulation. With a good thermostat, or even a BAH-1000, you can keep a constant temperature no problem. Alot easier than heat tape, honestly I don't know why everyone hasn't switched over yet. No wiring, no worries. And its cheap.