Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I want to build a rack that could hold babies and adults. Something that could use shoe boxes and then upgrade to sweater boxes, I want to build one rack instead of having to build 2. Any ideas, pics and suggestions would be very helpful I have never build a rack before so its my first.

I have built a few racks where the top levels are built to different heights to allow for shoe boxes. This is pretty easy to do.

I have also built several "sideways" racks where each level can hold one 28 qt. box or two 12 qt. boxes. This is pretty normal and I assume is not what you're looking for.

But what I also did was build a series of shims for each level that allowed me to hold four shoeboxes for hathclings. I just had the set the shim on and shelf and the shoeboxes fit perfectly.

A more modern incarnation of this idea would be to build a rack like TWH's where each level can hold one of the following...

One Sterilte 41 qt. box

Two Sterilite 28 qt. boxes

Three Sterilite 12 qt. boxes.

These boxes are very close in height but not perfect. I just measured them last night. You'll probably need to shim the two smaller boxes up with 1/8" Sintra or shower board.

Then you can build another set of shims from something thicker for hatchling boxes.

I'm sure some combination of the above ideas will give you what you want. Depends on the species you keep, of course. I can't recall if you mentioned that.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

That sterilite rack would hold...

One Sterilte 41 qt. box

One Sterilite 28 qt. box and one Sterilite 12 qt. box

Three Sterilite 12 qt. boxes.

Width-wise insertion of the two large boxes, length-wise for the smallest.

Thanks for the edit, TWH.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

I built the rack shown below to hold hatchlings and subadults mainly for ball pythons. Then I have racks with larger tubs to hold large females and breeding pairs.

I wish I would have been able to find the shoe box size tubs that were the exact same height as the sweater box tubs. But at the time... Target had a "steal" on those sized tubs...plus the hatchlings do wonderful in the tight snug space.

Anyways, hope that helps.

Thanks

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MichaelRehker
"Which of us has not been stunned by the beauty of an animal's skin or its flexibility in motion?"
--Marianne Moore

...............cigar.the rack could hold:
1-41qt. tub
1-27 and 1-12qt. tub or
3-12qt. tubs
big dee what kind of animals are you housing? this set up is ideal for balls.i have in mine milks,kings and balls,with king and milk hatchling you have to shim the smaller tub.BTW i just had a cabinet shop cut the pieces for another rack as mentioned,cost is $121.the heat tape is $80 and i'll pick up a box of screws,about $200 for the rack.this is a good option if you don't have the tools and or know how,besides working with 4x8 sheets of melamine is not fun.
BTW chris i had the spacers cut at 5 13/16 " have fun!

nm
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Im looking to house balls. I was also thinking malamine shelves and plywood sides to cut down on weight.

.........hatchlings to adults in the same rack.the shelf size is 18x35.i have ten levels with a 3 inch kick plate on the bottom,this allows me to add insulation on the bottom (also on the back).the sterilite tubs and model # are:12qt.1954,27qt.1956 and the 41qt.is 1960.i use 3" 6 watt heat tape on the shelf 1.5 inches from the back wall.routing a shallow channel for the heat tape is a good idea.if you decide to go this way i'll be happy to answer any questions. have fun!

ds