Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What cage/rack manufacturer would you invest in? I've been looking for the best of the best. Trying to compare a rack to other racks that I don't have is very hard. What racks do you use? What are the pros and cons?

I like my AP rack but it's a bit heavy. The visions have a nice sized tub and portability, but I heard that there are some issues with them (don't know if they are true), and there are Freedom Breeders (new rack similar to Vision) that I know nothing about.

I figure if I can spend money on high end ball pythons and boas, they deserve the best rack on the market. In the long run, I want to be reassured that I made the right decision.

Hope everyone can share their experiences.

Kind Regards,
Michael Ibanez

I personally love Boaphiles if plastic racks or caging is your thing... If you are looking for a metal powdercoated rack, you might want to check out The Mouse Emporium... They have very nice racks with choices of powdercoating styles and colors.
Either way your stoked,
Tom Baker

If money wasnt an issue, I would still build my own. If you have the time, you can build in any feature you want. OR find a local welding shop and they may be able to make it out of aluminum. I know thats not what you are looking for, but if you are not on a tight budget, you could buy all the tools, and build it for the same cost as buying it from someone else.

Ben

This is mine from BoaMaster & I love it!

My Cage

I use Freedom Breeders. I LUV them. They are great and easy to clean......

Joe

I had all Freedom Breeder and Roylance racks. Though I loved them I sold them and replaced them with Vision Racks. In my opinion I made the correct decision. No more chipped paint followed by rusting, no more humidity problems, no more rubbed noses. No more hernias trying to move them around, lol. Everybody has their own favorites so its a matter of preference. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the quality built racks offered these days. Just have to decide which you like better. Ron

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The Crawl Space

Ron - been meaning to ask you - I had planned on picking up some of the vision racks this summer but at the show last month when I looked at them I hated the way the tubs slid - they didn't slide easily at all - had the same problem with some of the Freedom Breeders that I tried too. Didn't know if this was something that was just because they'd thrown the racks together quickly for the show or if it's something that once you wear in the rack it goes away? Do you have this problem with your racks? Seemed like if it didn't it would be really disruptive to the snakes as the whole rack was rolling all over the place as I was trying to get the tubs to slide in and out. LOL.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

I wouldn't recommend boaphile caging. I haven't used his racks but I do have 2 4'ers and a 6'er I ordered and wasn't pleased with at all. There was virtually no ventilation and the flip down doors were clumsy.

Cole Maas

The Vision Ball Python Rack is an excellent rack system and the customer service is outstanding as well.
Tosha the problem with the tubs hanging up when you close the can easily be fix with a needle nose pliers just bend down the front lip of the track see picture.

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Adrian
AFR
http://imageevent.com/afreptiles

DragonDavy

Thanks that's good to know - I had only heard great things about them but then I tried them out at the show I was a bit let down by just that one thing but if it can be fixed then that is great! Thanks.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

bending the lip down like that and it makes a world of difference. I got 2 of them at the Daytona show. I like them very much and plan to get more as I need them.

Cheryl

They look nice, but how do you heat yours?

>>I had all Freedom Breeder and Roylance racks. Though I loved them I sold them and replaced them with Vision Racks. In my opinion I made the correct decision. No more chipped paint followed by rusting, no more humidity problems, no more rubbed noses. No more hernias trying to move them around, lol. Everybody has their own favorites so its a matter of preference. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the quality built racks offered these days. Just have to decide which you like better. Ron
>>
>>
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>>The Crawl Space

Tosha,
I also had to bend the slide rail as decribed above. However that is whats called for in the directions. I heard they changed the design so I don't know which one you actually saw. Several people checked out the new design at Daytona, Annaheim & White Plains and all said they didn't like them. I want to order more but only if the original design is still available. Ron

Mark,
I had the option of heat cable or heat pads from Vision. I went with the cable and it works great. I also ordered 2 extra heat pads in case I wanted extra heat. Each 10 tub rack uses two 29 foot cables which totals 160 watts. Another thing is with the cable you only have 2 plugs, with th ehat pads you have 10, one for each level. I use Herpstat II thermostats and the cable works great. Ron
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The Crawl Space

Another thing you can do is spray the tracks with spray silicone and they will slide very smoothly. That was a tip I got from Chris Harper. Ron
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The Crawl Space

I've been using boaphile racks for years and have always been happy with them, in fact I just bought a couple of ballroom racks that were delivered two days ago. I was planning on getting some more, but now I think I might try a rack of these just to see how they work out for me. I really like the idea of the wheels and the adjustable heat pad, (I finally looked up their web site) but I don't like they way they are open on the sides. That would probably be real easy to cover though.

Mark

>>Tosha,
>> I also had to bend the slide rail as decribed above. However that is whats called for in the directions. I heard they changed the design so I don't know which one you actually saw. Several people checked out the new design at Daytona, Annaheim & White Plains and all said they didn't like them. I want to order more but only if the original design is still available. Ron
>>
>>Mark,
>> I had the option of heat cable or heat pads from Vision. I went with the cable and it works great. I also ordered 2 extra heat pads in case I wanted extra heat. Each 10 tub rack uses two 29 foot cables which totals 160 watts. Another thing is with the cable you only have 2 plugs, with th ehat pads you have 10, one for each level. I use Herpstat II thermostats and the cable works great. Ron
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>>The Crawl Space