Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Merry Xmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all!

I just thought I'd share a few pics of some new racks I built. I realized after coming across an interesting thread below that I haven't posted here in ages. I've been too busy now that my collection is 100plus snakes AND with a baby and teaching, I rarely have time anymore. I also posted some pics in the caging and boa forums, which is where usually silently browse.

Anyway, I built these racks for just under $100 (not including the sterilite containers which I already had). They are not currently heated but it would be easy to modify for heat tape (which I'm terrified of using for fire safety reasons). I have a modified room in my home dedicated for my 100plus snake collection so I heat the entire room (while still offering a way for snakes to thermoregulate along a temp gradient).

Back to the rack...they are made using 1/4 inch expanded PVC, which is sturdy and VERY lightweight among many, many other properties. Each rack is on wheels and took me about 2 hours to make each one. I had the PVCX cut for me from a 4'x8'sheet for $61 dollars total from a local supplier. It is very easy material to work with. Two of the racks hold 20 - 16qt Sterilites and another 5 I made holds 10 - 32qt Sterilites each.

Oh and I added support, which you cannot see, underneath the bottom shelf of each rack to prevent or minimize sagging.

I welcome any questions or if you'd like detailed instructions, feel free to e-mail me. northeastsnakes@aol.com
Enjoy!

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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@aol.com

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I did not go all the way to the floor b/c it may be too cool for my snakes but I just recently discovered that the space below is excellent for storing the lids, since it is a lidless rack.

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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@aol.com

>>Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I did not go all the way to the floor b/c it may be too cool for my snakes but I just recently discovered that the space below is excellent for storing the lids, since it is a lidless rack.
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Looking good!
the space below is where I put the thermostats for the heat tape on my racks.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

>>>>
>>Looking good!
>>the space below is where I put the thermostats for the heat tape on my racks.

I guess 12 inch flex watt would be more precise then heat tape, but you know what I mean
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

Great & cheap way to get it done without all that wood! That DOES have my interest. You can e-mail me your instructions and I'll check it out. THANKS

Draybar . . .seriously thinking about getting into the heat tape thing (after 25 years of keeping and breeding,lol). Can you school me on that, so I don't burn my house down??? (Don't worry, I AM a lead/supervisor mechanic where I work, so it shouldn't be too difficult for me to grasp)

Zee
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

>>Great & cheap way to get it done without all that wood! That DOES have my interest. You can e-mail me your instructions and I'll check it out. THANKS
>>
>>Draybar . . .seriously thinking about getting into the heat tape thing (after 25 years of keeping and breeding,lol). Can you school me on that, so I don't burn my house down??? (Don't worry, I AM a lead/supervisor mechanic where I work, so it shouldn't be too difficult for me to grasp)
>>
>>Zee
>>-----

Flex watt heat tape is easy to use.
When you get the flex watt you have to buy the plug or plugs and plastic wire covers to go with it.
It comes with instructions on how to attach the plug cord and the
plastic protectors.
With my racks I used peg board on the back to allow for some circulation (closed in racks more like book shelves. With the adult racks I ran one 11 inch wide strip of flex watt up the center of the pegboard (on the inside of the rack) and with the hatchling racks I ran two strips.
I have the thermostats that allow for up to three strips of flex watt to be pluged into them. There is also a probe you can place on a shelf to get temperature readings.
e-mail me and I can be a little more specific.
try this link.
www.bigappleherp.com/Reptile_Supplies/Product/Heat_Tape_119105.html
You need the tape, cord and clip set, insulators and thermostat.
At this time I have two racks that hold ten 28-quart boxes and one rack that holds thirty six 6-quart boxes. I paln to build at least one more of each.
When I built the racks for the 28-quart boxes I measured wrong so I have to use the lids. OOPS
But they work so what can I say....
The bad part is I have them upstairs in my den and they would not fit up the turn in the stairs.
I knew this ahead of time so I built them in the garage useing screws instead of nails so I could disassemble them, take them upsatirs and reassemble them.
It will make for easier transport if I ever move or get an actual reptile house built.
sorry to ramble.
Bottom line... If you buy the flex watt and accessories you will easily understand how to hook it all up.

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

Now I guess I can go & check out the budget part of this venture!
Take care, (I may contact you soon, lol!)

Zee
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

Hey, nice set ups. can you mail me the instructions?
thanks
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------Misty-------
5.12 Corn Snakes --- 1.0 Tokay Gecko
2.1 King Snakes --- 1.0 House Gecko
1.2 leopard Geckos --- 1.0 Golden Tegu
1.1 Bearded Dragon --- 0.0.1 Savanna Monitor
1.1 Green Iguana --- 0.0.1 Chinese Water Dragon
0.1 Crocodile Gecko --- 1.1 False Water Cobras
1.1 Jungle Corn --- 1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Kenya Sand Boa --- 0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.1 Emperor Scorpions --- 3.0 Ferrets
1.1 Congo African Grey (parrot)--- 0.1 dog
0.0.3 Prairie Ringneck Snakes --- 1.0 blue tongue skink
1.2 rats babies --- always changing # of mice(snake food)

How do you heat them?

I heat my room.
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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@aol.com

Thanks for the detailed instructions, Jason.

Seriously, guys and gals, this looks like something even I could build. Simple design, but very effective. And reasonably priced, too!

Leslie