need a rack, online sources?

[ashleynicole]

I need some referrals reliable online sources for buying a rack system (http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1598256#) for my snake. Ideally it would come prewired and include thermostat/rehostat and everything ready to go.

Displaying our snakes in aquariums was fine when we had 1 or 2, it was even ok when we had 4, but our collection has swollen to 8 now and I've got tanks tucked everywhere... They are set up with screen tops and uth's. Our oldest snake is a 9 year old corn snake, second is an 8 year old ball python. We have a california king (http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1598256#) snake, a mexican hognose, and 4 other corn snakes. We would really like a single rack that can hold at least 8 fullgrown snakes, but I think the ball python and then hognose will remain in their respective aquariums.
We are looking into trying our hand at breeding some of the corns, I have a lot of shoebox size plastic containers (http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1598256#) but if succesful we will eventually need to buy a rack for babies too.

So, anyway, I would appreciate some references to good sites to buy from online. We are going to repticon next month and may buy something there, but would like some websites and prices to compare.

Thanks!
Ashley http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/images/smilies/spiny.gif

[Mikoh4792]

Why not just buy stackable enclosures?

[ashleynicole]

because I want to buy a rack system.

[Mikoh4792]

because I want to buy a rack system.

In that case I only have experience with RBI rack systems. I'm using the iris sweater box version that holds four snakes. Came with heat pre installed and already assembled. You just need to plug it into your thermostat and it works out of the box.

Been working fine for me for a couple months now. Although I did have to drill some holes in the tubs because the humidity would get too high.

[smy_749]

Being as you have quite a few snakes, and 90% of them are small colubrids, I can see why you want a rack instead of like 14 enclosures. Only one I have used is my animal plastics 4 tub one, which is very easy to put together, and comes with the heat tape but I think you need to snap the wires in place (its really easy). Dunno if it comes with a thermostat as I bought mine off craigslist, but whether it does or not, they will probably charge you the same price as the company would anyways.

[exwizard]

Animal Plastcs is the way to go. The wait time is a bit long but the rack is well worth the wait.

[ashleynicole]

thanks for the responses everyone, but I asked for online sources to buy these racks? you guys are telling me the names of racks and using acronyms I have never heard of??? Like what is RBI?
I use amazon prime for most of my online shopping so I don't have a clue what websites to find these items. I know what kind of rack I want and what kind of features I want... I just want to get some website links to reputable places to buy from online. :)
thanks!

[erichillkeast]

Here (http://www.apcages.com/) is the Animal Plastics webpage that they are talking about.

However, seeing as you are keeping multiple different species all with different hating requirements, be sure that whatever rack you are ordering has separate heat sources and thermostats for each bin.

[B_Aller]

Why not try modern husbandry techniques instead? Screen topped enclosures are a relic of the 1970's. My (always unpopular) suggestion would be to build proper enclosures or keep less animals. Solid topped, deep substrate, large thermal gradient......how difficult is that. I went to a big time keepers facility this weekend, just racks for days..I was so bored I couldn't stand it, who wants to see your snake in drawer? I left and went for a walk, saw some fence lizards running around chasing bugs and it was much more satisfying than seeing snakes in a drawer!
I'm sure this won't go over well, but it is my honest opinion.
Ben

[Mikoh4792]

thanks for the responses everyone, but I asked for online sources to buy these racks? you guys are telling me the names of racks and using acronyms I have never heard of??? Like what is RBI?
I use amazon prime for most of my online shopping so I don't have a clue what websites to find these items. I know what kind of rack I want and what kind of features I want... I just want to get some website links to reputable places to buy from online. :)
thanks!

The one I use is from here

Reptile Products You Can Trust | Reptile Basics Inc (http://reptilebasics.com/)

Many people seem to like the products made from this company. RBI stands for reptile basics inc.

Here is a link to all the different types of racks

Reptile Rack Systems: Reptile Products You Can Trust | Reptile Basics Inc (http://www.reptilebasics.com/reptile-rack-systems)

[Mikoh4792]

Why not try modern husbandry techniques instead? Screen topped enclosures are a relic of the 1970's. My (always unpopular) suggestion would be to build proper enclosures or keep less animals. Solid topped, deep substrate, large thermal gradient......how difficult is that. I went to a big time keepers facility this weekend, just racks for days..I was so bored I couldn't stand it, who wants to see your snake in drawer? I left and went for a walk, saw some fence lizards running around chasing bugs and it was much more satisfying than seeing snakes in a drawer!
I'm sure this won't go over well, but it is my honest opinion.
Ben

Well that is what I would suggest too, but it seems some people are interested in buying a lot of snakes and giving them the minimal requirements instead of focusing on a few snakes and giving them the optimal requirements.

[ashleynicole]

I appreciate your suggestions, but my question was not in reference to requesting information on type of enclosure or husbandry. My question was directly in reference to purchasing a rack system from an online source.


I really don't appreciate those of you who assume my husbandry is sub par. While I agree that a glass cage and a screen top enclosure is not the best, I can assure you my husbandry is top notch. Those of my snakes that need more humidity have humid hides and all of my snakes generally shed in one piece with no retained eyecaps or tail tips. I provide appropriate temperatures, clean water, substrates, and I haven't had an illness in the last 6 years... The last illness I had was scale rot on my ball python 6 years ago, I remedied the situation and got him the medical care he needed. We handle our snakes regularly and feed them appropriately so that they are not underweight or overweight.


Not that I feel the need to justify myself, but just because you think you know everything about how everyone should do things, For your information we RENT our home and do not have a lot of space to display our snakes. My husband and I are in the process of buying a house, but we are not in a huge hurry. Maybe a year, maybe 3 years, who knows? One day we do plan to build a very nice display room for our reptiles, but if you are breeding you don't have to display ALL the snakes ALL the time. We also plan on getting a license to sell as well, provided we are successful at breeding.

In the meantime a snake is not going to care whether it is in a "pretty" enclosure or not, provided its needs are met. Proper temperatures, security, water, feeding, etc.


For those that actually answered the question I asked and provided the links I thank you very much.

[ashleynicole]

Well that is what I would suggest too, but it seems some people are interested in buying a lot of snakes and giving them the minimal requirements instead of focusing on a few snakes and giving them the optimal requirements.
For what its worth we are not focused on "buying a lot of snakes". We have acquired these snakes over a period of 9 years, only buying snakes we were completely interested in and researching each new breed before buying. I didn't plan on buying ANY reptiles at the last repticon but there was a beautiful male snow corn for $15, because he was already 3 years old. I couldn't pass that up and he is now one of my favorites.

[Mikoh4792]

Sorry i did not post that in reference to you. I was speaking of reasons why people would want to buy a rack in general. It is true rhough that racking systems allow housing for many snakes while providing the minimal requirements. I never said your husbandry was sub par

[B_Aller]

I appreciate your suggestions, but my question was not in reference to requesting information on type of enclosure or husbandry. My question was directly in reference to purchasing a rack system from an online source.


I really don't appreciate those of you who assume my husbandry is sub par. While I agree that a glass cage and a screen top enclosure is not the best, I can assure you my husbandry is top notch. Those of my snakes that need more humidity have humid hides and all of my snakes generally shed in one piece with no retained eyecaps or tail tips. I provide appropriate temperatures, clean water, substrates, and I haven't had an illness in the last 6 years... The last illness I had was scale rot on my ball python 6 years ago, I remedied the situation and got him the medical care he needed. We handle our snakes regularly and feed them appropriately so that they are not underweight or overweight.


Not that I feel the need to justify myself, but just because you think you know everything about how everyone should do things, For your information we RENT our home and do not have a lot of space to display our snakes. My husband and I are in the process of buying a house, but we are not in a huge hurry. Maybe a year, maybe 3 years, who knows? One day we do plan to build a very nice display room for our reptiles, but if you are breeding you don't have to display ALL the snakes ALL the time. We also plan on getting a license to sell as well, provided we are successful at breeding.

In the meantime a snake is not going to care whether it is in a "pretty" enclosure or not, provided its needs are met. Proper temperatures, security, water, feeding, etc.


For those that actually answered the question I asked and provided the links I thank you very much.

I did not say your husbandry was sub-par but if your idea of optimum housing is screen topped fish tanks you are a bit behind the times, like 30-40 years behind the times.
I think racks are hateful, soulless inventions personally and am bummed that more people don't see them as such or express their dismay.
It's nothing personal against you, I'm sure you are a lovely, caring person, but I disagree with you about husbandry and this is a husbandry forum so it seems appropriate.
Who said anything about pretty? I'm talking about modern husbandry vs fish tanks or racks, nothing to do with aesthetics, I'm talking about function.
To me top notch allows the animals choices, not forcing them into tiny tubs with no humidity or thermal gradient. You are certainly welcome to your opinions tough, as am I.
I do wish you the best and am not trying to single you out or flame you, just can't hold my tongue any longer about where our hobby is headed.
Thanks.

[DeesBalls]

Why not try modern husbandry techniques instead? Screen topped enclosures are a relic of the 1970's. My (always unpopular) suggestion would be to build proper enclosures or keep less animals. Solid topped, deep substrate, large thermal gradient......how difficult is that. I went to a big time keepers facility this weekend, just racks for days..I was so bored I couldn't stand it, who wants to see your snake in drawer? I left and went for a walk, saw some fence lizards running around chasing bugs and it was much more satisfying than seeing snakes in a drawer!
I'm sure this won't go over well, but it is my honest opinion.
Ben

this would be the best option to go if you had a few snakes, when i 1st started i had 4, and they all had their own class enclosures, with custom tops. they looked awesome, but when you get around 6- up its hard to. and snakes dont care if they dont have fancy enclosures, all they care about it eating, shedding, and going potty... I do respect you for stating your opinion, even though you know people will dis agree.. .very commendable! :)

to the OP- check out animal plastics . com , or boaphile . com i know they make some nice racks....

I built mine, and they work, but if you want to buy someone should be able to help you.

[smy_749]

I did not suggest display enclosures because they already have the large collection. She said she acquired it over a large period of time, but thats irrelevant because she has the snakes now. Not gonna add up however many their are in her sig, but its definately going to cost ALOT to build them all display enclosures, and take up a lot room. Its easier to suggest display enclosures when your just starting out, or have only a few species, and the option to choose between more snakes or better husbandry but she has them already so...

I'm all for the display enclosures though, since like Ben said, its so much more interesting and racks are so boring :/

Atleast get 1 or 2 display enclosures .

[DeesBalls]

I did not suggest display enclosures because they already have the large collection. She said she acquired it over a large period of time, but thats irrelevant because she has the snakes now. Not gonna add up however many their are in her sig, but its definately going to cost ALOT to build them all display enclosures, and take up a lot room. Its easier to suggest display enclosures when your just starting out, or have only a few species, and the option to choose between more snakes or better husbandry but she has them already so...

I'm all for the display enclosures though, since like Ben said, its so much more interesting and racks are so boring :/

Atleast get 1 or 2 display enclosures .

i have 1 display enclosure for my snakes, rest are in racks, its a good idea

[ashleynicole]

I did not say your husbandry was sub-par but if your idea of optimum housing is screen topped fish tanks you are a bit behind the times, like 30-40 years behind the times.
I think racks are hateful, soulless inventions personally and am bummed that more people don't see them as such or express their dismay.
It's nothing personal against you, I'm sure you are a lovely, caring person, but I disagree with you about husbandry and this is a husbandry forum so it seems appropriate.
Who said anything about pretty? I'm talking about modern husbandry vs fish tanks or racks, nothing to do with aesthetics, I'm talking about function.
To me top notch allows the animals choices, not forcing them into tiny tubs with no humidity or thermal gradient. You are certainly welcome to your opinions tough, as am I.
I do wish you the best and am not trying to single you out or flame you, just can't hold my tongue any longer about where our hobby is headed.
Thanks.


who said my animals don't have thermal gradients and proper humidity?

glass tanks and screen tops was not my first choice. It just happened to be what we could get our hands on at the time. neither I or my husband are very good at building things from scratch, so we've been on the lookout for better housing options, we just don't throw money at the first thing we see, we take our time and we've decided a rack system is the best option until we buy a house.

[ashleynicole]

I did not suggest display enclosures because they already have the large collection. She said she acquired it over a large period of time, but thats irrelevant because she has the snakes now. Not gonna add up however many their are in her sig, but its definately going to cost ALOT to build them all display enclosures, and take up a lot room. Its easier to suggest display enclosures when your just starting out, or have only a few species, and the option to choose between more snakes or better husbandry but she has them already so...

I'm all for the display enclosures though, since like Ben said, its so much more interesting and racks are so boring :/

Atleast get 1 or 2 display enclosures .


We will most definitely have a few displays, as we have a few that are relatively active and very beautiful to look at. And I don't think that you have to choose between more snakes and "better husbandry". A snake doesn't care how pretty it's enclosure is as long as its needs are met.




this would be the best option to go if you had a few snakes, when i 1st started i had 4, and they all had their own class enclosures, with custom tops. they looked awesome, but when you get around 6- up its hard to. and snakes dont care if they dont have fancy enclosures, all they care about it eating, shedding, and going potty... I do respect you for stating your opinion, even though you know people will dis agree.. .very commendable! :)

to the OP- check out animal plastics . com , or boaphile . com i know they make some nice racks....

I built mine, and they work, but if you want to buy someone should be able to help you.

You hit the nail on the head there, exactly. They don't care what their enclosures look like. Now if the tubs were too small or too large it could definitely cause stress. If the humidity was too high or too low adjustments would need to be made, The size would have to be right to provide an appropriate thermal gradient as well.

I am looking into those websites and jotting down some prices. Going to hit up repticon next month and see if I can find a better deal, if I can't I will order something online.

[ashleynicole]

oh and we currently have 8 snakes and 1 bearded dragon.

[poison123]

Who said anything about pretty? I'm talking about modern husbandry vs fish tanks or racks, nothing to do with aesthetics, I'm talking about function.
To me top notch allows the animals choices, not forcing them into tiny tubs with no humidity or thermal gradient.


I think you guys need to read this part again.

I too am against racks. I use to use them for the simple fact that I can have more snakes that way but learned that there was zero to learn from this type of keeping as far as natural behavior go's as there is no need for any behavior in such a small enclosure with zero options (other then moving from the cool side to the warm side). Of course they don't care how the cage looks. But imo they do prefer to have the option to choose there own temps and humidity levels. Thats just my opinion. Not trying to force any husbanry techniques on to anybody else :) Best of luck :)

[ErikBush97]

Since everyone is too busy forcing their opinions down your throat, here are some brands to check out: boaphile, vision, freedom breeder, animal plastics.

[exwizard]

Since everyone is too busy forcing their opinions down your throat, here are some brands to check out: boaphile, vision, freedom breeder, animal plastics.

Thank you. I did not know how to respond in this, what has now turned into a rack vs. display cage debate. These are all good brands. Personally I like Animal Plastics but any if these will work. :)

[Mikoh4792]

It has nothing to do with display. A display enclosure will just more often than not provide more space, giving the snake more options. Again, it's not sub par, but it is minimal.

[exwizard]

Thing was the OP's question right from the start was what racks online would be recommended. She didn't want anything more than the answer to that question.

[Mikoh4792]

Thing was the OP's question right from the start was what racks online would be recommended. She didn't want anything more than the answer to that question.

In the short time I've been here I've learned that's not how things work. Plus she gave us her reason for buying racks, which opens up the question why racks? It's a public thread, people are allowed to talk about it.

[exwizard]

I understand that and I have no issues with that. I'm just glad her question was finally answered

[poison123]

Since everyone is too busy forcing their opinions down your throat, here are some brands to check out: boaphile, vision, freedom breeder, animal plastics.

Not trying to force any husbanry techniques on to anybody else :) Best of luck :)

I am NOT forcing anything down anybodies throat. I am simply stating my opinion on racks and that was my first reply to this thread. Not forcing anything :).

[ErikBush97]

I am NOT forcing anything down anybodies throat. I am simply stating my opinion on racks and that was my first reply to this thread. Not forcing anything :).

I wasn't meaning you

[ErikBush97]

I just think that unless the OP asks which (between display enclosures and racks) is better, it shouldn't have even been mentioned.

[ErikBush97]

In the short time I've been here I've learned that's not how things work. That's for sure....
plus she gave us her reason for buying racks, which opens up the question why racks? It's a public thread, people are allowed to talk about it.
If she gave her reason for buying racks, you have absolutely no reason to even mention display enclosures.

[exwizard]

It doesn't matter. Everything has already been said and done. Nothing can change that now. The OP's questions were all been answered. It's all history now.

[Mikoh4792]

That's for sure....

If she gave her reason for buying racks, you have absolutely no reason to even mention display enclosures.

Really, what is your logic behind this? How could you know that I have no reason to mention display enclosures(first of all I never advocated display enclosures)? I can tell you for sure I had a reason.

[ashleynicole]

Since everyone is too busy forcing their opinions down your throat, here are some brands to check out: boaphile, vision, freedom breeder, animal plastics.

THANK YOU!!!!
seriously, that's all that was needed :)


Thing was the OP's question right from the start was what racks online would be recommended. She didn't want anything more than the answer to that question.
check :)

[ashleynicole]

Really, what is your logic behind this? How could you know that I have no reason to mention display enclosures(first of all I never advocated display enclosures)? I can tell you for sure I had a reason.


No, you didn't have a reason. If you can't answer the question posed then don't reply.

[ashleynicole]

And for what its worth... not that I should even feel compelled to respond anymore, but I can't HELP myself. Buying a rack does NOT mean I am going to buy the "MINIMUM" suitable enclosure size. You have NO IDEA what size enclosure I will be using for each snake. It wasn't even discussed or asked here. Maybe I will have enclosure sizes two sizes bigger than what my snakes "need" and provide several different thermal gradients and hides? I am not saying I would do that or have the minimal with a single hide and normal "warm/cool" sides. Who knows? The point is that was not even posed in the question. ALL I wanted was a few websites to research some rack systems. That is all. My goodness people....

[Mikoh4792]

ALL I wanted was a few websites to research some rack systems. That is all. My goodness people....

Websites and sources were already given. Sometimes you don't get all you want. This is a public thread and you do not own it. Sorry but you can not tell people what to do here.

[Perez Turner]

Do you tried to search Rack on eBay and OLX? I found there numerous options with different price tags. You go there and choose the best rack what you can afford.