Hatchling rack

[vanderkm]

Our first attempt at rack building and we are faced by a move in the near future so wanted to build something that could be taken apart easily to move - but would have the advantages of melamine - very flat surface that could use lidless for baby corns and hondos.

This is working well - has been in use for almost 3 weeks now. It is 3/4 inch plywood sides and top, 1X3 cross supports on base and back, and uses 4ft wide by 18inch deep melamine shelves. We used pairs of metal L shaped connectors screwed to the plywood sides above and below the shelves, so the shelves slide between the metal guides. All shelves can be removed and the outer frame is extremely light, but stable. The shelves do not shift when tubs are slid in or out and the shelves are positioned so the fit of the tubs is tight (is a bit looser for the middle two than those on the edges, but all pull out quite easily.

There are 9 shelves, each can hold two large tubs or 4 hatchling ones. Heat is at the back with two heat ropes (80 watt) on a rheostat - maintains gradient of 72 in front to about 88 at back of each tub. Tubs have a tubluar plastic hide that runs from back to front so snake can hide at any temp - most have water bowls that allow them to hide underneath as well. Indifidual records are on the front (name, morph, red dots with feed dates, blue dots with shed dates). We will add the melamine trim and paint the plywood before it is set up in our new place - so for now it is functional but not as good looking as it will be in a couple months. I think we would use wooden strips as guides for the shelves if we were to do it again, instead of the metal (would cost less) but for a first try, we are pleased and thought I would share.

mary v.

the rack
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/63hatchling_rack.JPG

a jungle corn youngster in his tub
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/63hatchling_tub1.JPG

[Tim_Cranwill]

Mary, that's a lot like my "a bit of everything" shelves. :) The difference being that I used three 2x4's on the sides instead of plywood and I used 2x1's for the side supports of each shelf.

I opted to use lids on my bins because I have 3 little kids who might one day make the msitake of pulling a bin out while I'm not around. It would be such a shame to let my trio of yearling albino brb's escape... ;)

Oh, and I have 4 and 12 inch heat tape along the bottom back of each shelf. But other than all of those differences... pretty much the smae as mine! :D

[Stockwell]

That looks pretty good Mary, congrats.. Personally I hate melamine and never use it anymore..Its too damn heavy, and chips, but I like your approach of using plywood for the sides, utilizing the lighter weight material where flatness isn't as critical.

I have another suggestion to reducing the weight. Go with a 1 X 3 pine frame for the sides, hollow in the middle, or just cut strips of plywood. You Don't really need full solid sides.
Normally you can't make shelves that wide without them sagging, but putting cross braces across the back and fastening them into each shelf, eliminates that problem, so that was good thinking.
You might eventually need a single straight upright support piece in the center of the front as well, as the front lip will probably eventually sag and cause sticking.
When you get it moved, you might consider putting casters on it.
I put wheels on all my pine & screen racks, and actually wheel the entire unit to a separate room for brumation..It saves the hassle of setting up a bunch of rubbermaid bins, which is what I did in the "Old days lol"... I simply hibernate temperate species right in their rack now.. Makes for less work.
If I roll it slowly, I don't even have to refill water! LOL

[Linds]

Nice rack, Mary! :D

[jay76]

That's a great rack Mary. The plywood sides are a good idea!

[Simon]

Great looking racks~
Currently I have 14 racks and every single rack that I have have casters on them so it's easy for moving. I even have casters on hatchlings and yearlings even though I don't need to move them around for burmantion...but it's a really good thing to have..especially if I am planning to move within a few years....so taking them else where with casters is a great idea...

[sapphire_moon]

nice rack.....and GEORGEOUS jungle corn. What do they look like as adults and where can I get one!!!!!!!

[vanderkm]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions - the casters is a definate plan once we get this set up in final location. I am planning an adult rack based on your designs Roy, with a bit borrowed from other people's ideas - I don't like melamine - really prefer to go with stained plywood, but wanted the security for the hatchlings.

Sapphire Moon - thanks for the comment on the jungle corn - there are a few closer shots of him and his albino sister and father in the colubrid forum. Lots of people breed them - and they can be quite pretty little critters - but be aware that they are a hybrid of cornsnake with california kingsnake - often through multiple generations. They should never be represented as cornsnakes - although when they have more than 50% corn they can look quite a bit like corns. I have seen 75% corn, 25% king sold as supercorns and I strongly disagree with that. These are commonly bred and advertised - a bit more expensive than corns here - but the hybrid issue is a really volatile one - just need to make sure you know what you are buying. We had the father of this clutch and got two babies back from the people we ultimeatly sold him to, in return for a breeding.

mary v.

[CDN-Cresties]

Nice job, ill be making one of those in the near future.

-Steve-

[Jeff_Favelle]

What an awesome rack!! Great job Mary!! Wanna build me 3 or 5 of those ??? :D

Only thing I would change is I would use painted 1/2" plywood. Anything thicker or heavier than that for a baby rack is just overkill. I can move my 50-cage baby racks by myself, they are THAT light!

But still, lookin' good!

[Lisa]

Great looking rack Mary. Wheels are a definate. Specially if you get the bigger wheels. Makes moving on carpet easier, and vacuming unerneath too.

[BoidKeeper]

Here's the bigening of mine.http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/289baby_rack_2-med.jpg
It worked well this year but next year I'm going to put in shelves so the containers can slide in and out with out having to move the container above the one you want to take out.
Cheers,
Trevor