rack system and venomous snakes

mikem · 10-07-03, 09:13 PM

just a quick question. i plan to build a rack system in the near future because i plan to obtain quite a few more snakes. my question, does anyone use a rack system with their venomous? do you need to take any extra precautions designing your system for your venomous? other than labeling your containers? i just thought i'd ask. i'm fairly new to keeping hots and still have much to learn. i hope this isn't a stupid question. if it is, please forgive my ignorance.

cobraman · 10-07-03, 09:21 PM

Not a stupid question at all. I use rack systems, but I also have a large secure venomous room at my shop. Precautions should be taken when designing venomous cages of any type. In FL, if the snakes are not kept in a secure, escape proof room, the cages must have a locking device. Also, a lot depends on what type of snakes you are going to keep in a rack system. I would not recomend keeping 10 foot black mambas in a slide out rack system, as they tend to shoot right out at you when you open the cage. Anyway, safety should be the #1 consideration. Feel free to call me if you need more of my 2 cents.
Blessings
Ray Hunter

BWSmith · 10-07-03, 10:07 PM

I have the first rack that I would ever consider keeping hots in. It was made by one of the most skilled builders I know (not sure if he wants to advertise

). Tight fitting Sterilite, framed door on hinges with a plexi front and 2 keyed locks. The rear is pegboard covered in mesh screen. Even if something manages to get out of the sterilite (highly unlikely as 14 baby coppers have not been able to), the system itself is still escape proof. And of course in a sealed and locked room within another sealed nonvenomous room.

Maik Dobiey · 10-08-03, 04:04 AM

As an european keeper I wonder why you keep your snakes in such racks? You can(or at least shouldn't) do nothing else with your venomous snakes than watching them in their enclosures.
I wouldn't have much fun watching them If the enclosures are not as beautifully constructed as appropriate for the snakes kept in them.
I love big enclosures with plants, rocks and natural substrate because it is a pleasure to watch my snakes in them but what could I do if my snakes are reserved in drawers?
It appears to me as if you yust want to collect the snakes as stemps.
I hope you don't take me wrong. I am just trying to understand what is the atractiveness of this way of herpetoculture...

regards

Maik

BWSmith · 10-08-03, 07:24 AM

Sometimes things are not that easy. I have had SO MANY Copperheads come in this summer that it overflowed my cages very quickly and alternate means had to be used. But, got more Precision Caging coming in a couple weeks

And it also allows me to keep one snake per enclosure when so many rescues come in. Racks are also a great way to quarentine an animal before it joins the rest of the population or is introduced for breeding. Rack systems serve their purpose when needed, particularly for those of us that do rescues.

Maik Dobiey · 10-08-03, 08:53 AM

OK that is true. I would also use a rack or something comparable for my neonates or for quarentine but not for a longer captivity of my snakes...

cobraman · 10-08-03, 08:59 AM

Maik, I use them because of the space issue. I am not so much a collector as an importer/wholesaler, so the snakes are not in the cages long before being re-shipped off. So in my case, viewing them is not an issue with me (but I see your point).
Ray