Opinions On Display Enclosures vs Rack & Tubs?

SWDK · 05-06-16, 04:07 AM

Wanting to see what everyone thinks about using snake racks & tubs vs using display cages?

I currently have all my snakes in display type cages, but they take up so much room and are harder to clean. Racks seem so much easier and space saving, but I'm not 100% sold on them.

What are you guys/girls using to house your snakes?

MDT · 05-06-16, 04:27 AM

I've used both. And I think your comments are fair. Racks seem to be the "Eli Whitney" solution to reptile keeping. Very utilitarian. It was a breeze to clean, feed, etc. My downside was no visualization of my animals. I have moved to Animal Plastic cages and am very pleased I did. Cleaning is not as easy, but not a hassle either. They do take up a bit more room too. The big upside to me, very aesthetic looking cages AND I get to actually see my animals.

Just my two cents...

riddick07 · 05-06-16, 05:52 AM

I have both too and I like the racks. I use animal plastics economy rack for my colubrids...so I can see them! Even though about half of them still hide so much I still don't see them. I wouldn't use the economy rack for anything but colubrids unless you have a room that you are keeping at 80 or so. The economy doesn't retain heat all that well because of the open sides. I'm actually thinking of keeping most of my Chinese beauties in racks now because I have found that most of them are very shy especially my platinums for some reason.

I hate display cages because they are a pain to clean even if they do look nice. I'm only using them if I have an insanely active snake or it's just too big for a rack. Anything above 5ft or so I wouldn't put in a rack unless it was really a lazy animal or I had one of the bigger racks. I only have the 41qt racks for reference.

serpentgirl123 · 05-06-16, 05:52 AM

I have both, because some of my big guys/gals won't fit in traditional sized tubs. Eventually I will probably have more Animal Plastic cages, once a few of them out grow the tubs. Though some of mine get super stressed out being in the "open" even with hides and other cover, so they may remain in racks only. So to reduce their stress, several cages/racks are covered up in most places anyway. I do my best to cater to each of their individual needs with the spaces I have and what works best for their overall health, and change accordingly if need be. Personally I never cared about this "need" to see my animals, I am content/happy knowing that they are living as stress-free, healthy life as possible and occasionally pop their head out to let me know they are still breathing lol. But that is just me.

trailblazer295 · 05-06-16, 06:56 AM

I only have display cages but I also only have a few animals. Personally I prefer display cages so I can see the animals. With small collections it's manageable. I haven't had any issues cleaning them. I can see if you have large collections or breed that it wouldn't be space or cost effective. I only gave a few for personal enjoyment. Have a couch in the room as well lol

chairman · 05-06-16, 07:06 AM

I was an anti rack person. Then I got my first ball python and observed how well it does in a tub. I think I'd go with display cages for animals that like to display themselves or get too big for tubs; my carpet pythons will always be in display cages. But animals that prefer security, like ball pythons, or even my colubrids that spend most of their time in pencil boxes inside display cages, I think that they'll end up in a rack.

**Minkness** · 05-06-16, 07:38 AM

I like both displays and racks. It depends on the snake. I am thinking of getting a smallish rack, or building one, for snakes that aren't active or at least out in the open much (like my sand boas). However, I could NEVER put my carpet in anything but a beautiful display because she is active and always out and seems to enjoy watching the world around her. Likewise for one of my BPs. She is unusually fearless and out all the time. So why not keep her on display?

It really. Omes down to what you want, and what's beat for the animal. =)

SWDK · 05-06-16, 04:35 PM

Thanks for all the great feedback. Seems like we've got a good mix of people who prefer each type of enclosure for specific reasons.

Out of all my snakes the only one who spends any time out and about is my Eastern Garter. The rest of them stay in their hides or buried in the aspen bedding. That's what got me thinking about racks because I never see my snakes unless I find them and pick them up. Some of them poke their heads out when it's feeding time and the smell of food is in the air.

I might try a small rack setup on few snakes and see how it goes. Any suggestions for a rack system or go with a DIY build?

**Pareeeee** · 05-06-16, 06:21 PM

As others have said, I like both, depends on the animal. Animals that prefer seclusion sometimes fare better in tubs than in display tanks. Tubs are also easier to maintain higher humidity levels for certain animals.

KrokadilyanGuy3 · 05-07-16, 02:32 AM

I've used a few tubs to place snakes when I picked one up unexpectedly or something but it's only temp housing.

I don't see the point of keeping snakes in racks or tubs if you're nothing more than just keeping them. Breeders or scientifical reasonings I can see, but the average joe keeping 150 snakes in racks for no real purpose has always confused me. I feel you literally have all these snakes just to say you do and don't really get any enjoyment out of it other than easy cleaning and bragging rights.

Hard to enjoy an animal you can never see unless you want to molest it.

Id rather this

Over this any day. (I don't even know what I had in these..)

SerpentineDream · 05-07-16, 06:51 AM

I have most of my snakes in tubs at the moment but that is about to change. I have them so I can enjoy them, and I love to watch them just be snakes. Some of mine just hide during the day, but I make a point of visiting at different times so I can catch those who are most active at dusk or at night in action. Some are curious and will come out of their hides to see what I'm up to if I stay for a while. I have a chair in my snake room so I can hang out and read or just sit and watch them.

Coming soon are some 36" stacking cages by NPI. The vast majority of the crew is moving into those. IMO they combine some of the good attributes of racks and tubs - temperature / humidity control, easier to clean and less open than terrariums, stackable to maximize space - with the good attributes of terrariums - you can set it up in a naturalistic manner and you can SEE your critters. Not everyone will fit in the stackers and racks are still the way to go for babies but I like them. The bigger and semi-arboreal snakes will be in large terrariums but the space gained by using the stackers for the rest of the crew should allow just enough room to be able to pull it off.

Not everyone has a dedicated room (or enough space in it) to go even with stacking cages nor the inclination to spend extra time cleaning. In my case it's a fair tradeoff to be able to sit, relax and watch the snakes do their thing in their beautiful displays. I also think that most of them appreciate the opportunity to move around and get some exercise, even if they are disinclined to do it while we are watching.

macandchz · 05-07-16, 11:22 AM

since i have only one snake i have a glass enclosure. i love watching what mac is doing all the time and since he is a social snake he doesn't seem to mind. it makes a pretty piece of furniture, too. but i do envy the easy clean of the other enclosures.

Zelg · 05-07-16, 04:18 PM

I've never liked the idea of tubs and racks unless its a breeder or store setting. IMO theres no point in having 100 snakes that just sit in tubs and offer up nothing in the way of a visual presence other than a stack of plastic.

I'd much rather have a small number of specifically chosen snakes that I thought long and hard about wanting to keep and display for myself. Display cages arent hard to clean. Not one bit. Is it easier to just lift up a water bowl and hide and pull the newspaper out? Yea, of course. Is it hard to scoop out substrate and pull out some vines, bowl and two-three hides? No. It just takes a couple more minutes.

The fact that snakes want nothing to do with us also factors into it. I'd like to make their stay as positive as possible.

To each their own but I dont have to like your own

**EL Ziggy** · 05-07-16, 05:20 PM

To each his/her own. I've used tanks, tubs, and pvc enclosures. I prefer display enclosures by far. I LOVE watching my critters slither about. It's nice that most of my snakes are pretty good display animals but even the shy one comes out sometimes. It's perfect late night entertainment, better than most tv imo.

Albert Clark · 05-08-16, 05:47 AM

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^. Totally subjective, and depends on what a individual wants for his collection. Neither is superior to the other and both have their advantages and disadvantages.