Rack systems vary from DIY melamine shelving to commercial breeding racks made from stainless steel.

Most rack systems don't provide lots of height, the volume is in the length of the draw x width. If you go down the DIY route you are somewhat limited to either finding tubs to fit a pre-built rack, or make the rack fit the tubs. A lot of the RUBs or plastic under bed storage boxes come is set sizes so you could end up with having something that is a compromise.

A lot of people, myself included, use wardrobe carcass from B&Q / Ikea etc as it saves a lot of hassle having wood cut. A 100cm wide unit will accept two 24ltr RUB tubs per shelf, or one 32lt.

For hatchlings you can use smaller (cheaper) tubs - here's my build
https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/snakes/1272053-hatchling-rack-all-ready.html

You can also use them to make racks of vivs too
https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/snakes/1271803-new-viv-rack-build.html

If you want commercial racks - plenty of second hand listings in the classified section.

https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/for....uk/forums/equipment-classifieds/1262861-vision-v70s-vision-hatchling-rack.html

This one just sold today https://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/equipment-classifieds/1274797-11-tier-v70-vision-rack.html

 

Thankyou, I’ll have a good look now.
It’s more rubs with the clip on lids I would like rather than the drawers people use. But I’m sure I can find a way of doing this. I already have a rack outside, so it’s finding the right ones for it and can extend the rack also, add the shelves on etc. Or it’s do I get rid and build one from scratch.. As long as it can fit the 2 45x45x60 exos on the bottom that is already there then I can do whatever is needed for them out there!


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Thankyou, I’ll have a good look now.
It’s more rubs with the clip on lids I would like rather than the drawers people use. But I’m sure I can find a way of doing this. I already have a rack outside, so it’s finding the right ones for it and can extend the rack also, add the shelves on etc. Or it’s do I get rid and build one from scratch.. As long as it can fit the 2 45x45x60 exos on the bottom that is already there then I can do whatever is needed for them out there!

Well they may overhang by 5cm, but they should fit side by side in a 1m wide cabinet.

You may find this interesting. - Inspiring.

https://youtu.be/eqWwe9x7xWo

https://youtu.be/TzEmcMoR_1w

This was Rich's first build
https://youtu.be/DzhKGl5HOdg

Then he updated them
https://youtu.be/VDpbxGiDuag

Then more in depth details
https://youtu.be/Ad0n_xF75iw


B&Q cabinets https://www.diy.com/departments/home-furniture-storage/bedroom-furniture/create-your-own-furniture/step-1-choose-your-cabinets/standard-cabinets/DIY1277912.cat

There are limited availability, but the walnut effect is being phased out so the cabinets and shelves are cheaper

Hope that gives you some inspiration

 

Forgot to add that for ages I was always anti-rack systems, and was firmly in the large vivarium camp. But when I bred my royals last year naturally went over to the dark side

As I have clear tubs I've added hides to help make the snakes feel secure. Each shelf uses a mat for the heat which is independently controlled (ie one stat per shelf). It's strange that whilst it is true that heat mats don't directly heat the air, they can when used with a thin layer of substrate. I've used a minimum / max thermometer to monitor the temperatures in the rubs, and the air temp over the hot side is maintained at 30c, with the 32-33c substrate temperature - the cool side never dropped below 25c

 

Good makes you’ve done there! I’m wondering if wood outside (outhouse) would be any good? I’d have to coat with some weather paint I’m assuming just incase? Hatchling one especially is brilliant! It’s heating them all too, so much to think about. Banana is currently in his tub in the front room so he’s easy right now.

 

You’ve just answered my query on heating above haha. Thanking you!
He has a heat mat now, and layer of substrate, also a hide and a big water bowl too. So essentially it’s doing all this again at the right size needed (still on look out) as he’s currently in a faunarium so needs an actual decent size rub as he seems to be growing quick, just upgraded his hide and bowl, and he’s very curious and out a lot too, then all on thermostats and stacked up somehow! Seems simple enough...


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Those cabinets look ideal to be honest, with some weather coating I’m sure they’d work out there fine! And That’s exact tubs I’m looking at!
Fantastic I’ll go watch those now, not seen him before so will be subscribing.
Thankyou for all the help, think you’ve just saved me from more extensive searching, been up all night and gotten nowhere haha. Should’ve asked on here to begin with! [emoji23]


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Those cabinets look ideal to be honest, with some weather coating I’m sure they’d work out there fine! And That’s exact tubs I’m looking at!
Fantastic I’ll go watch those now, not seen him before so will be subscribing.
Thankyou for all the help, think you’ve just saved me from more extensive searching, been up all night and gotten nowhere haha. Should’ve asked on here to begin with! [emoji23]

If you are going lidded boxes then the cabinets are fine. I found issue with high humidity causing condensation on the underside when I used Reptichip in lidless tubs. If you want lidless then those plastic racks wouldn't have that problem.

Rich has just passed the 5K subscribers, so a small but fast growing channel. He posts regularly so well worth subscribing.

 

An alternative in plastic https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Pet-Supplies/HERP-Xotics-2469021626487957/ so would withstand high humidity

Reviewed by Gavin at Balls2U https://youtu.be/i3syaLHSJyU mind you I don't see any follow up video... so maybe he's backed out ?

 

By watching, if I go by litre likes he’s saying and not size measurements wise which is what I was searching for, my guys would be happy in a 9 litre until 300-400 grams which is what he said. Then I’d go up to a 24.5 litre. Which he is saying he then upgrades when they pass the 1000g mark.
Is it so bad to jump straight to a 24.5? Unsure currently of females weight, but my boy is nearing 200 and rather active.


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My males have been in 3ft vivs since 250g and the females in 4ft vivs since the same. They've never missed a feed and have never seemed "stressed". The biggest is now just over 400g. Would I want to keep her in a 24 litre tub, no way.

I don't get where these rules come from.

Lets face it, it's always down to space as you have discovered and the reason why you are now considering racks for your royals.

I doubt Rich could keep as many adult royals if he kept them all in 4ft vivs or even equivalent size tubs :whistling2:

 

They’re around (internal size) 53/35/13cm for the 24.5 litre. Or the 33 litre which is used also by him is 60.5/37/14.5cm (internal size) if that helps size wise rather than saying the litre of it. And obviously lots more bigger sizes.
Even if I use now as they’re still young and upgrade to something else, surely that could work whilst they’re smaller? Ideally I want sizes you’ve said, 4ft for females and 3ft for males as originally posted.


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So going by the "rules" a royal up to 1kg in weight can be kept in a 53 x 35 cm tub?

I think you have to do what you feel happy with. It's all made up to suit each keeper (not saying that's a bad thing, it's just what works for them).

Make your own rules. You choose what size tubs you want to put your snakes in. :2thumb:

 

Ideally just need something for now as he’s in a faunarium currently. So he does need an upgrade now
When they’re bigger I want the 4/3ft they need which by looking into it I’m probably going to have to make from scratch! But Willing to do so Ofcourse. Just need to find the correct materials to make them out of..
I do like the stacked vivs made from scratch using the units from b and q, so that’s an option too and looks brilliant, just need to get rid of current rack to do that, As currently rack for all other animals is metal.

 

I'm having a similar issue with the corn snakes. They're still quite small but outgrowing the faunariums. I think they could go into a viv but I'd have to be really careful of the vents, gaps in the doors etc so i think for now I'm going to tub them and then when they are a bit chunkier, put them in the vivs. I'll probably go 64 litre as it's got the extra height and I can add some branches.

Sorry, that doesn't help you at all :lol2: Was just typing what i was thinking :blush:

 

Elisha as you've discovered keeping royals (or most snakes for that matter) in tubs compared to as large a viv as you can fit in a given space will always evoke discussion as to the morals, rights or wrongs etc.

I spent upwards of a couple of hundred pounds constructing the rack in readiness for when the nine eggs that were incubating at the time would hatch. At the moment I have three of those hatchlings in 18lr tubs as all the others have been sold. One will be going to my daughter after she (hopefully) gets permission from her landlord who seems approachable. The other two have 100cm x 40cm x 45xm vivs waiting for them. That will then leave the rack empty until he next breeding project in a few years time. Other than keeping royals in for the first 4-6 months I could never see myself using rubs long term.