Enclosure rack

[Natrix]

What are your thoughts on these? 3 of these would give me 12 enclosures.


Dimensions:4345

1,820mm high (71.65")
800mm wide (31.50")
400mm deep (15.75")

[chris-uk]

Are you building the vivs to go on these? I'd check the dimensions against the vivs you plan to put on them as a lot of vivs are more than 400mm deep, and 800mm wide is less than 3' (which may be a problem if you plan to keep some of the longer species). But 400x800mm doesn't seem a normal viv size to me.
Other than the dimensions, they look like good sturdy shelves. If they were 100mm deeper they'd be ideal for me to shelve our 60cm ExoTerras, I'll be looking for something like this when we move to a bigger house.

[guidofatherof5]

It might be best to adjust the shelf to 3 enclosures. That top enclosure of 4 would be pretty high up.
Just my opinion.

[Natrix]

Hi! Chris, I plan to convert these into vivs, using the shelves as the base/roof for each enclosure and the actual frame to secure the sides. So each enclosure would be W 31.5" x D 15.75" x H 17.75" or there abouts. If you look at those on crazy reptiles this is the same idea.
Hi! Steve, If I have done my calculations right then the base of the top viv will be at Chest height? So now you guys have the correct info Do you think that these woud be OK?

[mikem]

looks like a fun project! do you already have the rack? if not, maybe look into one that's a little bigger. i have a couple that i purchased from lowes here in the u.s. that are 72"hx36"wx18"d (inside dimensions). i might convert them someday. keep us updated on this project and good luck!

also, what is crazy reptiles? my google powers are weak this morning ;)

[chris-uk]

Rod - Do you plan an air gap between the layers? What heating do you plan to use? I'm pretty sure heatmats need some air circulation underneath. If you plan to fit heatlights into each viv, then that's probably not a concern. You would need to have them on separate stats though because the heat from the lower light will warm the floor of the viv above - probably not a bad thing.

Mike - Home - www.crazyreptiles.eu (http://www.Crazyreptiles.eu)

[chris-uk]

BTW Rod, where are you getting the shelf from? It looks nice and sturdy.

I'm toying with the idea of doing something similar with one of the Ikea modular wardrobe units. I need somewhere to put it first though, so maybe later in the year.

[mikem]

thanks chris! i see the photos of the shelving they've converted. looks nice! are you planning to do the same?

[chris-uk]

I was thinking about using this as the base unit:
PAX Wardrobe frame - birch effect, 100x58x201 cm - IKEA (http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/60156927/)
4354

Then adding some shelves as the viv tops and bottoms.
Maybe with an internal set of drawers to keep stuff in at the bottom (who wants to be bending down to a viv at floor level?
4355

I was thinking about 3 vivs in one of these wardrobe shells. Then, for the vivs we already have, I just need some shelves to sit the 4 ExoTerra vivs on. The other alternative is that the ExoTerras will fit on shelves in the wardrobe shell, so rather than building the vivs in, I just slot the Exos onto shelves (more expensive, but when you already have 3 60x45x45 Exos, and a 90x45x45 Exo...).

[Natrix]

Chris, I plan to use heat lamps to heat in conjunction with a uv light given the way I plan to construct them. Each enclosure will have plenty of back ventilation. Boltless Industrial Heavy Duty Shelving Garage Steel Rack... (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350516604633?var=620030410100&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649)
I hope that link works, if not they are on ebay.
Mike, I haven't got any yet but one will make 4 enclosures, not to big, not to small and not to high and they will fit where i have space for them. 3 standing next to each other will look quite good. the beauty of it is you can work on one set at a time and add a set as you expand. The way work (none existant) and finances are atm it is the cheapest option for me.
Have just found a better set 180x90x45 which should give 4 x 90x45x45 enclosureshttp://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/m/m7KP2-W5pEdKu0COEPtHTjA/140.jpg (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUTY-BOLTLESS-5-TIER-SHELVING-STORAGE-265KG-UDL-/380401702925?pt=UK_Storage&hash=item5891b5580d)HEAVY DUTY BOLTLESS 5 TIER SHELVING STORAGE 265KG UDL (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUTY-BOLTLESS-5-TIER-SHELVING-STORAGE-265KG-UDL-/380401702925?pt=UK_Storage&hash=item5891b5580d)

[mikem]

rod, i think the new one would work a bit better. pretty much the same size as the ones i have. it'll give you more floor space for your snakes to explore.
chris, i like your idea, it'll look nice if you incorporate the shelving into it.

get some progress pics as you build. will be fun to watch. :)

[Natrix]

It's a bit more expensive but i think i could fit 3 in SxS:D

[chris-uk]

.....
chris, i like your idea, it'll look nice if you incorporate the shelving into it.

get some progress pics as you build. will be fun to watch. :)

I think I'll probably do this over the summer, sometime after we've moved house to somewhere more roomy. It would be nice to have the snakes all together rather than scattered around the house wherever there's a surface to put a viv on. And with the wardrobe shells being fairly generic and in the same finish as all our other Ikea furnature it should look good, and I can start with one shell, then add another next to it...
When I start I'll take pics of the build.

[EasternGirl]

As I have said a thousand times before, I wish I could build things. I have an Ikea bookshelf that would be perfect for something like you are describing Chris...but I can't build anything. The set-up I have now...the wrought iron shelving unit with the vivs on it...Cee Cee's viv actually sits down at floor level. Her viv is not the one that bothers me...it's Hermes' on top that is a pain...I have to get up on a step ladder whenever I want to do anything inside the enclosure. The other problem I have found myself facing is that because the shelves are wrought iron, the lights on top of each tank radiate heat and send it up into the bottom of the tank above. So I guess I am going to have to go and get some sort of insulation material and stick it on the bottom of the shelves with enough space to still let heat from heat mats escape.