baby racks

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I was thinking about building some baby racks. I think the cheap 3 shelf book shelves from walmart would work great. Add a few more shelves some flexwatt and some small plastic shoe boxes and you could house tons of babies.It would only take like 50 or 60 bucks to make the complete unit. I was thinking of using foam board insulation on the back.

[guidofatherof5]

What about the fronts? Screen, glass or plexi.
I take it you'll heat on the back wall?

[BLUESIRTALIS]

You wouldn't need a front they would be slide racks. The shoe boxes would fit tight so that the top would be covered by the bottom of each shelf. You would need to drill holes in the shoe boxes for ventilation. If you use the foam board on the back that has like tinfoil on one side you would only have to use one strip of flex watt down the center. My friend bought some high dollar ones similar to this.

[guidofatherof5]

My mistake.
I wasn't thinking about using them that way.
Sorry.

[Chondro788]

I just buy 5/8" partical board andcut it all to the size I need. A 4'x8' sheet is only about $15, use drywall screws to put all together, works great! :cool: For my larger animals I use ARS Caging Tubs (10 series and 20 series), they are the best!!! :D ARS Caging Tubs (http://arscaging.com/arstubs.html)

[BLUESIRTALIS]

The reason i suggested the book shelves for baby racks is because you can get the whole shelving unit for $15.00 and it's already pre-cut and ready to put together all you have to do is make a few more shelves. Now for the bigger snakes you would have to use something like that.

[RdubSnider]

Pretty good idea. Been thinking of bldg a baby rack myself. Do you think back heat would be good enough for the babies or should I stick with belly heat?

[HazAnga]

Here's the link to a different forum where I made a rack for adults and hatchling corn snakes.
Corn snake rack (http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109869)
I used 3" and 4" flexwatt heat tape for belly heat. I didn't use any tinfoil or anything on the back.

[HazAnga]

Pretty good idea. Been thinking of bldg a baby rack myself. Do you think back heat would be good enough for the babies or should I stick with belly heat?

Belly heat is better for the babies and is more important for babies.

[RedSidedSPR]

How would they get light? I don't know anything about baby care, new to snake keeping, but wouldn't they need more than a shoebox? Just curious, not telling you how to do it.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Pretty good idea. Been thinking of bldg a baby rack myself. Do you think back heat would be good enough for the babies or should I stick with belly heat?

That is up to you. I'm going to try back heat on mine that i build because i think that it will work just fine as long as you have the insulation on the back. I will keep posted on this when it is built. I will be using a thermometer or temp gun to check the temps. The only thing i'm worried about is if i can get a gradient temp inside. I think as long as i drill lots of ventilation holes in the container they will be a cool end and a warm end.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

How would they get light? I don't know anything about baby care, new to snake keeping, but wouldn't they need more than a shoebox? Just curious, not telling you how to do it.

This has been a controversial topic for some time now. I don't think they actually require lights as long as they are kept at the right temps. My snake room is like a sun room it has lots of windows with lots of sunshine coming in. Now as they grow some garters don't tend to breed as well without lights, but as long as the racks are clear and the room is lit up and they can tell the difference between night and day i don't see a problem with it.