5 gal. tank?

[Stefan-A]

I have a hard time believing that 1/100 snakes are kept successfully in a rack system.

That's a misrepresentation of what I was saying. 1/100 was an example of an extreme, but not impossible scenario. It could just as well have been 99/100 and it would still apply.

If someone has gone to the effort of having a rack system it's generally because they have a large number or are breeding. In either case the owner knows enough about the animal to understand basic husbandry and follow through on its basic needs.

Not relevant to what I was commenting on. Also, it has no effect on the enclosure's properties, which was the subject. Skill can compensate for deficient solutions and make them seem "as good as, or better than" the alternative solution. So the skill is irrelevant to the discussion.

The idea that the snake would die simply because it doesn't have a large cage with branches logs and rocks is simply ******** if I'm going to be honest.

Not what I was talking about.

In terms of dismissing other cases, I'm not at all.

I'm not saying you are, I'm saying that it can't be ruled out in cases like this. It's a simple fact that it is something that people do without realizing it. The implication is of course that when it hasn't been properly investigated, all statements on the topic might as well start with the abbreviation "IMO".

I've seen baby snakes in racks die because they don't eat, but then again, baby snakes die all the time, some never start to eat regardless of conditions.

I agree. I'm sure you're not suggesting that there can be no difference in how frequently it happens under different conditions.

However, look at the people who keep snakes in tubs/racks,

No, don't look at the people. Those are variables that need to be eliminated if you're going to make a comparison between housing solutions.

they do so because they have the large number and understand the snake.

I agree with the first part, but the second does not follow. It may be the case, but I've seen enough nitwits with large quantities of snakes, often but not always housed in racks, to understand that the two are not necessarily connected.

Look at how many ****** middle class individuals go out and purchase a fancy cage, fancy lights, heat pad, this and that,

Or 50 snakes and a rack. That's another reason to not take the keeper into consideration when you compare enclosures.

Give 2 super experienced keepers 10 baby garter snakes, one with racks, one with large terrariums/enclosures,

I haven't done the calculations of how many individuals would be needed in experiments like this, but I'm pretty sure 10 isn't nearly enough. An experiment wouldn't have much validity with a sample size that small. You might need to add a zero or two to detect a statistically significant difference.

in both situations the snakes will end up about the same, because the factors determining the snakes healthiness are simple: food, water, heat, humidity, light. Nothing else matters or will define how well the snake grows or lives.

That would be a hypothesis that a person would set out to disprove by setting up the experiment and tossing in a variable, such as the enclosure type.

If you want to argue a puppy kept in a house with toys will develop better than a puppy in a cage sure, I'm all for that, however, puppies have significantly higher levels of intelligence than a snake.

Intelligence isn't necessarily key.

And just to make my position clear here: My problem is not with racks. I'm perfectly open to the possibility that they may be worse than, as good as, or better than other enclosures. But I want it shown and I will wipe my *** on anecdotes, guesses and beliefs in regards to that question.