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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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 Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject: Quick Tour of the Reptile Room |
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I just added a new rack, so I figured it was a good time to share a few pics.
This is Rack Row:
In the above photo, from near to far, we have:
- A Vision 1756 10-slot rack (32 qt tubs), with pegboard mounted on two sides (using zip ties) for increased privacy and, incidentally, a little extra storage space. This is located near a door just out of the picture, so the red light is well situated for me to come in and look around at night without disturbing the peace or fumbling around for a flashlight. Currently the rack only has 6 tubs and 3 BP occupants, one of which is the albino loaner from Nick.
- A Vision 1758 5-slot rack (66 qt tubs). Currently only 2 occupants, both yearling GTP's. These tubs will work fine until they're about 3 years old.
- A Jason's Jungle 5-slot adult rack (32 qt tubs). Currently all these tubs are occupied by BP's. The mid-term plan is to move these 5 snakes into the Vision 10-slot, and hold onto the JJ as a quarantine rack (so that what happened to Mrs. Nesbit never happens again). The long term plan is to remove the JJ altogether (I have a place for it upstairs), roll the Vision racks closer to the door, and drop in up to two more Vision racks (or equivalent) where the JJ and its table are now.
So right now, if money was no object, I could add up to 3 GTP's and 7 BP's, or 8 when our guest has finished his business.
These are the Vision cages where my two adult GTP's are kept.
Of course, before long I'll have not two but four adult GTP's, so I'll need better accomodations. The long term plan is to build the custom wooden cages shown here (scroll down to where it says "Fine GTPs Adult Cage). I've seen these in person and they're really nice. If my measurements and calculations are correct , I should be able to fit 12 cages along that wall, stacked in four columns with temperature managed horizontally, and still have enough space in that corner for a floor-to-ceiling hatchling rack.
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NickMyers03
Moderator
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Posts: 1913
Location: fredericksburg va
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| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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it really does look good buck. i love the cages the GTPs are in and how the radiant panels produce the heat needed....
looking good
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RonCrawford
Site Admin
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2043
Location: Pottsville, PA (USA)
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| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice! 
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markstockham
Joined: 01 Dec 2007
Posts: 130
Location: LA, California
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| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice cages buck! 
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magana559
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Posts: 1129
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| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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Looking good buck! Nice rack you got there!
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Herphero
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 137
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| Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:39 am Post subject: |
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Buck did you make/customize the 10 slot rack?
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:42 am Post subject: |
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| Herphero wrote: | | Buck did you make/customize the 10 slot rack? |
I bought the 10-slot rack here, then used zip ties to secure some heavy pegboard to either side to block out most of the light and provide more privacy.
Vision ships the racks unassembled, and tubs have to be purchased separately (Target.com). The rack includes heat rope, but in my opinion, the 39' they included wasn't enough for the whole rack.
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6859
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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Nice set up Buck! How is the humidity on those 10S racks? Is your ambivent humidity higher than 40?
I gave mine away because my ambivent humidity is too low and I simply do not have time to be constantly spraying or worrying about the humidity.
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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| deborahbroadus wrote: | Nice set up Buck! How is the humidity on those 10S racks? Is your ambivent humidity higher than 40?
I gave mine away because my ambivent humidity is too low and I simply do not have time to be constantly spraying or worrying about the humidity. |
I have two humidifiers running in the room, and ambient humidity ranges anywhere between 35-50%, depending on the time of day and how often I refill the humidifiers. Niles is in shed, so I pushed his water dish toward the back, and the front of his tub is steaming now (but not actually dripping), so all appears to be well. We'll see how he sheds. Once mid spring comes around, this won't be an issue at all. The room used to be one half of my music room, and I was always concerned about humidity ruining my instruments, so I had to run a dehumidifier 9 months out of the year. My dehumidifier has a 2 gallon container and I was emptying it every single day!
Meanwhile, this winter I've had a few shed issues for the first time with my snakes, even in the JJ's. So I run the humidifiers to compensate, but here's the kicker: with the JJ's, I don't think extra ambient room humidity has a huge impact, or more precisely, it doesn't impact the tub humidity quickly. I suspect this is because the JJ's have relatively poor air circulation. True, I haven't been through a shed with my Vision 10-slot yet, but I did have two BP's living temporarily in the 5-slot Vision, and they never had shed issues.
I think for overall humidity the JJ's are probably superior, but with good ambient room humidity, I'm not convinced there's much of a difference. JJ's are probably better for privacy, too, but with adjustments (like the pegboard) the Visions seem to be fine on that front...especially since I use aspen substrate, which allows the snakes to burrow. Nick's albino is an exception: he lives on paper, but he also has a hide in the tub.
Time will tell. Perhaps I too will one day sell my Vision rack.
NOTE: For my arboreals in the Vision 5-slot I use a thin layer of cypress as substrate, and i give that a really quick misting once per day. I do it while spot-checking for defecation, so no extra time is needed. With that substrate, humidity has been excellent, and I will recommend this rack for any arboreal keeper.
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ryancbj22
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 747
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Buck real quick how did you get the perches in there???
Did the cage come that way or did you add those on?
I can see the white things on the end of the perch. I did know if that was something you purchased or if it came that way!
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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| ryancbj22 wrote: | Hey Buck real quick how did you get the perches in there???
Did the cage come that way or did you add those on?
I can see the white things on the end of the perch. I did know if that was something you purchased or if it came that way! |
In the cages for the adults or the tubs for the sub-adults?
Never mind, don't answer that. Let me get some up close pictures tomorrow, it will be easier to explain with pics, and I'll answer for all perches.
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:07 am Post subject: |
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Ok, here we go.
First, the Vision cages came with perches already installed. The perches rest on little holders that are screwed into the side of the cages. The holders appear to be custom cut from PVC, but I've looked at Lowes and Home Depot and can't figure out what part the guy started with. Looks like a standard end piece, except all the ones they sell around here have rounded ends.
The first time I made PVC perches for a tub, I screwed PVC end pieces into the sides of the tub, and the perches fit right in. They only go in about 1/4" or so, and it's plenty stable. I have to stretch the tub a bit to pull the pipe out of the end piece. The only problem with this approach is I occasionally have to re-tighten the screws. Outside:
Inside:
(yeah, she shed this morning)
Finally, with Captain 20, I went with a different approach, kind of a stand-alone jungle gym kind of thing. It's not attached at all, and I can just pull the whole assembly out.
CAUTION: Prey could climb up this thing. Fortunately for the Captain I feed him pre-killed from forceps.
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ryancbj22
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 747
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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Thats exactly what I was looking for Buck.
Thank You...
One question are the pvc pipes attached in any way or are they just snug enough not to use anything????
I'm sure you didn't use glue to connect them right????
May sound like a dumb question, but thought i'd ask lol. I imigane there snug enough you don't have to do anything....
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ryancbj22
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 747
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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So here is what I came up with Buck. Don't mind the temps I have no heat source on there at the moment. This worked out pretty well except I really have no room for any hides, but I may not need them....
[img] [/img]
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Buck_99
Moderator
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1358
Location: Midlothian, VA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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That's cool Ryan, I like it alot.
You are correct, don't glue them. They're plenty snug without it, and you never know when you're going to want to take them apart for easy cleaning (you may occasionally see grime build-up at the joints).
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