I Invested $20,000 in Racks for my Ball Pythons!

[@kumetu]

This is a great, great video. Very transparent, but also inspiring for breeders and keepers who have not yet hit that level of success. Sometimes it is hard to see the beginning for the end, and not realizing we can start small and work up. I am into Boas and not ball pythons, but I watch your enclosure, rat and investment videos often, and learn something from every video of yours I watch. Thank you greatly..

[@MitchellGWhitehead]

Fantastic video. I ordered an inexpensive rack from vision that I'm excited about. Maybe next year I can start producing clutches. Keep up the videos. You've helped many of us.

[@jaydenmoore3315]

I enjoy the daily uploads thanks for the help and ideas with breeding journey

[@joet3682]

Haha...Bobby was whispering in your ear...psst hey dad stop talking everyone is hear to see me 🐍

[@dawnmurphy403]

Marketplace and Craigslist. I could have purchased a 6 level ARS boa rack for 1500...but didn’t need it at the time and money was tight. Now I need it...hopefully another deal like that comes around.

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

I found that used ARS racks are nearly impossible to find.

[@robertmoore1123]

Kool video .

[@Discgolfwithnick]

Hi what ars rack is good for sub adults ball python

[@VetiExotics]

Can you tell me the inside dimensions of the 9706 boa tub! Thanks chris

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

If you email ARS Caging they can tell you all the measurements.

[@VetiExotics]

@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures yes I know, figured you knew or could check quick.

[@josephvaughan7693]

Ars and freedom breeder racks are so nice they really are but I saved so much money building my own. It took 3 and a half sheets of 1/2 inch by 48x96 pvc board I ordered 10 of the fb70 tubs and 20 feet of 11 inch heat tape and 2 connectors for the heat tape so that made 2 5 level fb70 Size racks they’re basically identically to Cserpents racks with that said 1 5 level v70 from cserpents is $410 plus around $90 shipping so it would cost me about a grand to get 2 5 level 41 qt racks building them myself took about 2 hours to do maybe 3 I had no plans and was doing everything on the fly so next time everything will be so much easier but anyways it ended up costing me around $250 for the 3 and a half sheets of pvc board at Lowe’s it’s right around $70 a sheet I spent around $150 on the 10 freedom breeder fb-70 tubs and I think the heat tape was around $80 I’ll have to double check that plus staples screws aluminum tape all these things I had lying around so I ended up getting all materials for about $450 to $500 give or take plus the time of putting the puzzle together which wasn’t that bad it was literally putting a puzzle together after everything was cut so it saved me about 500 bucks just for 2 racks minus my time of course but I had nothing better to do I ended up enjoying the project and making big strides in the construction game and so the next time I have to build which isn’t to far off I figured I’ll be able to do it a little cheaper and a lot faster I used all pvc on my racks but for future racks I’ll only use pvc for the shelves and the back and just use pine o1by or 2by for the legs maybe foam insulation on side walls maybe nothing I keep it a prettt constant temp in my snake room not really any need in insulating the wrack super well I would understand if it were cold constantly or temps fluctuated a lot but my snake room is well insulated and keeps temps very well with that being said if you got scientist money like ol Chris here then save yourself a bloody knuckle and a few choice words just buy one they’re not priced that much higher than what just the material cost I needed a 10 high adult rack and didn’t have 1000 bucks to do it didn’t really have 500 but I made it work where there’s a will there’s a way ok I think I’m done rambling on you can carry on now

[@dawnmurphy403]

Joseph Vaughan I am a journeyman carpenter and did the exact same thing. I have found that my home built rack is not as reliable as my VE rack. I’m considering trying to build another but the time and cost difference is minimal when compared to similar pvc racks.

[@josephvaughan7693]

Dawn Murphy it cost me about $500 plus time to build 2 5 level fb70 it would cost at least $900 to buy 2 ve rack with preferred tubs and plus ve only uses 4 inch heat tape compared to my rack using 12 so I only saved about 400 which is minimal to some but for me the money saved bought a pretty impressive multi gene Bp I have a ve rack it’s also 3/8 inches thick rather than 1/2 Seems minimal but makes them wobble a lot more especially when stacked so I guess it’s really all about personal preference I myself would prefer building my own to my custom needs and re investing money saved not buying a “professional rack system” it happened to work very well for me going the diy route I’m now in the market for a incubator all the kind of cheaper incubators are exactly that cheap so I think I’ll buy a pulse proportional thermostat I already have plenty of heat tape just need a mini fridge and a couple computer fans the money I’ll save here will also go to reinvesting and I’m pretty sure I’d rather my babies be in something I personally prepared rather than a widely commercially produced styrofoam cooler essentially it all comes down to personal preference I prefer to do things myself learn something new and save money in the process but sometimes especially when life is busy and hectic it’s just easier to fork out the money I unfortunately don’t have it like that at the moment either way you decide going racks are by far more beneficial than glass terrariums

[@taeviansworldofreptiles3828]

Wow dude that's one hell of an investment!

[@leslie417]

Nicest rack systems ever!!! In my opinion

[@Red-357]

What size in tub would you recommend for someone like me that's not a breeder but would like to keep a few ball pythons? What size is good to keep them for the majority of their life? Wouldn't want to be upgrading tubs.

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

I'd do an ARS-7010.

[@NovemberStormborn]

how long does it take to be on the plus side of the rat keeping cost where it makes it cost effective to raise your own rats, and must take a lot of careful bookkeeping to know how many babies of a certain size you will need at any given point.

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

Actually I produce an excess of rats now so I don't have to worry about running short. I euthanize the extra and freeze them and sell them to the pet stores. I don't really keep a budget, not sure how much I make, but it's nice to have a pretty much unlimited supply of fresh rodents. Usually selling the frozen rats to the stores pays for most of the rat food and bedding.

[@joet3682]

Did you buy them one level at a time or as a whole unit?

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

Some I bought two levels at a time, my boa tubs were just one level, others were several levels at a time.

[@leslie417]

Hi Chris, what do you like to use to clean your snake tubs? Is diluted vinegar good or do you like something different? Thanks Chris

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

I use dilute F10, here's an affiliate link to the Amazon product page but for some reason F10 is hard to find even on Amazon. amzn.to/2PxFZ5e

[@jokerlee33]

Did you know ars is about to have a 5040 rack with a little larger tubs

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

Wow, good to know!

[@adamc9716]

What is the purpose of the clips you have on the tubs?

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

It helps me keep track of feeding and cleaning. On feeding day I put the clip on the right when I feed, if they eat I move it to the middle. If they don't eat I move the clip to the left and maybe follow up with another feeding the next day. On cleaning day I take off all the clips and put a clip on the clean tubs so I know where I'm at.

[@adamc9716]

@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures Thanks, figured there was a method to the madness... keep up the great channel. Enjoy the videos and your passion

[@michaelross5674]

Billy @ mutation creation showed in his video live fuzzy rats for baby hatchlings

[@theanimaladdiction]

I just came to the conclusion my savannah has a respiratory infection and I have no vet for reptiles anywhere near where I live can u do a treatment vid or if u just take them to the vet or can u just offer a ok me advice. I'd appreciate it.

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

My tortoise had a respiratory infection and we brought it to the vet, we had to give it daily shots of antibiotics right in the front legs. I'd try to get to a vet.

[@theanimaladdiction]

@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures I wish I could my parents are too stubborn and they say they dont want to take a 50 dollar lizard to the vet. I told them hes more than a 50 dollar lizard hes a living thing and I've spent almost 1000 dollars on his enclosure but they just told me they dont want to drive 3 hrs to take my monitor to a vet. Now i just have to find a way to treat him myself

[@katelillo1932]

Animal Addiction respiratory infections can be bacterial, viral or fungal in nature and treatment depends on the particular pathogen causing the infection. Your parents need to realize they became obligated to provide medical care to that animal the moment they allowed it to become a member of their household. Sending good thoughts for your critter 😊💚

[@theanimaladdiction]

@@katelillo1932 thank u and I am currently trying to find someone to check him out . I'm pretty sure its fungal now tho so I guess well see if u can take him to the vet some time

[@MalcolmCrabbe]

I do wish rack manufactures included lighting in the racks and made their tubs in clear plastic. Whats the point in buying / producing all these wonderful looking snakes just to hide them away in dark plastic draws where they can be seen...

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

I used to have them in glass aquariums with hides, they hide all day long and only come out at night.

[@ptld_train_horn]

I love my ARS 7020

[@michaelross5674]

Have your ball pythons ever been off food for a month orso and still shed

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

They can shed during a fast but usually the time between sheds gets longer.

[@michaelross5674]

@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures ok cause my girl shed it was a bad one didn't have it humid enough.... Just thought if they weren't eating wouldn't shed.. One more question??? will having males and females in same rack under one another will that make them fast??

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

You can put males and females in tubs next to each other, no problem.

[@michaelross5674]

@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures i do just someone said it makes them go off feed sometimes... You know the internet lol just checking with someone thas more of a pro compared to me lol

[@MattHumms]

Oh my...

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

YES!

[@albertwing8820]

Wish I would get there soon

[@victorsaloum9731]

why not diy the racks and buy decent tubs?

[@Ms.NoNo2]

He had the means to. Might as well get the best if you can

[@theanimaladdiction]

Would u ever want to have wooden ones that you could build yourself for thousands of dollars less. I could do that for 100 dollars for 1 large rack. Do u like metal better or is it just more convenient and u just would rather not put in the work.basically I'm asking would u rather spend 20 thousand and get it prebuilt or spent 1000 for all of them but build it yourself.

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

I knew a guy that built his own out of wood, he didn't have enough ventilation and a lot of his snakes got RI. And the wood would warp and the tubs would stick, and he had a lot of mold issues with the wood. Although a lot of people try to do a DIY rack and it works out OK.

[@theanimaladdiction]

@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures yikes

[@karyannfontaine8757]

I love your racks. I have been looking at a small set up from freedom breeder. Everything is very expensive. My snakes are in tubs at present. One level is $280.00 per level? A bit more for the bottom with casters. Shipping is ghastly.

[@davemalin6380]

Can you put breeding adults in the 50/40

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

Yes, I do it.

[@davemalin6380]

@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures ty

[@davemalin6380]

When would you switch to the 70 racks?

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

Probably when they coil up and touch both sides of the tub.

[@josephvaughan7693]

Chris Hardwick wow I feel like maybe I should move my females back to the 32 quart tubs all my females are any where from 1000 to 2000 in fb70 tubs o assume you sojld think that’s to big everyone seems to be eating pretty well but now that I think about it maybe the 32 quart tubs would get them back eating super aggressively like before I moved them they still eat but like one rat a week compared to like 3 before the only reason I built and moved everything to fb70 is bc I didn’t want the snakes cramped during breeding season but I guess it doesn’t really matter

[@dazedghost3189]

20,000 on racks you selling ball pythons or crack lol. Nice racks but unfortunately I wasnt born into money like that

[@dawnmurphy403]

You have to consider the value of the animals. 3K might sound like a lot for a snake cage...until you consider what the snakes are worth - you wouldn’t want to House 10k in snakes in an inferior rack.

[@dazedghost3189]

@@dawnmurphy403 no I get that very nice racks just the average person cannot afford just expensive racks

[@nola72]

Have you ever brought any snakes in shed to a reptile convention?

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

Yes, in fact I had some shed in the display case LOL

[@joebraxtonanders7078]

Have you had a female rat kill a male yet? I have a female that has ended up being a pet because she has killed 3 males she is beast so we kept her

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

I had a female fight with a male real bad when I put a male in with the female with babies, I had to take the male out. But I've never had any fight to the death, never even had them fight and get bloody.

[@maxt815]

Get back to the snakes mane