Rack Systems, A Useful Tool Or Animal Abuse???

[@caeciliadamour2938]

The market is so over saturated with ball pythons. I went to the "Show me reptiles" in Springfield, MA back in march and there were so many of them, might as well have called it "show me balls" (other reptiles permitted). lol I was looking for a tri color hognose, couldn't find one, but I had a very disturbing conversation with a ball python breeder. He insisted I should buy a ball, despite the fact that I have not done any research, nor did i have an enclosure ready, to which he basically said.. just go to Walmart and get an 18 quart tub. (I couldn't believe he even thought that was a legit option for a permanent home for a pet) With rack systems I understand both sides, the money aspect of a breeder and then the humane aspect of people who are against them. Anyways, personally I am not a fan, but people are known to do a they please.

[@AquaticMoose]

Quality stuff. You're on a roll, keep it up! 🌱

[@Gecko_Smitt]

“Be better my guy” is the truest thing ever 💪🏼🔥

[@davebetts900]

I'm 46 y/o and been into the hobby for 40 years. I class keeping reptiles in vivs and terras as old school, I never switched to racks because I stick to what works. I find a happy reptile is a healthy reptile. So I try and give them what is the most natural. How do they live in the wild?

[@Skinkology]

"Get good" 🤣 Really appreciate this video, and always stoked to see people actually making changes in their care that reflect their changing values. I agree that racks have their use for fresh imports, rescue, quarantine, but beyond that are not good permanent homes unless heavily modified almost beyond the point of recognition.

[@ravishingreptiles]

Great video, so cool to see you fighting the good fight

[@marjoleinvnoort6961]

Love the video ❤. I like to see my reptiles and a rack doesn’t work. So my racks went out the door and nice big enclosures came in. Will never go back to the racks. My ball pythons are also active in the daytime.

[@lisab.1559]

I have been keeping reptiles since 1990. I think racks have a very limited usage imho, but I am not a breeder and only have lizards. But, I feel I can speak from my extensive experience. Lizards are not solitary like many believe and have very complex emotions. They are prone to depression and sadness and without access to sun and stimulation they aren’t going to be happy. Sure, they can do ok and even survive but emotionally they aren’t going to truly do well. Even people who keep their lizards in elaborate enclosures outdoors, many of those lizards aren’t happy either. I have found the minute a wild caught lizard becomes captive, they go through a long grieving process. Imagine one day having freedom and the next day being confined to a small enclosure. It’s equivalent to us being thrown in solitary confinement. If people don’t like it, neither will a lizard. Bioactive, big, small, racks, outdoors…all Lizards aren’t going to be happy. What does make lizards do well? Meeting all their care requirements are vital of coarse but what truly helps lizards? Love, attention and allowing them the luxury of indoor living. Once we bring them Into OUR homes, it becomes THEIR home, they go from wild to domestic in a short time frame. We need to let them have those luxuries. Great meals, comfortable places to rest complete with the beds they now can have, a true vacation life, a sanctuary, a place to be protected, cared for and given all the benefits we can offer. My lizards get blankets, pillows, mattresses, beds, window seats, a room with tons of sunlight, elaborate meals, weekly baths, vacation days, weekly trips to our local beach, and most importantly nightly snuggle time. We made the decision decades ago to change HOW we do things and we now have the happiest lizards! I always say this… Dogs have your backyard Cats have inside your house Lizards have YOU Lizards are needier than fur type animals, prone to grief and pain and are highly intelligent, when they lose freedom…they do better with human love. Just that simple! And for those who say, my Lizard hates to be touched, I say this…no lizard who is stressed is going to want interaction, the relationships I have with my reptiles took years, and lots of time. Lizards know whether we love them or not. Go slow, build trust and years later you won’t believe your eyes, how their personalities will come out. My 23 are like little Puppies, but worse. Thankfully I have a very large family who all are at home fulltime because our lizards are demanding! But back to The question, are racks ok? It’s a personal choice. Best for limited usage and appropriate situations. My opinion is solely based on 34 years with lizards. I have zero experience with every other reptile. LOL

[@CadenceReads]

I keep my hognose in a custom built rack system, but I use clear tubs right in front of a window so they have a light cycle, and as long as they're eating well, I keep them in bigger than usual tubs. They have lots of hides and enrichment. I wish I could keep them all in nice glass enclosures and maybe one day I will be able to, that's the dream!

[@MotherTruckinReptiles]

It's like living in an apartment complex versus living in a house. But there are ways to do it properly. You could give them a studio apartment (no hide, just an open space) or a 3br apartment with the jacuzzi tub, fully decorated. You can still allow them to thrive in a tub and set it up the same way you would set up a Viv, but with more seclusion which makes the animal happier

[@terancehawkins324]

Best video ever! I'm with you dude

[@devsie11915]

Can you tell me the name of the of the purple plant in the viv at 6:54 please? I saw one the other day at a shop but it didn’t have a label on it. Also, I think I’m on the same page as you (though I’m def one of those relatively new keepers). I’m somewhere in the middle on racks. They’re good for limited purposes and temporary housing. As long as you’re using them appropriately, they can have some major upsides, like the ones you mentioned.

[@mypetsandme9473]

I actually have to agree with you on all accounts . Most time for a life long healthy reptile it’s is genuinely great and enriching for the reptiles to be In Bioactives oh yeah ☺️😎 but yes Its hygienic for a breeder to keep them in racks . Less likely to spread disease with a lot of animals. Great for sick animals to administrate medication & hygienic. I have all my geckos in Bioactives but that’s because mines are all pets.

[@lindslovessnakes]

I'm sure for breeders that have a huge inventory, you kind of need racks. I definitely want a lot of snakes one day but I'll only have as many that I can afford - in other words, as many large enclosures and supplies necessary for each animal to have optimal captive conditions! But that's just me.

[@wayneabetes1840]

Great video Dakota. I.M.O racks do serve a purpose, just not really for long term habitation. Also, thank you for all the Tokay info....I can't wait to get one

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Fair and thanks man! Definitely will have more tokay videos coming out soon

[@rj8889]

I’m so sick of only seeing ball pythons at expos, I need to see more lizards and hognose snakes

[@Secularwonderdragon]

Boom well said bro I agree they need as much lights and room as we can afford to give them.☺️🪳🦗🐌🐊🕷️🦎🦂🪲🐍🐢🐸🇵🇸🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇺🇲💙

[@kismitj]

yesssss. continued growth as a keeper is vital. i do like the hybrid model for those temp enclosures. quality (of animal and care) over quantity=more space and better health for the animals. transition from rack to enclosure slow=go slow, introduce them to the elements over time so they aren't overwhelmed at going from nothing to Everything. and if you Have to have racks go the RoR route with space lighting enrichment ect. bored, under stimulated animals get Weird and *we don't know yet* if that kind of weird triggers epigenetic events that make them heritable. i'm team, good with being thought weird for trying to provide better husbandry in bigger enclosures than is currently en vogue. that's been a thing i've encountered in every animal keeping hobby i've been involved with since the 90s. and ya know, i have no regrets either. my quarantine tubs are all as close to enclosure size as possible, and fantastic when i need an easily sterilized environment. and when i don't need them they hold all the plastic plants and cast resin hides that can Also be sanitized more readily than what they'd have when not in a hospital/quarantine bin. as enclosures though? they suck. top entry only, means i have to make sure the critter doesn't freak out thinking a predator is coming in from above. temps? undertank heat only. hold humidity fantastically but that's only because they've got latching lids. oh you want less than 70% but also a water bowl? get busy making more ventilation. a lot. more.

[@jenncole2769]

The sarcasm is just 🤌*chefs kiss*🤌. ON POINT. Love it. 🤣

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Thanks 😂

[@Tarantulalady]

😂 You’re hilarious, I agree with you though! Much love ❤ from a “Covid Keeper”

[@primrose3316]

Honestly i wish for a bioactive system in a rack version. Sometimes hybrids are the best.

[@CadenceReads]

This would be really cool.

[@FrootyLoooplizerds]

That’s what I do with my tubs for cresties

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

All of our breeder and grow out tubs are Bioactive. The issue comes with lighting it to stimulate plant growth.

[@PeaceCountryExotics]

I can see some racks working. But a lot of people get the smallest rack for their animals. Though the same can be said for some viv keepers. As someone who has a few breeding projects I only have one rack and it’s only for quarantine purposes. I try to keep my animals in large enclosures because they seem to enjoy it more and I sure enjoy it. I do have plans to build a rack for some BTS breeding down the road, but for it to be any sort of ethical I need the t to have UVB, heat lamps and led along with each tub being very large. When people say “breeders NEED racks” I can’t help but role my eyes. The ones using the most racks are bp, corn, boa and other common reptile breeders. Arguable we have to many of a lot of those animals. A lot of the niche/newer species being bred I see tend to be kept in vivs.

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Anytime there's a rare animal being bred that actually needs cb support that's not a snake, it's not in a rack. A wild concept 😂

[@OGVitality]

I find them only good for babies as you have said. But when you have walls of racks with breeding adults and that's where they live their entire breeding life is just wrong IMO. That to me just shows that you actually don't care for these animals and see them as dollar bills only. If you're doing it because you don't have the space... Then maybe you... Shouldn't breed that many until you DO have the space, just cutting corners to maximize your profits. That's my 2 cents.. Millennial chiming in lol. Imagine if roles were reversed and we were the ones being shoved in small dark tubs our whole life.. *shrugs*

[@lisab.1559]

Agree 100%

[@asherwhittecur3479]

To me I guess it depends on the species you keep, how many animals you have who need permanent housing or temporary housing and much much more.

[@sophvic]

My #1 argument for tanks over racks (among the average keeper who doesn't breed reptiles) Visibility You're caring for a beautiful animal Don't you want to see it?

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

That was a big thing for me when I started making the change. In the racks I barley see them. I absolutely love coming down and seeing how everyone is doing now!

[@bananafloat27]

I wasn't too impressed by the recent dav k**fman docu but after watching it, I really want a ball python now lol

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Haven't had the chance to check it out yet

[@RedRiverExotics]

Im new to the breeding world so i dont have all the experience and im small. However, i do keep my breeders in more realistic tanks and my babies in tubs. I definitely noticed that when i changed my geckos from papertowels to substrate, they started thriving and move around all the time. I will continue to keep my personal collection and breeders in naturalist enclosures and babies in tubs.

[@billsmith1998]

I've been keeping reptiles and amphibians for about 27 years. seeing the hobby change and improve massively over that time shows both sides have substance. I think racks can be useful in certain situations but not a permanent enclosure. if you have crested geckos in 50 gallon tubs on a heated rack, then that's awesome. most ppl do not have appropriate sized setups, tho.

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

That seems to be a big contender with large scale rack users. "How little room can I get away with putting the animal in"

[@GrizzlyDave85]

Lmao I love sassy Dakotah 😂

[@Heten11]

not a keeper anymore but was for almost 10 years, everything from red tail boas to cresties. i see the uses of racks, but dont like the bare bones small tub racks, hybrid with bigger tubs and natural-ish is bare minimum i let slide for racks. also maybe burrowing species are easier to house in racks

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Yeah like I mentioned in the video if they're set up properly with good lighting and enrichment it wouldn't be a big deal. The problem is that's not the majority on how things are being kept unfortunately

[@BrycenHallford]

Just stopped to say that this video made me laugh😂😂

[@lauriebouchardclark]

Coming from a boomer ‘an old fucken fart’ 💨 ( lol) 😂 I agree with you about the racks. Back in the day Way back then when dinosaurs were still roaming (maybe it was a long time ago) I wanted to get into breeding But I didn’t Because I did not like racks would not put my snakes in them. And did not have room for multiple spaces that I would have liked So I didn’t breed

[@FrootyLoooplizerds]

I think tubs are good if you treat it like an actual tank like adding substrate, and hides and enrichment. But adding a paper towel and some water is horrible . And I like dakotahs point of ball pythons don’t need to breed so theses conditions are unnecessary. But even if stuff needs to breed, you treat it decent . Like I’m planning to breed rosy boas ( awesome small snake , just not enough of them, there’s only 5 on morph market rn) but I still plan to spoil . Overall what I’m saying is terrariums are best , but racks are ok if you make it good for the animal.

[@caughtafaygo]

i agree. much love bro

[@proaquatics4005]

i think its dumb to assume the age of the complainers but i find racks are very nice for having many animals in a smaller space

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Good counterpoint 🤠

[@mypetvelociraptor]

It funny because it true

[@kanetheoutcast1835]

Are you still Pro Grow Tent?

[@MadEggs]

I m happy you dont scream and more 😅👍

[@caughtafaygo]

i mean how do you have an operation like kinova and have "large enough enclosure" again i agree with you but hmmm and yes STOP BREEDING bs BPs!! lol

[@Cold_Blooded_Gems_]

#trump 🙌🏻

[@JohnDoe-xq8sk]

I could literally find a free, ball python, leopard gecko, pacman frog, bearded dragon, leopard gecko, crested gecko..... any week of any month.

[@Akhatchntails]

Reach out reptiles rack. System is awesome. That’s amazing. The future is now. 😂

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Right!?

[@rdnkenki]

👀🍿

[@deannacorey5650]

Racks are a necessity for breeders and quarantine needs!! We need breeders!! So I'm pro rack!! If a regular collector wishes to keep in a rack system , there are many ways to enhance a plastic tub. Size is my big issue...let's face it guys...at the end of a day? Whatever way...its still a box!! Should we build better boxes? Sure! But breeders need racks!!!

[@rdnkenki]

@@deannacorey5650 agreed. We wouldn't have a lot of reptiles etc without breeders

[@joshuaedwards1366]

Or didn't have 1000 animals to breed?

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Hey there, dude that breeds multiple species with crested/garg being my only projects still in racks. Still breeding and having great success! It's like you can set them up properly and still breed the animal. Wild concept!

[@thefishandwildlifereport7441]

Damn did mi police get u today

[@norbertineovan9030]

Why breed ball pythons? I'll tell you why... There are 33K low end morphs listed, but how many axanthic desert ghost clown combos did you see listed? How many suma ghi blackhead pieds have you seen listed? Cause it shure ain't hell 33K of those. That's why we breed ball pythons

[@shadowhunter1382]

Can do a bio vs no bio setup neg vs postive please i would love to hear others thoughts

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

For sure

[@powerhouseexotics]

Just about every full blown anti rack person I've ever met has been a know it all and has always seemed miserable about everything. One told me a 10g wasn't enough for a mourning gecko one time 💀

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Seems to be the issue with most things these days. The extremists put people in a bad light

[@powerhouseexotics]

@Dakotahblueexotics sucks when it happens to the animal community in particular. We are facing so many issues just to keep our hobby yet everyone wants to kill each other over the silliest of things.

[@lisab.1559]

I don’t believe any size rack or enclosure will ever be truly big enough after having a world to explore so yes people are right…. BUT…..keeping lizards isn’t a crime…what is bad is not recognizing that these reptiles have complex emotions. Guess what I am saying is this…when a wild caught Lizard loses the freedom he/she once had its OUR responsibility to make domesticated living worth it! My lizards coming home grieved hard but given a choice now of being outside again, I am confident very few would now want to go back to their old lives. I take my lizards outdoors daily and they stick to me like glue, why? They trust me. They know home is WITH me, because I love them and they feel That. For people who say, we shouldn’t have these lizards, they don’t obviously know HOW hard they attach to humans. Long as we truly care for our reptiles extensively then imho its fine! But don’t get into this if you aren’t prepared! After 34 years of doing this I have learned to listen to what my reptiles want. Believe me, they make their needs known!

[@juiceabbs]

Both are boxes you keep a animal in a box 🤣 a glass box

[@ARandomAussie]

I think tubs are a need for breeding reptiles, I don’t want to repeat all your comments you’ve made but I’ll give my opinion. Tubs allow for easy cleaning (which you mentioned), but I didn’t hear you mention easy cleaning means a cleaner environment for your reptiles. As one who has kept all sorts of animals including reptiles, if an enclosure is for basic and easy to clean, I will happily clean it more often. If an enclosure if more difficult to clean and requires for care and tedious tasks then I will put it off for a day or two and might not get every spot compare to a simple tub. I think tubs can be taken advantage of though, which you also mentioned. There are levels of 'basicness' which all comes down to personal ethics. I think we should take a note from bird breeders (I haven’t watch you whole video yet so I have no clue if you say this) but for some bird breeders (mainly budgies) they use breeding cabinet (tubs of the bird world) but only during breeding season, when not breeding they are in an aviary for them to live a normal bird life. This is sort of a perfect mix of both world, put them in tubs when you want to breed them or raise them, allowing for easy and extensive/proper cleaning. And when they are not breeding or raising then put them in ‘normal' enclosures. I don’t get the point of people just saying tubs are bad blah blah or tubs are great blah blah. You obviously won’t be able to change each others minds, express your opinion but don’t force it done each others throats, you are just as entitled to think what you think as are the people you argue with.

[@hollyodii5969]

Rack systems are not an ideal habitat for any living creature.

[@rdnkenki]

What we need to focus on with racks are larger tubs, adding clutter/hides/fake plants. A way to incorporate uvb

[@ericlucci2829]

that doesn’t maximize the amount of animals you can have for potential income. i understand what you’re saying, and i agree, but unfortunately breeders will not sacrifice quantity

[@rdnkenki]

@@ericlucci2829 ya makes sense. I mean if the animals are only kept in them short term like for breeding or first six months of life until sold that's not so bad

[@stevepwn]

ferst

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

😎

[@hefoxed]

Omg the annoying videos. I don't like racks, but I also really don't like those short where it's all yelling. Who are they for? Like, yelling at people isn't a great way to convince them and instead makes many defensive and less likely to change, so if point is to stop people using racks, the approach seems utterly counterproductive and feels like more ego on the creators side then genuine intent to educate and encourage change. Like, showing off the advantages of large bioactives seems much more better way to advocate for care. Anyhow, animals as part of big industries are going to have reduced care/space. Most of our meat, eggs, cheese, and pet food come from animals in crowded (tho legal) conditions, so most of us feed into this (aka we're all in glass houses). I think in general we should switch to more small businesses/hobbiest sources of animals and animal products.

[@fatkarly]

Hey how's your monitor living in a tent doin'?

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Someone hasn't been around in awhile 😂

[@DiggityDavetx]

HOW ABOUT YOU STOP KEEPING LECHIES IN A 2X2 OR 4X2. START BEING A RESPONISBLE OWNER AND STOP TREATING YOUR ANIMALS BAD

[@vertigoog2431]

what?

[@jdstacks]

i hate whgen you guys say if you were an animal as if they can comprehend the difference in the setups at the end of the day they are in an enclosure with levas and sticks either way they cant tell the difference bruh

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

What do you mean you people 🧐

[@Red-357]

It’s all about space for breeders. That’s all. Big time breeders have to keep them in rack systems. Big breeders like Justin would have no space in his breeding facility if he had bio active enclosures. They are in the business of breeding snakes. You’re just so anti ball pythons 🤣 it’s just a more popular hobby. The numbers says it all.

[@jasoncovert9051]

I don't know your channel I just came up I personally don't give a s*** if you don't use racks and I don't care if you think of my racks or bad or whatever I really don't give a f*** I don't want your channel and I probably won't thanks for the info and don't give a s***

[@Dakotahblueexotics]

Someone missed the 40 second mark where I said I use racks lmao