To all the rack system people

[lovespunaround]

Hell, my snakes enclosures are sub-rack: 4'x2'x6" Sterilite boxes w/proportional thermostat and heat tape. These are for my blood/Borneo pythons, which aren't exactly small snakes, but they're all doing great.

 

[elevatethis]

And blood/borneos love tight spaces. Also, their need for humidity is much greater than most other snakes commonly kept. To keep a blood python in a glass tank is totally inappropriate.

Use aquariums for what they're meant for....FISH!

 

[kaz_petts]

eerm what is a rack system? Most vivs that are sold around this neck of the woods are basically wooden tanks with sliding glass doors for easy access.
I don't keep snakes or any reptile come to that but would love to own a bearded dragon at some point and was planning on using my fish tank when my fishes are no longer with me.

 

[Ophiuchus]

eerm what is a rack system? Most vivs that are sold around this neck of the woods are basically wooden tanks with sliding glass doors for easy access.
I don't keep snakes or any reptile come to that but would love to own a bearded dragon at some point and was planning on using my fish tank when my fishes are no longer with me.

That's fine as long as the animal's requirements are met. As you've undoubtfully read, glass tanks don't work for everyone, but I still wouldn't completely rule out their use for herp keeping. But as many have stated, some species do require higher humidity than is acheivable in most glass tank situations.

 

[big E]

Not the best opening line for a thread I think !

 

[smmfish]

 

[Brooklynella]

And blood/borneos love tight spaces. Also, their need for humidity is much greater than most other snakes commonly kept. To keep a blood python in a glass tank is totally inappropriate.

Use aquariums for what they're meant for....FISH!

I'm a bad snake keeper because I never used anything but fishtanks to house my pets. Humidity is no problem in a fishtank. I don't understand why you think it is a problem. Care to elaborate?
I never had an escape from a fish tank. I never had a tank bust open (that's just silly). I have no problem keeping a humid environment in a fishtank. Fishtanks are readily available and pretty cheap too.
Prior to the internet, rack systems were not easily found; you couldn't walk into a pet shop and buy one. They were only available at scientific supply warehouses and places like that. Most were wholesalers and wouldn't even sell to you! To proclaim fishtanks "Inappropriate" to house snakes is absurd.
This is not to say there is something wrong with rack systems. Quite the contrary, I think they offer advantages but these advantages are realized by the keeper, not the snake.

 

[elevatethis]

Glass tanks don't offer consistent levels of humidity, heat, etc in the way that a rack system or plastic enclosure does. I didn't say that glass tanks were bad for all species...I said they were bad for blood pythons. Have you ever successfully kept a blood python?

Keep in mind, I'm speaking about glass tanks as applied by the majority of keepers out there. If you are a more experienced herper and, for example, heat and humidify a whole room - most of the factors that make glass tanks 'bad' go away. Security issues still remain. Thats all fine and dandy that YOU have never had an escape, but countless others who use glass tanks have.

The advantages of rack systems absolutely benefit both the animal and the keeper. Snakes generally want to feel warm and safe, and rack systems provide this for the animals, as well as making cleaning and maintenance easier on the part of the keeper. If maintenance is easier, it is done more often, and the animal is the one who ultimately benefits from that.

There's a ton of old-school herpers out there that have kept their herps in glass tanks for decades and thats great, it works for them. However, with the introduction of rack systems and proportional thermostats and all that good stuff, I'm more than happy to advocate the 'new school' of thought when it comes to keeping snakes!

 

[Brooklynella]

Glass tanks don't offer consistent levels of humidity, heat, etc in the way that a rack system or plastic enclosure does. I didn't say that glass tanks were bad for all species...I said they were bad for blood pythons. Have you ever successfully kept a blood python?

Keep in mind, I'm speaking about glass tanks as applied by the majority of keepers out there. If you are a more experienced herper and, for example, heat and humidify a whole room - most of the factors that make glass tanks 'bad' go away. Security issues still remain. Thats all fine and dandy that YOU have never had an escape, but countless others who use glass tanks have.

The advantages of rack systems absolutely benefit both the animal and the keeper. Snakes generally want to feel warm and safe, and rack systems provide this for the animals, as well as making cleaning and maintenance easier on the part of the keeper. If maintenance is easier, it is done more often, and the animal is the one who ultimately benefits from that.

There's a ton of old-school herpers out there that have kept their herps in glass tanks for decades and thats great, it works for them. However, with the introduction of rack systems and proportional thermostats and all that good stuff, I'm more than happy to advocate the 'new school' of thought when it comes to keeping snakes!

You've changed your tune a bit; your initial post clearly states that aquariums should be used for fish-that's what they are meant for.
I'm not against advocating the use of rack systems; these systems work great. They are a more modern alternative to glass tanks but they accomplish NOTHING that couldn't be accomplished in a fish tank.
Yes, i've not had a single escape having worked in 8-10 different fs locations and having literally hundreds of tanks over the years. Not one escape.
Blood Python? NO, I never wanted a blood python but I've kept Jacksons in a glass tank and humidity was no problem. Anoles like humidity too.
You can like rack systems-that's fine, but don't mislead others to think that an aquarium isn't a suitable home for snakes-even Blood Pythons.
BTW, if I were to keep a Blood Python, I would not use a fish tank. Blood's get quite large and I would seek out a lighter weight alternative, rather than deal with an extremely heavy glass enclosure.

 

[elevatethis]

You've changed your tune a bit; your initial post clearly states that aquariums should be used for fish-that's what they are meant for.

The 'aquariums are for fish' was meant to be a lighthearted comment...this is a fish board after all!

I'm not against advocating the use of rack systems; these systems work great. They are a more modern alternative to glass tanks but they accomplish NOTHING that couldn't be accomplished in a fish tank.

Sure, but it is much more difficult to achieve those results in a glass tank than in a rack system. MOST keepers out there don't go the extra mile with glass tanks, that is why I wouldn't go on a message board and recommend them to the masses.

Yes, i've not had a single escape having worked in 8-10 different fs locations and having literally hundreds of tanks over the years. Not one escape.

Again, your personal experience doesn't reflect the general trend of escapes from glass enclosures. It sounds like you have figured out the 'glass tank' game...and that's awesome...but many do not figure it out, have animals get sick/die/escape, and get discouraged from the hobby. What I'm saying here is no different than the guys in the saltwater forum saying to man-up and get the premium stuff to ensure the best possible experience. Sure, there's 'cheap' ways to do saltwater as there is with reptiles, but many new keepers don't have the experience or know-how to engineer their own effective setups.

Blood Python? NO, I never wanted a blood python but I've kept Jacksons in a glass tank and humidity was no problem. Anoles like humidity too.

Blood pythons are not jacksons or anoles. Its a completely irrelevent comparison.

You can like rack systems-that's fine, but don't mislead others to think that an aquarium isn't a suitable home for snakes-even Blood Pythons.

I can refer you to a nationally known authority on blood pythons if you would like to debate that further. Glass can work for other species, but unless the tank is in a room heated and humidified per Blood Python specs, a glass tank is inappropriate for this particular species.