Best Hatchling Rack

[LostInstall]

Hi, i would like to purchase a hatchling rack that will hold around 20 babies from an online vendor such as AP, repti-racks, reptile basics, etc. Does anyone have experience with their hatchling racks? Which one would you recommend? Thank you!

 

[Fatman608]

You really do need to do your own research. Go to Fauna Classifieds and look in the BOI for each vendor you are thinking of buying from.

 

[Nanci]

I use the Reptile Basics 16-bin hatchling racks. A baby cornsnake can and will escape from these racks. You need to either put a sheet of cardboard under each bin to make it very tight (not as much of a PITA as it sounds) or cut rubber shelf liner to fit the shelf and use one or two sheets of that to tighten the bins, taping the back and front edges with aluminum tape. I have both methods in use. Other than that, the racks are well-made, cheap, come already assembled, and I am very happy with them.

 

[LostInstall]

I use the Reptile Basics 16-bin hatchling racks. A baby cornsnake can and will escape from these racks. You need to either put a sheet of cardboard under each bin to make it very tight (not as much of a PITA as it sounds) or cut rubber shelf liner to fit the shelf and use one or two sheets of that to tighten the bins, taping the back and front edges with aluminum tape. I have both methods in use. Other than that, the racks are well-made, cheap, come already assembled, and I am very happy with them.

Thank you for the insider tip Nanci. I was leaning towards the RBI rack because they use Iris tubs, which i thought would provide a tighter fit than racks that use the Sterilite tubs with purple handles. I wanted to avoid doing any modifications, but now i know that even RBI racks will need some light modification.

I just watched a video from Repti-Racks, and according to him, there's only a 2/16" gap between the top of his Iris tub and the shelf. That's a tiny gap that a hatchling should not be able to escape from, but who knows if it's really 2/16" after a few months of usage. I'll try to get more details and confirmation from him, but at this point, i'm not expecting a perfect escape-free fit from him or any manufacturer.

Thanks again for sharing your experience.

 

[HazAnga]

2/16" is 1/8" which could be enough for a baby to squeeze out. The rack I got custom built from a cabinet shop only has a 1/16" gap and less at the back where the heat tape is. I'd suggest what Nanci said and put a thin piece of cardboard under it. (from a cerial box?)

 

[Nanci]

If there is any gap at all a baby can squeeze out. My first hatchling Number One escaped after Reptile Basics assured me no cornsnake hatchling had ever escaped. Now I make sure the bins are tight with absolutely no air gap. I can take pics when I get home.

 

[Nanci]

My RB racks actually need corrugated cardboard, but the thinner type. You just have to experiment and see what works. The shelf liner works great, too, but is kind of a PITA if it's slightly too tight and rumples up when you slide the bins in. You have to play with it a little to get it fitted right, but then it's _so_ nice.

 

[LostInstall]

Are the slots large enough to fit tubs with lids? Probably not if you guys are using alternative methods to tighten the fit, but i just wanted to confirm.

Here's another idea. If the rack uses back heat, then i could put those stick-on felt pads on the bottom of the tub (the kind you would use on the bottom of furniture legs). It would have to be really thin though. If they don't sell them thin, then maybe there's a way to cut it to the proper thickness.

 

[knox]

It's not fair that Ball and Boa breeders don't have to worry about things like this...

 

[Nanci]

Unoccupied bin on the left, Krinkle on the right. That little gap on the left bin is PLENTY of room for a good-sized hatchling to get out.

 

[Nanci]

Close-up of gap:

 

[Nanci]

Shimmed bin:

 

[Nanci]

Thickness of cardboard:

 

[beautifullywild77]

Krinkle is so cute!

 

[Nanci]

Rubber shelf liner/ aluminum tape method:

 

[Nanci]

The front view. I wrap the aluminum tape around the front edge to keep it from peeling up.

Thanks- Krinkle is such an out-going sweetheart! He just ate two days ago and is already begging to come out...

 

[LostInstall]

Very clear pics of those 2 options. Thank you so much.

 

[knox]

Nanci, thank you for taking the time to put these pictures up. I am sure you have helped to prevent many escapes. I, too, will put one of these to use when my AP rack arrives. My Mexican Black King is tiny right now.

 

[Nanci]

After the Number One escape incident (he was recovered quickly under a magazine on the floor in the bathroom!) I did this to seal off the floor vents. My Roomba can vacuum right over this, and it holds up pretty well when Bella has zoomies and runs over it, too. I also crawled around my whole bedroom and bathroom and sealed up any crack a hatchling could possibly get into- around cabinets, the bathtub, etc. Then for hatchling season I block the closet door and the bedroom door with a rolled up towel to keep any escapee confined. Yes, I was emotionally scarred by Number One's escape!

So you'd think that would be enough. I was babysitting Angela's bloodreds from Hector for a few months. They were NOT little babies. They had cardboard under their bins, but it wasn't completely tight. I checked the babies one morning and something caught my eye. It was one of the bloodreds crawling along my dresser!! A 20g hatchling!! After that- the bins are completely tight.

The RB hatchling rack comes with little pegs that hold the bins in. I don't use these until the hatchlings are so large I feel they don't need cardboard any more. Say 50 grams!

 

[knox]

I am thinking I might just try to grind down the rims of my small tubs enough to use the lids... Sounds like you can't be TOO careful!