You made the incorrect assumption there. Boamaster is the company name and they don't restrict themselves to building for just boas (just like Boaphile doesn't restrict themselves to producing just boa racks and cages). They produce products for all sizes of snakes including cages
and racks.
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I am very familiar with Boaphile's product line, and they are very good racks, and are designed well. It's hard to fault their design at all. They are the same price or more than ARS racks by the time you add it up.
I don't consider Boamaster as anything but hobbyist. He makes the racks out of wood, when there are much, much better options. Wood=particleboard. UGH.
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I strongly disagree with your
opinion, as is my right. I do not find my racks "hobbyist" racks and ARS, FB, etc "professional." I would take an AP over any of the metal ones your claiming are so much better.
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Have you ever owned a freedom or an ARS rack? If not, then you're the one making the assumptions.
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Again, I disagree. I
don't like the metal racks. They are also disgustingly overpriced considering you can purchase
professional racks that are just as nice and functions exactly the same for what, 1/3 the price?
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OK, let's start with what you want and what you get. Unitized construction, for easy movement. My ARS 7030 comes in levels of 3, so, let's do a cost comparo. I'll use an apples to apples comparison, as much as I can. Since my ARS is a CB-70, let's use CB-70 tubs to keep it fair. So I'd need to buy 10 3 slot AP IRIS racks to compete with modular construction. Ok, thats:
190 times 10= $1900
3 of them would need casters, if you stacked them 3 high, plus 1 extra in the middle. $26 x 3 sets of casters=$77
You'd need to ship them, that's $40 x 10= $400
Now, I use THE best tubs around: HEAVY, HEAVY DUTY ARS CB-70 tubs with round corners, flat bottoms, no ridges, and since the top is vented on each level NO HOLES IN THE SIDES OF THE TUBS, for easy cleaning. They have been made in such a way that they're non-stick. You can't get anything to stick to them, it just wipes off. I prefer semi-clear, but they're also available in grey. I got mine with the built-in deli cup holder. Nothing could be easier. You change water by just sliding in a new deli cup in place, easy, clean, and quick. They are $17. each $17x 30= $510.00
So that's 1900+77+400+510= $ 2887
A new ARS 7030 is $2550 + freight shipping.
Did I mention that it includes a new 3 prong helix thermostat and a looooong power strip?
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What exactly makes these so much easier to clean as opposed to AP? I can roll around my racks if I had chosen to have wheels (I didn't, my reptile room is carpeted). I can spot clean and water the animals in my racks in minutes. So again, what makes them so much better as far as cleaning? Racks are all basically built the same. You have lidless bins that slide out.
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They are so much better in so many ways it's not even a direct comparison.
If you have a CB-70 rack, order a few ARS tubs and swap them for your own. Get some 16 0z. deli cups, and change them to swap water.
The problem is you'd have to burn holes in those nice non ribbed tubs and ruin the easy clean aspect because they will have holes in the sides. They are smooth bottom for better heat transfer from the bottom heat. The flexwatt runs in a channel that is adjustable where you want it. It is protected, and insulated from the bottom, and throws heat UP, not down. The metal channel makes the heat VERY consistent, as it acts as a heatsink.
The metal channel is also grounded, and plugs into a grounded outlet and thermostat. Much safer. The actual flexwatt is protected and not likely to be damaged. The tubs have gentle rounded corners for easy cleaning, and to protect the snakes' nose. No ribs along the sides or bottom. The tubs hang from the lip, not the bottom, so they don't slide along anything. As I mentioned before they're made non-stick, so you just rinse, wipe with nolvasan, and cross-stack to dry.
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I will say though I would love to get my hands on those ARS rodent racks. But again, way to pricey for what they are, I'll just build my own!
