Be sure to see my "Hatchling Rack" page as well.

This is what we are going to build. Well...actually, I already did but I wanted to show you what I did. Remember, you can click on any photo so see a larger version. (Don't you just hate when someone shows you a tiny little photo with no link to a version you can see?) A new window will open with the larger photo so you will have to close it to continue.

Ok, so I forgot to take photos of all the boards laying on the ground, but come on, you can imagine it can't you?

I used prefabricated shelving I bought from Menards. For those who don't have a Menards, it's like Home Depot or Lowe's. The shelving is only 5/8" thick and laminated on all sides. It's much lighter than the 3/4" melamine and nicer. But it's still heavy. Cost is almost the same when you consider the waist of cutting a full 4' X 8' sheet. You might save a few dollars but remember, this project requires NO table saw and all edges are finished. PLUS, the prefab shelving is more moisture proof I have found.

Same rack but a view from the right side. Do you see why I call it a "Ladder Rack"? It looks like you could climb right up the side. (But Don't!)

The tubs. Well, this is a source of great stress to us all, isn't it? I know, I know, the Iris CB70 is the best in this size. But I found this Sterilite tub at WalMart for 1/2 the price. It's the same size and everything. I don't know if it's built as well but I have no complaints so far. If you go running to WalMart, wait, don't look in the normal "tub" section of the store this time of year. Go back to the garden section and look through the Christmas stuff. That's where they are. I don't know what will happen after the holidays but they have them now. And the manager of one store told me they were a regular item. (We'll see). But either way, this design can be altered to fit other tubs.

Here it is from the back. Not very pretty from this angle.
But you will need to see this side to get a feel for the process.

Here is a list of supplies:
4- 5/8" X 12" X 72" Shelves ($9.97 ea.)
11- 5/8" X 16" X 36" Shelves (($7.80 ea.)
1- 17" X 68" Melamine Bathroom Sheeting ($3.35)
1/2- Box #8 1 1/2" drywall screws ($1.00)
10- 48 Qt. Sterilite Clear view Boxes ($5.87 ea.)
1- 9' white extension cord ($.85 ea)
10 feet 11" Flex-Watt Heat Tape ($3.89/foot)
10- Pair Flex-Watt clips ($1.20/pair)
1-Proportional Thermostat (I used Big Apple Herp's, $99.95)
10- 10Qt. Sterilite Dish Pans ($.94 ea)
1- Indoor/Outdoor Digital Thermometer ($6.95)
2" foil tape (I don't know, I buy the large roll)

Totals:
$39.88
85.80
3.35
1.00
58.70
.85
38.90
12.00
99.95
9.40
6.95
_____
$256.83

I started at the bottom and worked my way up. This is important because it helps to keep the rack straight plus the distance between shelves is kept more consistent. I used a scrap piece of melamine bathroom sheet as a spacer between the tub and next shelf as I assembled.

I started by making a mark 2 1/2" from the bottom of the 12" vertical board and attaching a horizontal shelf. The first level is the hardest because you have to attach all 4 vertical risers. BUT, once that is done, you are good to go.

You will need a helper to do the first level.

Now, lay a scrap piece of melamine sheeting on the first level shelf. Then put your Sterilite tub on that. Now, position your second shelf on top. Put two screws in each 12" riser. I put mine 2" from the left and right edge.

The melamine sheeting gives you a spacer for heat expansion and irregular tubs. Now pull the tub out and remove the sheet spacer. Yea, it's hard to pull it out, I know. Don't panic! Now test your tub without the spacer, see how easy it slides in and out???

Continue this process all the way up to the last level.

Now lets wire for heat.

BUT WAIT!!!! Do we use "Back Heat" or "Bottom Heat"???????

Ok, Don't do what I did and waste valuable brain cells and unnecessary worry about this. Of course your application will vary but I am building this rack for snakes. (Specifically corns and ball pythons). Go with the belly heat and sleep at night knowing your adult females are happy.

This is the back view of just two of the levels. 11" heat tape is used here. You can use 3", 4" or 11". Or maybe other heat sources. The sky is the limit. But I used Flex-Watt from Bean Farm & Big Apple Herp.

Why did I choose 11" over any other? Well, first of all, it was a nice square size for the rack. Plus I could point the end connections to the back. Remember, I am using a thermostat so the amount of heat is controlled. I wanted a nice large hot spot since I had 34" of tub for gradient.

Looking into the front of the rack, you can see the 11" heat tape
which is held in place by 12" of 2" foil tape.

You can also see the Thermostat Probe in the back.

OK, so now we have the rack built and wired.

They're moving in fast. May have to build another rack ASAP.

Here you can see the coolest part of this rack. The "window view". That's right, your animal's new home has a "view". Well...actually, you have a view of them. On either the left or right side, you can peek in on the side to see into their hide. So cool.

And from the front, it looks even better.

Check out these accommodations. Did I mention I like WalMart?
I bet Walt didn't know he was a herp supplier.

Ventilation Holes in tubs:

I use to drill my holes with a 1/4" drill bit. Then I heard someone mention a couple years
ago that a straight "pencil" style soldering iron worked to burn the holes.

That's just plain brilliant. (This WAS NOT my idea. I don't know who to credit, sorry.)

Here's what I do. I made a template out of a scrap piece of masonite or melamine sheeting.
Drill all your holes in a straight line, (or cool pattern).
Then you can mark every hole with the hot end of the iron.

DON'T try to burn the holes all the way with the template in place. It will weld the template
to your tub making the ugliest looking brown holes when you finally pry it off.

Now, you can go back and "push" in all of your holes where your marks are.
You can see in the photo that the bottom row is just burn marks from the iron
I like to have a small fan, set on low, blowing across my work so I don't inhale the smoke.

Oh, I bought the soldering iron at, you guessed it, WalMart. $9.99

The hide is just a Sterilite Dish Tub from WalMart. I used a 2 1/2" circular drill to cut that hole. The tub is setting about 4" from the back so that some of it is on the hot spot and part of it isn't. But honestly, my pythons prefer to sleep behind the tub during the day.
They explore the inside at night.

Sterilite 10 QT. Dish Tub #0649. $.94 at WalMart.

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