Hey I was just wondering if any of you guys use/have used the Animal Plastics Economy Racks?

http://www.animalplastics.com/ (http://www.animalplastics.com/)

I've got a bunch of 15qt sterilite tubs that are not being used and most of my corns are getting to the point where they're going to be too big for the 6qt tubs. I just like that you can switch out the 15qt or the 32 qt tubs which would be nice as everybody gets bigger lol. Plus I could see them being useful down the road as a juvie ball rack once I fill up my RBI 32 qt rack.

I'm just trying to work on a budget here and while I know that I could make my own I'd rather get something that's going to be a little bit better built than what I make lol.

There has been a lot of "talk" about sterilite discontinuing some of the tubs used by the AP racks. I would check into that before I did made a purchase to make sure the new tubs being made will work for your purposes. Other than that, I hear good things about AP Racks.

I started off with those racks. They were really good for what I needed. They had great customer service too and even replaced the heat cable for free when it went out on me once. One word of caution, they are open racks and when it gets cold its harder for those racks to hold the higher temps. I'm in Miami, FL so I could only imagine how real cold might affect them. Great racks tho, I had no complaints. The only reason I switched was because I needed my racks to go vertical.

I would spring for a rack with closed sides. The rack is good, but it doesn't hold heat as well as I would like it.

Ok cool, yeah I've got 20 or so of the 15qt tubs that go in the economy racks so that wouldn't be a problem. The only thing I might have a hard time finding would be the 32 qt tubs but I wouldn't be needing many of those to start off with. If they do wind up discontinuing the tubs I've already got mine and then some so I'm not really worried about it.

Oh, BTW Jenea what size tubs do you use for your adult hoggies?

I started off with those racks. They were really good for what I needed. They had great customer service too and even replaced the heat cable for free when it went out on me once. One word of caution, they are open racks and when it gets cold its harder for those racks to hold the higher temps. I'm in Miami, FL so I could only imagine how real cold might affect them. Great racks tho, I had no complaints. The only reason I switched was because I needed my racks to go vertical.

I would spring for a rack with closed sides. The rack is good, but it doesn't hold heat as well as I would like it.

Yeah, that might be the way to go. I keep the room the snakes are in around 70 degrees (as good as it gets with just a space heater none of the heat from the furnace runs in this room). I'm only really planning to use it for colubrids so as long as it holds 85 degrees fairly well I'd be in good shape but yeah if I ever did want to use it for ball pythons I'd be SOL with an open rack.

They make nice racks, but I would still spring for one with closed sides / back. Much easier to keep proper temps.

If you are using it for colubrids only, it would probably work out. Call them and see what they say. They've got great customer service, and I'm sure they would be willing to help you out.

You can build those racks yourself and save roughly 50-60% + you can use whatever shoebox tubs you wanted whether it be Sterilite 12/15qt or Rubbermaid or Iris. You can also build them closed sided and back or open air and still save a bundle and have the flexibility of using any tub specs you have available to you locally.

Look all the way at the bottom:
http://www.ssscales.com/album.html

If you can get a hold of XPVC locally and paying a reasonable price per sheet which I've found to be between as low as $75-$125 based on brand (which they are all the same crap, just some are imported and others made in the USA). Logistics, supply and demand based on colors or competition in the area, meaning if you have one distributor in a 2-3 state radius, chances are they may want to charge you more Vs if you have options like 2-3 distributors within 1hr of each other competing for your sale! Also the the salesrep, he can either be a prick and want to gouge you or charge you reasonably! I heard people paying as little as $50 a sheet and being quoted as high as $225 per sheet...SAME THING!

Building your own is a snap and is the same thing any company will send you as most plastics distributors will gladly cut it for you to your measurements for free to maybe $5.00 a sheet...well worth it! All you have to do is take the pieces home and assemble at your leisure.