Easy to build Leopard Gecko rack

[reptiles1st]

I just wanted to share a new I rack I built that required minimal tools. I built the rack with intending to use Sterilite 7.2 qt bins for my hatchlings. the bins are 3" x 12" x 16" and are $3.97 each at Walmart. Each shelf can hold 8 bins stacked 2 high 4 wide for a total of 40 bins.

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this pic is before heat cable was installed

The Materials I used:
2 16" x 3' pieces of 5/8" melamine
6 16" x 4' pieces of 5/8" melamine
2 2' x 4' pieces of 1/8" birch for the back ( had lowes cut one in half )
1 pack of 75ct #8 1.5" screws

I drilled 3/8" holes in the back so I can thread zoomed heat cable through which works great but can also use flexwatt heat tape.

Also using helix dbs-1000 thermostat

 

[reptiles1st]

Forgot to add something.
The 7.2 qt bins stacked on each other is equal to a 12.7 qt sterilite bin. So I can house adults aswell as hatchlings. Which I use on another rack I built the same way just larger.

 

[doodle]

cool! what do you mean by threading the heat cable through? can you take a picture of it ? =) is it guuna be belly heat or back heat?

 

[reptiles1st]

Its back heat. For each shelf I drilled 2 holes on the left side and 2 holes on the rights side of the back of the rack. Then I thread the cable through the holes then up to the next shelf. I also drilled smaller holes next to the larger to use zip ties to keep tension on the cable. It sounds more complex than it really is, lol.

Left side

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Right side

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Here is a pic of the bins I use on another rack I built the same way just different dimensions.

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[reptiles1st]

forgot to add, on the left side pic the other hole is for the thermostat probe

 

[LBsLeos]

Nice job on the rack. I built mine almost exactly the same except I used heat tape for heating. I will say that over time the shelves have started to sag in the middle and some of the clearances are a little too tight now. Next time I will add dividers to support shelves and eliminate sagging. Good luck!

 

[Adinar]

What is that gray part that is showing in the pics? Is that the probe for your thermostat? Also how is that working out with the zipties? Doesn't get hot enough to cause any issues?

Thinking about redoing the heat for two of the racks we have that are currently running back heat that just don't seem to get enough with heat tape and this looks interesting.