Building a rack

[Stealth_Raptor]

I am planning to breed some Antaresia pythons sometimes in the future, and I would like to breed them. However what would you guys recommend as far as tub size?

I know with Childreni I am looking at 8" tubs for hatchlings, 14" for juvies, and 24" for adults. Now I don't know what size I need for the Spotted Python. Eventually I plan on getting some Stimson's and Anthill as well, but I think I will get them later on down the road.

[MrBredli]

Stimmies, Spotted's and Children's can all be housed in the same way. Whatever you know regarding childreni can be applied to the stimsoni and maculosa also.

[SlothHead]

I would say what ever size you are using for children are fine for spotted.

[Stealth_Raptor]

I was just wondering since Maccies and Stimmes get to be bigger than Childreni, and Anthill are smaller, so I wasn't sure if I have to adjust or add different size tubs as far as juvie, subadult and adult sizes.

Like I know with one rack, I am planning on maxmizing the clutch with 15 tubs for Childreni hatchlings (I got some sources saying 25 in a clutch for some reason), 15 for Mac hatchlings, 10 for Stimmies and about 5 or so for Anthill.

[GSXR_Boy]

What the other 2 said.

I doubt you will be getting 25 eggs from one childreni though!!
Some pics of your rack and how you set it up would be appreciated.

[Stealth_Raptor]

Thanks guys. For maccies, I think I will upgrade the hatchling tubs to 10" or 12" and adult tubs up to 36" and keep the 14" and 24" for juvie maccies.

Now i have been told that hatchling tubs should be kept at even temperature throughout so I am looking at either running parallel of 3" or 4" flexwatt on both sides a single strip of 6" throughout the middle of the tubs or 11" throughout the entire rack with temperature of 26.6-29.4 C.

For juvies, I have heard there should be a hot spot of 31.1-32.2 C of half the tubs, other people say a third. So I am looking at a strip of 4" flexwatt along the bottom of the 14" tubs for hotspot and a pair of 4" flexwatt to double up as 8" for 24" tubs.

For adult tubs with the maccies, I am looking at triple 4" or a single 11" flexwatt.

All that is left for me to do to figure out if it is more efficent to go horizontal or vertical in space.

[Khagan]

Originally Posted by GSXR_Boy

Some pics of your rack would be appreciated.

Sorry couldnt help myself lol .

[Aslan]

Originally Posted by Stealth_Raptor

Now i have been told that hatchling tubs should be kept at even temperature throughout so I am looking at either running parallel of 3" or 4" flexwatt on both sides a single strip of 6" throughout the middle of the tubs or 11" throughout the entire rack with temperature of 26.6-29.4 C.

I think you'll find that regardless of the age or type of reptile they will still require a heat gradient from one end to the other - the most common rack setups I have seen that heat very well run a heat cord across the back of the shelves - quite often the one cord is plenty to do the entire rack...

[grimbeny]

Its a bit off topic but how much do anthills go for over in canada?

[Stealth_Raptor]

We could run one long cord or heat tape throughout the entire enclosure, but it is more energy-efficent and less chance of hot spots developing if single strips connected parallel is done. Now on the on hand, if I build my rack vertically I will save more room, but I will waste wattages; on the other hand, if I build my rack horizontally, the longer the cord or tape, the more uneven heat will be produced, but I don't wast vital supplies and wattages.

Now, I suppose there is a logic in distributing the heat evenly for hatchlings until they outgrow the inital tubs. I think it either help them asborrb the yolk sacs and get them started on feeding pinkies quicker, or it is just too difficult to give proper temperature gradiant in a small tub.

How much do Anthill cost? I really don't know. Well, I know over here, most of the Antaresia were considered as one species during the 70s, 80s and early 90s; many breeders still consider them to be one species today. You have to remember the taxomonic changes in the past 40 years, and many of our existing specimens are from a collection from the 70s without any awareness in locale differences. To quote Roy Stockwell, "The red ones we called desert childrens.. These eventually became stimpsoni but there were breeders with all variations mixing and matching.... This means that many bloodlines could likely be mixes anyway...." So some of them might be hybrid. However there are some purebred stock around. For instance the Blonde Mac or Cape York Spotted Python was preserved by VPI. So I don't know how much a pureblood Anthill is, but I do know that they are very rare over here and msot of the breederrs ask to inquire about the price; you only get to see a small batch every couple of years. The last time I have seen them they were selling for $400 USD each. I haven't seen the price tag in Canada yet, and many people don't talk about it, but they do exist over here.

[dickyknee]

I use one strip of 15 watt heat cord for my childrens and it works fine , 1/3 of the tub on the heat and they have always been happy .
Never heard of childreni giving 25 in a clutch .

[hazzard]

Originally Posted by Stealth_Raptor

The last time I have seen them they were selling for $400 USD each. I haven't seen the price tag in Canada yet, and many people don't talk about it, but they do exist over here.

That's much cheaper than here!

[crush the turtle]

Originally Posted by Khagan

Sorry couldnt help myself lol .

lol hahha

[GSXR_Boy]

Originally Posted by Khagan

Sorry couldnt help myself lol .

Pmsl