How to Build a Shoe Box Snake Rack

Snake racks are shelving units set up to keep multiple snakes in one place. They are space-efficient and make it easy to access the snakes. They are also a great way to store hatchling snakes. You can buy a commercial rack on the market, or you can make a shoebox snake rack out of a piece of melamine, screws and plastic bins.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic bins
  • Melamine sheet
  • Electric drill
  • Drywall screws
  • Wood strips
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose plastic storage boxes that are 13.25 inches long, 8.125 inches wide, and 4 inches tall. You will need 16 of them if you plan on filling up all the shelves.

    • 2

      Obtain a 4-foot-by-8-foot sheet of melamine. It should be 0.75 inch thick. (Melamine is a resin-based material that can be purchased in home improvement stores.) Cut this sheet into six 35-inch-by-13.5-inch pieces and two 25-inch-by-13.5-inch pieces.

    • 3

      Pre-drill three holes in the end of one of the 25-inch pieces. They should be evenly spaced about 0.25 inch from the edges, one on each corner and one in the center. Repeat this with the other piece.

    • 4

      Attach the first shelf. Alternate between drilling the hole and screwing the drywall screws in. Do not drill all the holes first; otherwise the shelves might not be as stable. Place the shelf, one of the 35-inch pieces, so that the edges are flush with one of the drilled sides of a 25-inch side piece. Drill a pilot hole by drilling through the hole in the side and into the edge of the shelf. Insert a drywall screw and tighten it. Do this with the other two holes on that side. Repeat this on the other side.

    • 5

      Set the piece up right so that the shelf is flat on the ground and the sides are sticking upward. Place four of the plastic bins on the shelf you just installed to determine your desired spacing.

    • 6

      Place the second shelf on top of the plastic bins. Use a pencil to draw a line on the sides across to the top of the second shelf.

    • 7

      Remove the shelf. Drill pilot holes three-eights of an inch below the line you just drew. They should be parallel to the holes from the first shelf.

    • 8

      Replace the second shelf. Make sure it is flush with both edges of the sides. Check to ensure the boxes fit snugly but are not too tight. Drill pilot holes through the holes you drilled in the sides and into the shelf, like you did with the first shelf. Insert drywall screws in the holes.

    • 9

      Continue to install the remaining shelves and plastic bins in the same manner until your structure is complete.

    • 10

      Lay the rack down on the ground. Make sure you have at least every other shelf's plastic bins in place to determine placing of your back strips.

    • 11

      Cut four wood strips that are 25 inches long, 4 inches wide, and a 0.25 inch thick. These are the strips that will keep your boxes from sliding back too far and creating gaps for the snakes to escape through.

    • 12

      Attach the strips to the back of your rack. Each one should line up with center of a column of plastic bins. Drill a hole through the wood strips and into the shelves.

    • 13

      Set your rack up right and replace any of the missing plastic bins. Now you can place your snakes in your shoebox rack whenever you are ready.