Suggestions for securing a 10g?

[karma279]

I have a 55g now that is split with plexi and I'm housing my ball and thayers in there. I have a heavy wood lid on it with blocks... I don't see it going anywhere... plus it's tall.
But.....
It's heavy, big and hard to keep heated properly for the ball.
I'm thinking of building a display rack for the ball (soon to be balls)
But the design will be for larger snakes (tiny gap at the sliding door). So I will put my king up in a nice 10g on top.
But.... I'm scared of the standard 10g lids/locks.
Suggestions on securing a short standard 10g for a king?
He's prob just over 2 feet ('05 born)

[MarkS]

I have a 55g now that is split with plexi and I'm housing my ball and thayers in there. I have a heavy wood lid on it with blocks... I don't see it going anywhere... plus it's tall.
But.....
It's heavy, big and hard to keep heated properly for the ball.
I'm thinking of building a display rack for the ball (soon to be balls)
But the design will be for larger snakes (tiny gap at the sliding door). So I will put my king up in a nice 10g on top.
But.... I'm scared of the standard 10g lids/locks.
Suggestions on securing a short standard 10g for a king?
He's prob just over 2 feet ('05 born)

When I was still using aquariums, I used to get a mesh top for the aquarium, line the inside edges with foam weather stripping to make a tight seal and secure the top with spring metal cage clips.

Mark

[karma279]

Line the foam stripping on the lip of the lid or the bottom to where it sets on the top edge of aquarium?

[frankykeno]

If you purchase the metal frame mesh lid and then also four of the metal lid clamps (usually sold in sets of 2 and rated for the size of the tank) you should be fine. Our daughter's milksnake can get out of anything but she can't move that and believe me she'd tried. The lid for a 10 should run you about $10.00 and I believe the clamps round about $3.00 a set. Just make sure that you squeeze them slightly so that when you snap them on they are almost hard to afix and you hear a distinct snap sound as they lock down on the frame on the tank.

[karma279]

Cool... thanks guys/gals. I feel more comfortable with the idea of using the 10g lids now.
This is probably the way I will go.... I'm not sure my display rack project will hold him!
I know those kings are experts at getting out. That's the only reason I like this split 55g I have... it's about too tall for him to have any length/strength to push once he reaches the lid.

[Argentra]

Tough Top clamps are the best for screen tops. Also, you can get a Critter Cage or similar...they have a slide and lock lid that no king snake could ever budge. They're more pricey but worth it.

Here are pics of the two tops:
10 gallon Critter Cage top:


Tough Top lid clamps on a 20long lid (the clamps are left front and right back):

[missi182]

I have a plexiglass lid with a screen in it, it sits in the lip and I use heavy duty paper clips (the green things) to keep in secure. I also put some screws with washers and nuts and window locks that flip under the lip from inside to lock it, but if I had to do it again I would just use more paper clips....the window locks were so much work.

[MarkS]

Line the foam stripping on the lip of the lid or the bottom to where it sets on the top edge of aquarium?

On the inside edges of the lid where it comes in contact with the top of the aquarium. The clamps will usually keep everything tight, but the weather stripping will seal up any spaces that may be there.

[BPdad]

When I was still using aquariums, I used to get a mesh top for the aquarium, line the inside edges with foam weather stripping to make a tight seal and secure the top with spring metal cage clips.

Mark

We use the same configuration on all our glass aquariums with mesh tops for our snakes. The weather stripping makes a great seal around the top perimeter. We've had some GREAT escape artist stay contained inside their tanks with no escapees (i.e Rough Green Snake, Corn Snakes, & Garter Snake). We also use this with our House Geckos, too!