Rubbermaid at Target

[SatanicIntention]

Hey all, I saw this HUGE Rubbermaid at Target. I believe it was 81 gallons or so, one of those outdoor storage containers. The measurments on the box said 4x2x2, possibly bigger. Would this be a good choice for a BP or even a Boa. If it were for a Boa, about how long would he/she be able to live in this? Thanks alot for any feedback on this.

I'd say it would be too big for a Ball Python, but great for a boa-if you're talking about a BCI.

[SatanicIntention]

Would it be able to house a boa for a considerable amount of time? I saw some pretty good size ones at HEB and the dollar stores around town. I'm starting to love Rubbermaid/Sterilite/ etc. Also, does it matter if it's translucent or opaque (Sort of see-through, or solid)?

[The_Godfather]

4x2x2 is considered the bare minimum for a bci. Depends on it's size of course.

I was about to buy a bci and built a 5x2x2 for it last year. Then it was supposed to be for a russian tortoise, but I ended up buying two more balls instead. I used it as a bp cage for about 4 months. I was being such a n00b tho with them all together, so I built 2 smaller cages.

[RPlank]

My boa is over a year old, and right at 5' long. She is in a 4 x 2 x 20"h cage. A 4 x 2 x 2 should be enough room for a 8' boa, so you should be safe. The only thing I would worry about is an adult boa pushing its way out by pushing the lid off. Boas that big are REALLY strong.

PS-Definitely too big for a BP.

[Marla]

Also, does it matter if it's translucent or opaque (Sort of see-through, or solid)?

The only difference that makes is in terms of how easy it is for you to monitor the snake, temps, humidity, etc. You can fix that by putting in a window of plexiglass or acrylic or even a piece cut out of a cheaper, smaller translucent container. The snakes will likely feel more secure in a solid container, though.

[Mike]

hows that too big? i have a BP cage that is 4x2x2 and he does just fine. with two hides and a cork bark. all this space may not be neccesary. but its not TOO big.

[JamminJonah]

Well, I think they were referring to the fact that BP's are generally private snakes ... being that their natural defense is to curl into a ball.... I don't think 4x2x2 is too big but I would give extra hides and an extra water dish just because it stresses the BP's out to be exposed for the aforementioned reasons. Plus each BP is different so yours may be doing fine in that size with only two hides but especially if they plan on getting a babie, yearling or even juvie a 4x2x2 might freak them out and cause un necessary stress.

[RandyRemington]

I'm putting the finishing touches on a new hollow core door rack using the biggest underbed (i.e. low profile) boxes I've seen. I got them at Sam's club per a post by Sean at http://www.ballpythonmorphs.com . They are about 37" X 22" X 6". Lots of floor space for a good-sized ball or even a young boa but without the height to make them feel exposed. These boxes look much larger than the narrower 16" - 18" wide by 34" long ones that you see at Target and the like for about the same price.

My problem is that I'm trying to get by with one strip of 11" heat tape down the back in a very cool basement. The hollow core door construction is a pretty good insulator but I ran out of doors and used fiberboard on the back. I'm going to insulate the back and retro fit each shelf with metal flashing on the inside back and coming out a bit to try to spread the heat out more. I wish I had used a couple big sheets of metal to sandwich the heat tape before I put the back on. It just seems like it’s not spreading out across the entire 24” width of the rack and too much heat is going out the back through the fiber board. Also, 3 foot to the front is just too far to pull the heat forward in my cold basement so hopefully the metal around the back1/3 of the box will spread the heat out more and make better use of it and the insulation on the back outside will keep it headed in the right direction (into the box).