Homemade Habitat - Sterilite

[mckittie]

Did I read on here you can make a decent habitat out of a sterilite tub?
If so I'd love if someone could post how to do so here. Please include how to make a decent top and how to heat.

Thanks





If this isn't true I may have just dreamed it, So please disregard.

[mckittie]

EDIT: Man I should pay attention there are several threads about this topic in this section. What I am wondering though is how to heat the tubs and how to make the top screen if you use one?

I have a feeling plastic can catch fire, A safe way to do this would be great!

When feeding my BP I place him in a 16qt Tub and he slithers around it and enjoys being in it more than his tank!

[JamieLynn]

You don't need a screen top. That would just let out too much of the humidity. just a few holes in the tub. Most people use a heat tape like flexwatt with a thermostat, or you can use a reptile heat pad with a thermostat, placed on the outside of the tub.
Sort of like this....


--------------------------------- tub top
\. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . / tub with holes (more holes shown to space out drawing)
-\. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ./
--\[water]___________[hide] /
[table/floor/shelf] ---------- heat spot

[mckittie]

You don't need a screen top. That would just let out too much of the humidity. just a few holes in the tub. Most people use a heat tape like flexwatt with a thermostat, or you can use a reptile heat pad with a thermostat, placed on the outside of the tub.
Sort of like this....


--------------------------------- tub top
\. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . / tub with holes (more holes shown to space out drawing)
-\. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ./
--\[water]___________[hide] /
[table/floor/shelf] ---------- heat spot

You are very crafty!

Can I use a heat lamp or would that melt the plastic?

Would using a UTH supply enough heat to the tub to keep temps up?

And thank you very much

[JamieLynn]

No need for a heat light, and yes it would melt the plastic. just as long as you have the heat under the tub set to a proper temp, you will be fine.

[Dragnbaron]

i see one thing once, where someone took a tub to use it for aboreal snaked. They cut a round hole in the top and put chicken wire over the hole and secured it using washers and bolts. This allowed them to use a low power ceramic heater. I'd still be worried about melting plastic but it is a great idea.