Method for securing wood/sticks in plastic tub

My BP is a climber, but he knocks down sticks we have propped up so I'm looking to secure some sticks to the sides of the tub so he can explore and climb his heart out!

I looked online, but most instructions were for glass or acrylic tanks, and not much help for plastic! Anyone have suggestions? I was thinking of drilling a screw into the wood on one end and putting the screw through the tub and securing it with a metal plate of some kind, but I'm worried that the wood would simply split!

I've done this with branches an inch thick and greater in my BP's tub. I pre-drilled a small hole through the plastic and the end of the branch, then used a screw to attach the branch to the side of the tub.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9eb7741173.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5ab4a4320d.jpg

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Originally Posted by sufficio

... but I'm worried that the wood would simply split!

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Drill a smaller "pilot" hole in the ends of the wood first. And I'd suggest the same thing as Starscream's post above.

Fantastic, thank you both for the help! The screw method looks super simple and doable! Great to know about the pilot hole, if it wasn't too clear I'm absolutely brand new to all sorts of woodworking haha! Glad to learn though. Thanks to you both for the help!

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Originally Posted by sufficio

Fantastic, thank you both for the help! The screw method looks super simple and doable! Great to know about the pilot hole, if it wasn't too clear I'm absolutely brand new to all sorts of woodworking haha! Glad to learn though. Thanks to you both for the help!

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You don't have to be a master carpenter to pick up enough skills for some really useful modifications. (but "fearless" helps, lol...)

I'm not so sure about drilling holes in the plastic though...I've always melted the holes with a small cheapo soldering gun.* (drilling can possibly crack/split the plastic,
& I'd also worry a little about branches that are too heavy doing the same thing to the plastic, but as long as you don't get carried away with "logs", you should be fine)

IF you do decide to melt holes in the plastic, do it with plenty of ventilation, as the fumes are toxic...

That's a good point! We usually use a heated metal prong to melt holes through, so we'll probably so something similar here! Will make sure all the windows are wide open! :D

And the sticks are really light but long, so hopefully the weight of them + our BP will be totally fine!

With drilling, I just make sure to brace around where I plan on drilling with my other hand. No cracks thus far!

I would just drill two small holes either side of where the wood would be mounted. Use a small cable tie , thread it through the holes, around the wood and secure it to the tub. Maybe not too neat like a screw, but quick and fast.

Then again, none of my animals are display animals.

I've used hooks & eyes to make a removable hanging perch before. I usually didn't catch the ball python on it much, but now that the young dumeril's boa has inherited it, I catch him using it to check for food up at the top of the tub and such pretty often. The removable factor makes cleaning easier.

Always remember that anything put into the enclosure is going to need to be cleaned. I am not try to discourage this, just keep in mind that clean and boring is better than elaborate and dirty.