Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 586

0 members and 586 guests
No Members online
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,909
Threads: 249,113
Posts: 2,572,174
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, KoreyBuchanan

Switching to a tub...

Printable View

  • 09-30-2018, 08:34 AM
    ali.randax3
    Switching to a tub...
    So, I’m really thinking of switching to a tub. Reason being is because I can’t bring the humidity up to where it needs to be. It has dropped down into the 40s. But I’ve heard if the temp of my room is below 75, a tub won’t work out too well. Is that true?

    I’m using cypress mulch, have sphagnum moss sitting in bowls of water, also inside her hides, screen is covered in foil tape except where CHE is and water bowl is sitting under CHE. What more can I do?
  • 09-30-2018, 08:42 AM
    Craiga 01453
    That's completely up to you. I don't use tubs, so can't comment on whether they'd work or not in your situation.

    I use 1/2" foam board insulation on all my glass enclosures. I wrap the back and sides, then lay a piece on top with a hole cut out for heat lamp.
    It helps immensely with heat and humidity control. It gets cold and dry in MA and I have zero problem maintaining proper humidity.
    You may also want to increase the size of you water dish or add another. Placement of the water bowl makes a difference as well.
  • 09-30-2018, 08:52 AM
    ali.randax3
    Re: Switching to a tub...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by craigafrechette View Post
    That's completely up to you. I don't use tubs, so can't comment on whether they'd work or not in your situation.

    I use 1/2" foam board insulation on all my glass enclosures. I wrap the back and sides, then lay a piece on top with a hole cut out for heat lamp.
    It helps immensely with heat and humidity control. It gets cold and dry in MA and I have zero problem maintaining proper humidity.
    You may also want to increase the size of you water dish or add another. Placement of the water bowl makes a difference as well.

    Hmmm, I have left over foam board from when I covered the sides. Thank you! Gonna try that and add another larger water bowl in there. If I can keep her in the glass tank, I want to.
  • 09-30-2018, 09:04 AM
    Craiga 01453
    Re: Switching to a tub...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ali.randax3 View Post
    Hmmm, I have left over foam board from when I covered the sides. Thank you! Gonna try that and add another larger water bowl in there. If I can keep her in the glass tank, I want to.

    Glass can be a bit trickier when the cold weather comes. But people have been doing it for as long as snakes have been kept in captivity. Some people like to bash glass, but I've been using it since I got into the hobby in 1999-2000ish. Never had a problem. And once it's set up and dialed in, it's no harder than other enclosures.

    So, if you want to stick to glass, by all means stick to glass. I'm happy to help if you need it.
  • 09-30-2018, 10:45 AM
    Zincubus
    Re: Switching to a tub...
    The plus side of staying with the tank is you will be able to clearly see your beautiful snake :)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • 09-30-2018, 02:44 PM
    ali.randax3
    Re: Switching to a tub...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by craigafrechette View Post
    Glass can be a bit trickier when the cold weather comes. But people have been doing it for as long as snakes have been kept in captivity. Some people like to bash glass, but I've been using it since I got into the hobby in 1999-2000ish. Never had a problem. And once it's set up and dialed in, it's no harder than other enclosures.

    So, if you want to stick to glass, by all means stick to glass. I'm happy to help if you need it.

    Thanks for always being helpful! It’s very appreciated by a newb like myself.
  • 09-30-2018, 02:46 PM
    ali.randax3
    Re: Switching to a tub...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Zincubus View Post
    The plus side of staying with the tank is you will be able to clearly see your beautiful snake :)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Yes, I love being able to see my girl and I think my tank looks so pretty since it’s fall themed. But if I can’t get this humidity problem solved, I may just have to switch.
  • 09-30-2018, 02:51 PM
    Cheesenugget
    I use both glass tanks and tubs. I have a Merauke blue tongue skink in a large glass tank (High humidity reptile) and my bp in a tub. Humidity can be achieved with both so what comes down to it is do you have the time to make the necessary changes or additions in a glass tank or save the convenience by going tub.

    For glass tanks, in addition to what others posted, you can use a humidifier. They are not cheap and some don't last long. Mine was $50 and one of the highest rated humidifiers that broke down on me last week (Less than a year). It was effective while it lasted. Misting the tanks twice a day helps temporarily. Place a wet towel on top of the tank keeps the humidity in it for several hours. Moss should not stay soaked in water : squeeze the excess water out and mix it mostly under the substrate (Eco earth coco fiber + cypress mulch).

    A humid hide should be a separate hide from the basking spot. So you would have 1 dry normal hide on the hot spot, humid hide on the hot spot and dry normal hide on the cold area. Moss + substrate or even wet papertowels make the humid hide. Your snake should not have to choose between only 1 hide in the hot spot getting warm but wet or getting cold and dry.

    The CHE dries up the air so that is your main culprit. I understand the uselessfulness of a CHE but as long as you have that on 24/7, and with winter coming, that tank is going to dry up. Using a second UTH on the cold side to keep the temp at 80F or an infrared light for ambient temps instead of a CHE.

    Lastly, should you go tubs, it does not mean you can't see your snake. Many sterility tubs are transparent, including the Clearview ones which I currently use for my bp. I can through the tub just fine. You can also cut a section out on the side of the tub, seal the window with mesh so you can see your snake as well as keeping your humidity up. Is it prettier than a glass tank? No. But how important are the looks to you determines which path you want to take.
  • 09-30-2018, 03:27 PM
    Zincubus
    Switching to a tub...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ali.randax3 View Post
    Yes, I love being able to see my girl and I think my tank looks so pretty since it’s fall themed. But if I can’t get this humidity problem solved, I may just have to switch.

    Do you have a mesh lid on the tank ??


    It's just that I used to keep BRBs is glass Exo Terra tanks and they had mesh tops which I covered with Perspex and sealed .... I had very high humidity in the tanks ..

    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
  • 09-30-2018, 03:33 PM
    Zincubus
    Re: Switching to a tub...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Cheesenugget View Post
    I use both glass tanks and tubs. I have a Merauke blue tongue skink in a large glass tank (High humidity reptile) and my bp in a tub. Humidity can be achieved with both so what comes down to it is do you have the time to make the necessary changes or additions in a glass tank or save the convenience by going tub.

    For glass tanks, in addition to what others posted, you can use a humidifier. They are not cheap and some don't last long. Mine was $50 and one of the highest rated humidifiers that broke down on me last week (Less than a year). It was effective while it lasted. Misting the tanks twice a day helps temporarily. Place a wet towel on top of the tank keeps the humidity in it for several hours. Moss should not stay soaked in water : squeeze the excess water out and mix it mostly under the substrate (Eco earth coco fiber + cypress mulch).

    A humid hide should be a separate hide from the basking spot. So you would have 1 dry normal hide on the hot spot, humid hide on the hot spot and dry normal hide on the cold area. Moss + substrate or even wet papertowels make the humid hide. Your snake should not have to choose between only 1 hide in the hot spot getting warm but wet or getting cold and dry.

    The CHE dries up the air so that is your main culprit. I understand the uselessfulness of a CHE but as long as you have that on 24/7, and with winter coming, that tank is going to dry up. Using a second UTH on the cold side to keep the temp at 80F or an infrared light for ambient temps instead of a CHE.

    Lastly, should you go tubs, it does not mean you can't see your snake. Many sterility tubs are transparent, including the Clearview ones which I currently use for my bp. I can through the tub just fine. You can also cut a section out on the side of the tub, seal the window with mesh so you can see your snake as well as keeping your humidity up. Is it prettier than a glass tank? No. But how important are the looks to you determines which path you want to take.

    I understand there are some RUBS that give a good view but aren't they fairly scarce and more expensive .

    Every RUB that I've ever come across (usually in breeders homes ) allowed a very poor view of the snake as they're translucent .


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1