Do you have your BP in a tank or tub?

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Originally Posted by snakelady

Those of you with tubs but no racks. How do you keep your snakes from getting out. Do you use straps? I'm sure that my ball could pop the top on those plastic tubs.

If you have more than one tub...do you put the tub right on the heat tape? Then stack another on top, more heat tape, then tub, etc?

I understand the rack system (I'm getting one this summer) with tubs just not tubs without the rack...

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The flexwatt is stuck on ea. individ. tub w/aluminum tape. With the tubs that are all configured the same (same size/length flexwatt and style/size tub) all on the same thermostat, I've glued little felt feet (sometimes the plastic or rubber ends of a cane) and created an airspace and then stack them on top of each other---helps give me more shelf space.

Hope that helps.

:)

RuLyn

Yes, it does help! Thanks, sweety314.

You're very welcome! :D

One big happy herpin' family helping each other learn and care for their slithery friends. :) :):rofl:

I keep my one female in a tank, but plan on building a rack over summer. I will probably always have one in a tank as a centerpiece for a room. I love looking at my tank and seeing the great colors, even if she is curled up. But I have gone through many a headache getting that tank to it's necessary temps and humidity. So for all the rest, tubs it is. And I will most definitely be consulting all you guys for advice on how to build it.

Tanks- we have tanks everywhere! :) Nothing against tubs- just tanks are all I know for sure at this point I can do right. And they really look beautiful!

Mine is in a Tank. I do regret buying it, because the Da*n humidity won't stay up. I basically have to spray the damn thing 100s of times a day for it to stay it the upper 40s, 50s, and in the 60s. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to up my collection of snakes and I think I'm getting another BP for my b-day :D So when I do get more snakes I'm definitely going to get a rack and tubs or what not.

If you don't have your screen top covered, either with plastic or foil, you WILL have humidity problems. :) Cover up the top and it will stabilize. Then you only have to mist maybe once a day.

Because of space (and boyfriend) issues, I am building a 41qt 5 slot rack for my BPs. However, that does not mean I won't still have a tank or two going. :D

I just have a wet hand towel covering the top, but leaving the edges uncovered so it can create more airflow.

I also used towels, until I was warned to be sure to change it daily. A PITA, I know....but if you don't, the warm, moist air will quickly encourage bacteria growth that will make an unhealthy environment in the tank. So I switched to using the GLAD Press'n Seal wrap. On one of my other tanks, a friend of mine repaired the screen and drilling holes in the top, put a plexiglass cover on it for me. I also have Al foil taped and siliconed on a small 10g tank lid for my baby snow corn.

i have all mine in tanks...
9 total, looking at another.:banana:

and i personally think tanks are better, because i think is better for them to be able to see out, and for me to see them.
and constantly check them...:snake:

also, i think its like...

why get em if your just going to toss em in a tub and pull em out every once in a while...:weirdface


JUST IMO.:2cent:





also... why the F***
is the a "smiles" of a spork?
LMFAO

:spork:

I use a tank. But I only have one ball python and he is tiny, I imagine that once he is bigger I will be using a tub. the tank does have alot of upkeep but I enjoy it thats why I started with the tank anyway.

Can you use UTH on tubs instead of Flex-Watt?

~HOLLIE~

Hi,

I think Flex-watt is just a brand name for a type of UTH?

The difference being instead of a ready made unit of a certain size you can order it by length and width to fit your needs.

Though if you ask them they will cut and wire it up for you either at reptile basics or even at the manufacturers. :gj:

Of course I could be completely misunderstanding the whole thing.:)


dr del

I have 6 snakes in reptile cages- very different from fish tanks. The rest of mine are in racks systems in tubs.
I will work to getting all of mine into reptile cages since the tubs do not allow enough room for the moving around that they do at night.
Reptile cages are cool in that they are designed to maximize heat and humidity and so don't have the issues that fish tanks have. Also, you can use flex watt, UTH or RHP's in them- I use RHP's because they are wonderful!!!!!

I use both, but prefer tanks. My snakes seem to enjoy the additional space, and I love to sit in the snake room at night and watch them all out and about at the same time! Very cool!

I see so many people here struggling with humidity and tempratures in tanks, while there is a really easy fix. A 1/4" thick piece of plexiglass cut to fit exactly in the tank's recessed top, with holes drilled in each end, basically turns a tank into a tub.

The only problem I ever have with my tanks is keeping the humidity levels down!!! I have to use smaller water dishes.

i have a tank, the only problem i have with it is keeping the humidity up

i have all 10 of my bps in tubs in a 'rack system' basically just a shelf system from walmart, with heat cable taped on the bottom and of course the rheostat and thermometers. its soooo much easier than when i had my first ball python a couple years ago, in a tank. *way* easier to take care of. but im sure you all know that already. :rolleye2:

I used to think that tubs were way easier to deal with but I am now really feeling that I was wrong. Tubs are easier to house a lot of snakes in, but I don't think cleaning is easier.
I have reptile cages from RBI and they are way easier to clean than the tubs and here's why: there is no space in tubs for the snakes to move around and get out of their own feces. I feel bad for them that they are trapped in their own waste for the night until morning when I clean them (7am).
My snakes in the cages never lay in their own waste and always go to the other side of the cage and into the other hide, away from the waste- 3 feet away. My snakes in the tubs have nowhere to go and are always just laying in it.
I believe that tubs serve a purpose for young and small ball pythons but I also believe that larger balls need and use the space provided by larger cages. I also understand that every snake is different and so has a bit of a different definition of 'need', but I also believe that only having tubs and thinking they are best could be very wrong information.
I understand that my post will fly in the face of many members on this forum and not thinking that tubs are the best thing is very much not en vogue. However, I would be remiss to not mention this observation with my own snakes.
In light of what I have been seeing, I am working very hard to save my money and spend it on cages for my snakes that are large enough to warrant one; sadly, this is a lot of cages :oops: Not to mention more t'stats....

I have my lone BP in a tank right now. But will be buying a rack system from AP once I have the money for it and a thermostat, and of course more snakes to fill it up with :)
Ill keep one snake in a tank on display in my room/basement and the rest in a snake room in their tubs.

I just switched from tank to tub. Both of my 07 male and female are in 41 Qt and my 06 male is in a 66 Qt tub. All of the tubs are sterillite.
Ps. I am getting a 07 female pastel and I will have her in a 41 Qt sterillite tub.

I am using a tub right now since my bp is very young... So far, the tub has been working great for me. However, I don't know what I will do in the future, but since I am only a student on financial aid... well, I guess I'll stick to tubs until I have the money to invest on something better.

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Originally Posted by starmom

I have reptile cages from RBI and they are way easier to clean than the tubs and here's why: there is no space in tubs for the snakes to move around and get out of their own feces. I feel bad for them that they are trapped in their own waste for the night until morning when I clean them (7am).
My snakes in the cages never lay in their own waste and always go to the other side of the cage and into the other hide, away from the waste- 3 feet away. My snakes in the tubs have nowhere to go and are always just laying in it.

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Hi,

Mine sit on top of their hides if the p is too much for the paper to absorb (well most of the time - the male seems a tad "special" on occasion :rolleyes: ).

Do you get the same problem in larger tubs with a more absorbent substrate? My adult tubs are 3 foot long so there is a fair bit of space for them to move away from things most of the time. Do you get a lot of spread when using aspen or does it stay fairly well contained when they go?


dr del

Hi Derek~
I use 60# indented kraft paper for the tubs and it's pretty thick and absorbent. I have the 32qt tubs for the snakes and they each have one hide in them. Since my snakes are older and larger, when they pee- they pee!! I haven't seen the snakes lounging on the top of the hides but remain in the hide and in the pee. And, like I mentioned, this behavior is very different from the behavior of my snakes in the cages.
I have also noticed activity level differences in my snakes in cages versus tubs at night. The one's in cages cruise around and check things out and, in my opinion, display behaviors that, in my mind, would be the behaviors displayed if they were living out in the open. I don't feel that the amount of tub space permit the movements that snakes do at night... And again, I throw in the disclaimer that snake age and individual uniqueness disallows for any blanket statements on this topic ;)

Starmom, I'm so glad you brought this up. I love me some tanks. And I use tubs too. Probably the single biggest difference I notice is difference in activity level. All my snakes in larger tanks are not only way more active at night (compared to the tub snakes) but even more so while being handled!!! My snakes kept in tubs tend to just lay in my lap or move about very slow, whereas, the snakes kept in tanks are a real handful to hold.

I currently have mine in an Exo-Terra tank that I bought from the same guy who sold me my ball. Luckily it was purchased second hand, in mint condition for $100. He said I can return it at any time for the same $100, which I am going to do within the next week or so as I'm about to walk out the door to go buy a few things for a tub set up for Ruth.

I have one ball python whom I bought with the tank but if I get more, I may switch to tubs... We'll see! :)

Started of with a tank, had WAY too much trouble! I won't ever got back to a tank.

My BP is in a tank. I built a custom hood for my tank, and I am having minor issues with humidity because I put in too much venting. This can be fixed simply by cutting a piece of plexi to block one of the vent holes. I think I may also change the substrate to aspen, as I think it would help with the humidity. I currently use milled peat moss (I use it in all my enclosures), and I have noticed (both now and in the past) that unless the peat moss is moist, it sucks moisture from the air. I am also using heat lights rather than an UTH (for various reasons), so that also contributes to the humidity issue I am having. It isn't too low for my BP, and I'm not terribly worried about it atm, because I know I will get it under control soon. It took me somewhere around a month to stabilize the humidity in my CWD tank, but once I did, I have had no trouble, and I rarely have to mist anymore. You can also make a type of infuser to put in a tank to keep the humidity up, just by putting an airstone in a bottle of water and running a tube from it into the tank. If you put a valve on it, you can regulate the amount of moisturized air entering the tank.
I too think that tubs can be good, but I would only want them if I had a large amount of snakes. I am VERY into building custom vivaria, so having a pet in a simple plastic tub isn't very appealing to me. Also, while I have read that keeping them in a larger tank/tub is not recommended, I believe that as long as there are plenty of properly sized hides, they should have the opportunity to roam around and choose where they want to be, instead of having to choose between warm and cool. It doesn't take much to make a large tank look small and secure if you set it up right. I also agree about getting a piece of plexi cut to fit in the top of the tank. One thing I don't recall seeing mentioned is a plexi tank, which holds in heat better than glass (tubs are basically made out of the same thing, acrylic, aren't they?) Thinner plexi will warp over time when exposed to heat, but the thicker stuff should be perfect. I think that wood and glass/plexi enclosures would be perfect for these guys, with the back and sides (and possibly the top) wood and the front (and possibly the top) glass or plexi. You could have it open from the top or from the front. Really what I am saying is that while I feel that tubs are very functional (in my admittedly very limited experience), there are many options that with a little bit of work can make you AND your snake much happier.

I use a tank for the look, but it is a pain. I'll switch to reptile basic or boaphile cage soon enough.

The number one reason why I don't like tubs: Lack of Space! I use them, don't get me wrong...but I only use larger, taller tubs. Snakes in short, cramped tubs just don't have enough room to move around like they should. I have my biggest female in a 41qt for QT and she's miserable in there. She loves it when I take her out and give her room to roam. The rack I just built to save space holds three 90qt tubs to give my adults plenty of roaming room, but still give them secure snugness. :)
I still have 4 tanks going for corns and younger BPs and intend to keep things that way. :D

The RBI cages are awesome... but just too expensive for me. :(

Ive had my reptiles in tanks ever since I started. I love being able to see clearly into them. A wall of nice setup tanks with beautiful snakes, lizards and frogs make for a fine art gallery. I do have to say, a tub does provide the reptile with a much better sence of security.

what is so much better about tubs? does everyone use them because they are easier to clean or better for bp. because my bp and jungle cp seem fine in glass tanks,but someone let me know what snakes like better:partyon:

Tank all the way!

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Originally Posted by reptiman93

what is so much better about tubs? does everyone use them because they are easier to clean or better for bp. because my bp and jungle cp seem fine in glass tanks,but someone let me know what snakes like better:partyon:

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What snakes like better? That is TOTALLY up to each individual snake.
Some people have snakes that won't function unless they're in a short, snug and small tub... Others just don't seem to thrive unless they have plenty of head room in a glass tank.

Most owners like tubs because they are cheap, light, and go into racks to save space.
Tank people like the visibility and stability of the glass among other things. :)
I am mostly a tank person...as many here will tell you. But I do have snakes in tubs as well. Heck, I just built my own rack since my Apt. is so small. But I'll be the first to say you have to be prepared to give your snake what it likes best...not always what YOU like best. For example, one of my BPs HATES tubs no matter the size so I'll eventually have to get a 30 breeder tank for her and use up a lot of space. On the other hand, one of my adult females hated it when I tried putting her in a tank and prefers her nice big tub. :)

thanks for the info :)

There is a great video on on Snakebytes, where at the end Brian talks about a question he got regarding keeping decent sized snakes in a enclosure/rack. And imo he answers it pretty well..heres the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEqtJdq9wgY

what do you have to put over the tub so the snake will not get out and what sould i use aspen or newspaper

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Originally Posted by max9781

what do you have to put over the tub so the snake will not get out and what sould i use aspen or newspaper

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I use the tubs from Walmart that have the snap lid or the handle slides up and locks the lid down. I have used aspen bedding but lately I have been using newspaper for my adult BP and paper towels for my juvenile BP.

Once you have so many snakes tanks and loss tubs are a pain in the butt. Once I bought my first rack system I was like this is AWESOME!!! No more tanks for me but I will always have tubs to quarantine a new snake. Dont want to throw a new snake into a rack system that is way to risky.

I had 90% of mine in tubs till last night when the last 2 got tubbed. I keep all my snake that way, even the corns. Exept my first corn, first snake Harley who has een in a 38g flex his whole life, 8 years. I am using all my tanks now for geckos.

Aww, I use a tank. But I want a tub. Easier to clean, holds heat and humidity better, etc. I'm going to research it a bit more, then find a good tub to use for my sweet girl, my entire reason for living.

Started with tanks- what a PITA! I LOVE tubs, and the snakes seem to "like" the tubs better- I think it is more den-like than the giant glass see-through walls of the tanks. Some of mine started to feed better once I got the tubs and racks. I have been using Vision racks and I will never go back to tanks. We so have our jungle carpets and our green tree python in tanks, but they are so pretty we wouldn't be able to enjoy them in tubs. Since those species are arboreal, they seem quite OK with tanks too.

I started with a tank, but starting next week ill be in a rack system... I cant wait!

i have a tank now.. but am switching toa tub soon... after a few ? are answered..

like.. can you use a UTH on a tub?

To answer the multiple questions related to UTH use on tubs: YES. You can use a UTH, Flexwatt, or any similar heat source on a tub just as you could on a glass tank. HOWEVER you must make sure you have a thermostat or at least a dimmer with constant observation to run it!

Many of the tubs I use are loose (not in a rack) and have ZooMed UTH pads under them:

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...ks/Tubheat.jpg

The best way to attach them is using Foil tape, NOT the adhesive that comes on the pad. This way, you can remove the pad easily if needed without damage.

But, I repeat, you must have a good thermostat running any heat source used on a tub. The melting point of good thick plastic (and most good tubs are made of thicker plastics) is quite high, so you usually don't have to worry about it melting...but just one accident is all it takes. Also, burns can still occur through plastic floors.

I can say now, after months of having loose tubs and even a rack, that I still prefer tanks as enclosures. With the right setup and care, they hold temps and humidity BETTER than any tub I've got! :D

A tank for now. We only have one ball python at this time.

we started our first ball in a tank, but had the hardest time keeping the humidity up and just today switched him and our new boa into tubs and the humidity stays up no problem and they both seem happier, so we're gonna stay with the tubs.

Change my vote to tub! I voted here a few weeks ago, and I have since moved my girl to a tub. I must say, if you don't have a tub, unless you're worked up about how everything looks, you need to get a tub! My girl feels so secure in her tub. I have her in a 41 quart. I often find her out of her hide, even during the day! She never came out in her 40 gallon glass viv.

I moved her to the tub mainly to get the humidity up. It was at a constant 50% and she was in shed and I sprayed it whenever I was home, but it still wouldn't go up. When I first got the tub, I made the mistake of spraying it, and I actually had trouble bringing the humidity below 90%! Honestly, I tried very hard to bring it down; I was mostly worried about mold or scale rot or something like that. Now that she's out of shed, I cleaned the tub (amazingly easy compared to cleaning a glass tank! I am so hyped up about that! I used to spend a solid hour scrubbing out her glass tank, now it takes 10 minutes and it's great) and filled the water dish. At first, it was around 40% (what it is in my house), then it went up and up and was soon at 90% again! Holds humidity GREAT!



The absolutely BEST part of her new tub is that she is eating. Even when she wasn't fasting, she has always been really nervous about the rats. She'd stalk it for about ten minutes before grabbing it, then she'd pull it into her hide to swallow in privacy.
I fed her in the bin for the first time about 5 days ago, and it was amazing! She grabbed the rat almost right away, and swallowed the whole thing outside of her hide, then crawled around a bit, digesting.



In conclusion, tubs are AMAZING!!! I really can't emphasize that enough.



The only drawback is that guests or family members that don't know there is a snake in the bin may shove the bin harshly, lean against it, move it hastily, or do something else that might be harmful to the snake. I suggest making a sign in bold letters and taping it on the wall by the bin.

rite now i have a tank, with one bp. i keep the screen lid mostly covered, but still have to mist almost every day. Later on when i get a few more i will build a rack with tubs. then maby sell the tank, or get some dry land type lizards. i love the idea of the tubs and racks, but for now she will be in her tank.

I'll be putting the BP that I get on Saturday in a tub.

dito.. but on sunday.. and it may not be a bp.. who knows

Did you make it yourself or did you purchase it somewhere already made? I'm new, and very curious about this enclosure, it sounds ideal ! I also feel my ball gets stressed when approached from above. But I absolutely love to come into the room be able to see him roaming around . Thanks, Tina. Sorry, i'm still trying to get the hang of this, i was responding to fishmommy and her enclosure.