Making the move to tubs...

Hey guys. I'm making the move from a glass tank to plastic tubs and was just wondering if any of yall had any tips/tricks to building a new enclosure. I've had humidity problems in the past with the glass tank, and a lot of yall recommended plastic tubs instead.

Where's the best place to drill the air holes? (top/bottom)
What kind of UTH's do you recommend? (I think the one I have is a ZooMed uth...sadly, no thermostat yet...)
Just got a new digital temp and humidity gage
Been using Aspen bedding (Recommend any other kind of substrate?)

Any other suggestions welcome! And thanks for all the help!!! :D

Firstly, do not drill the holes. Drilling leaves sharp edges that could harm your snake. Use a soldering iron if you can, a wood burning tool works well to. As to where to melt the holes, I think that is personal preference, but I could be wrong. For what UTH, I would recommend getting flexwatt heat tape. And IMO paper towels or newspaper make good, easy to clean substrate.
but this is all just my opinion. I'm sure a more experienced user will steer you better than me.

Tubs are fantastic, and I'm definitely not ever switching back to tanks.

I just drill the holes near the top of the tub all along the sides.

For the UTH, I just get those ZooMed UTHs and they do just fine. I do recommend you get a thermostat. Try a ReptiTemp 500R, cheapest one you can get http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75

Does the digital thermometer have a probe? If it doesn't, try buying one with a probe. Put it on the bottom of the tub right above the UTH and that should accurately tell your temps.

Aspen is fine to use, it's what I use as well. Most people like using paper towels or newspaper but I like loose bedding a lot more. Just easier spot cleaning. You can try out the newspaper or paper towels and see how that goes for you, or you can try other stuff like cypress mulch.

Thanks for the advice! I'll get that thermostat ASAP!!! And I'll try to burn the holes, or at least make sure they're smoothe and won't hurt my snake.

Oh yeah...The thermometer takes the Temp at 2 places, where it sits and then it has a probe to measure another temp too. I got it so I could measure the hot and cool side of the tank

All of my tubs, the holes are drilled. It's a circle, so I'm not sure where the sharp edges would come from unless a little bit sticks out, in that case, sand them down

I have some tubs that I used a soldering iron on and some I drilled. If you drill just becareful not to carck the tub. When I was done drilling I went back over all the holes with a razor to make sure there were no edges. I like the look of drilled holes better personally and only do it that way now but using a soldering iron is eaiser and faster imo.

I use paper towels for my babies to sub adults then I use newspaper when they go into their adult 41 qt tubs personally. I am a clean freak so it is eaiser for me to keep everything clean this way. I also don't have to worry about my snakes getting substrate in their mouth etc. I do not have humidity problems in my tubs but if I did I would consider using a substrate.

Oh lord cracking tubs.... Yeah when I made my first tub I ended up cracking like 5 lids. Not good. Use the soldering iron, or go really slow with the drill.

So just finished my new snake tub!!! Turned out great! Thanks for all the advice and tips (esp. about using a sodering iron to burn the air holes)...Thought i'd post some pics just to show yall how it all turned out :)

http://i1035.photobucket.com/albums/...NagiCage02.jpg

http://i1035.photobucket.com/albums/...NagiCage01.jpg


Nagi (my girl :snake:) seems to like it and that's what counts right? :gj: She spent all night doing laps around it checking things out. It took a while cuz I was waiting for my new thermostat to get in ( so the plastic wouldn't melt or anything )

Oh, and ignore the temp/humidity readings on the thermostat...I took the pics right after I put it all together and had her out for a while until it heated back up. Don't worry...they're now more like 93 on the warm side (where the probs are in the pic) and 80 on the cool side with at least 60% humidity. I also used another tip from a diff post and added some damp sea sponge to keep humidity up (not shown in the pics)

From the pics it looks like you have your thermostat probe right on top of the substrate next to the thermometer probe. If that is the case, then you need to move the thermostat probe. It should be taped (aluminum tape works well) directly to the uth on the outside of the tub.

That way the probe can't be moved by the snake which could result in temp spikes, and it can't get peed on (which could mess up temps), etc.

oh ok...makes since. I was just told to put it on top of the substrate so it will record the temps that the snake will feel. I usually put at least an inch or two of aspen down, so it seems like not all the heat would make it to the top of the bedding...

Actually i had it that way mainly to calibrate my thermostat...my thermometer is more accurate than the thermostat, so i was making sure to adjust the thermostat to the right temps first.

can see how the snake peeing on the probs would mess things up though. Thanks for the tip!

oh ok...makes since. I was just told to put it on top of the substrate so it will record the temps that the snake will feel. I usually put at least an inch or two of aspen down, so it seems like not all the heat would make it to the top of the bedding...

Actually i had it that way mainly to calibrate my thermostat...my thermometer is more accurate than the thermostat, so i was making sure to adjust the thermostat to the right temps first.

can see how the snake peeing on the probs would mess things up though. Thanks for the tip!

A better method then using tape would probably be to adhere the thermostat probe to the bottom of the tub, and then hot glue the thermometer probe inside the enclosure. By doing this you can monitor the actual temp they are sitting on way more accurately. You never want the thermostat probe not adhered to the hot-spot because this will cause it to turn on when it shouldn't. If she moves it to the other cool side of the cage the thermostat will turn it on and who knows how hot it will get. I used monitor it on the outside with a thermometer probe right next to the thermostat probe, but realized (after dr.del pointed out) if you hot glue it to the inside its so much easier and accurate.

Also, when your adjusting your tstat, use your thermometer probe as your reading. Once its turning off at 90-92 going by the thermometer your golden. This might mean the tstat is set to 95 to make this happen. Being that the tstat probe is on the outside it will be getting a cooler reading, so if you turn it up your compensating for the cooler reading. But by having the probe on the inside you will know exactly where to set it. Just takes some fiddling and patience, good luck.

It's easy...

Tape thermostat probe to bottom...
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/hpim0446.jpg

Tape UTH down over thermostat probe...
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/hpim0448.jpg

Add Thermometer/Hygrometer and about 1/2" to 1" of substrate...
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/hpim0456.jpg

Add furnishings...
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/hpim0476.jpg

Don't forget, you will need some type of binder clips, clothes pins, bungee cords, or luggage straps to help keep the lid on to prevent escapes...

I noticed OP, you only have holes at one end! You should have them running down the whole length and sides to allow more air. I drilled my holes then used a bbq lighter to melt the edges smooth. Just a tip for people that don't have a soldering gun. I was too cheap to buy one and just used what I had!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

It's easy...

Tape thermostat probe to bottom...
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/hpim0446.jpg

Tape UTH down over thermostat probe...
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/hpim0448.jpg

Add Thermometer/Hygrometer and about 1/2" to 1" of substrate...
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/hpim0456.jpg

Add furnishings...
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/hpim0476.jpg

Don't forget, you will need some type of binder clips, clothes pins, bungee cords, or luggage straps to help keep the lid on to prevent escapes...

---

I was just curious, have you ever had any temp issues on the side that doesn't have a UTH? Does it ever get too cool or does the warm side UTH give off enough heat to keep the cool side where it's supposed to be? Thanks.

Ok...lots of questions to answer since this weekend.

First off...I have holes along the entire top on one of the sides (both sides) as well as a "star" pattern. I have 2 big star patterns on the other sides at each end. (Basically each side mirrors the opposite side if that helps...The pics kinda suck sorry)

Second, already got bungee cords in place that wrap around the entire tub when closed to keep her from going on an (unplanned) adventure when I'm gone or asleep.

Third, I haven't had any problems with the cool side since I made the switch (still with only one uth on the warm side). It sits at about 80-83 degrees since I let it heat up (right after making the new tub).

Forth, I have been fiddling with the uth and thermostat settings and got it to stay at about 90-93 degrees on the warm side. I may however go back and do what was shown in the pictures yall posted and put the thermostat probe under the uth on the bottom of the tub and do more adjusting with the readings at the substrate surface like you recommended... and hot glue would prob be a lot better than tape since she prob wouldn't be able to move stuff around...Thanks for the tip!!

Thanks for all your help guys!!! I really appreciate it as this is the first time i've done something like this before.:gj:

Btw...special thanks to Vypyrz for the pics to help explain things!!! They REALLY help.

I know yall said something about the holes, and i'd like some feedback now that maybe yall get a better idea of all the ones i put in there that i described in my last post. If yall still think I need to add more, please let me know as it's a pretty quick fix.

If your humidity is high enough and there's no condensation forming (unless there's pee or spilled water), your holes are good.

Thermometer probe goes UNDER the substrate, thermostat probe goes OUTSIDE the tub.

Oh, and just the other night, we used my gas stove to heat a screwdriver to melt holes in a tub.

Humidity's at 60-70 percent and I haven't noticed any condensation or anything. (And Nagi's not always by the holes gasping for air so I guess it's okay.

I'll change the prob placements tonight and fiddle with it some more to make sure the temps stay correct. Thanks again for the help!

For anyone still wondering, I do have a sodering gun that worked really well on the holes. But the heated screwdriver's a great idea for anyone who doesn't have a wood burner or anything else.