90 QT Sterilite Housing W/ Light.(LOTS OF PICTURES)

I found the greatest Sterilite container for a ball python. Its model number 1865 its 90 quarts or 22.5 gallons and has the exact same footprint as a 20gallon long aquarium.

I decided i would incorperate a light with this new container and wanted to share with everyone how i did it.

Here is a picture of the container.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...Great_find.jpg

Here is the materials list.
Sterlite storage container Model 1865.
Galvanized steel wire mesh.
Some 4" wire ties.
And some wire cutters.
A drill.
A jigsaw or a sharp utility knife.
1/4" drill bit if using the jigsaw.
Permanent Sharpie Marker.

Here is a picture of the mesh i used.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/.../Materials.jpg

The first step is to mark the area to be cut. I am using a 6" diameter light so I marked off an 8"x8" square to keep the plastic away from direct heat and to allow some air exchange.

The picture below shows how i marked the lid.
[http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step01.jpg

The second step is to drill holes at each corner of the square you marked in the step before. The holes are so the jigsaw can start at each corner.

Here is a picture showing how i positioned the hole.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step02.jpg

The third step is to cut the hole out with the jigsaw or you can use a sharp utility knife. I used the Jigsaw because it was much faster but becareful because the saw may jump a little when you start.

Here is a picture of the hole after being cut.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step04.jpg

The fourth step is to use the wire cutters and cut out a square piece of the wire mesh. The Sharpie marker could be used to mark off the area to be cut. The mesh should be at least 2" larger on each side then the hole.

Here is the cut piece of mesh as I did the test fit.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step05.jpg

Now for the fifth step you need to attach the wire mesh to the lid. I chose to use wire ties for a few reasons. They stand up very well to heat. They are dirt cheap. And if you need to replace the screen for any reason you can just clip the ties and put on a new one.
Use the drill with a 1/4" drill bit and drill holes between the mesh about 2" apart it dont have to be exact just as long as you drill the hole where the mesh isnt covering a hole. I layed down the mesh and used the marker to mark where i wanted my holes. For the wire ties to work you need to drill a pair of holes per tie.

Here is a picture of how i attached the ties and it also shows how the holes are positioned. Again it dont have to be exact just as long as there isnt a wide enough space for you BP to get out. Sorry its a little dark but you get the picture (no pun intended).
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step06.jpg

Now the final step is to use the wire cutters and cut the excess nylon off the wire ties.

AND YOU ARE DONE.

Here is what it looks like with the ties cut.

http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step07.jpg

And here is the finished product.

http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...s/Finished.jpg

And here it is with the light.

http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...with_light.jpg

Make sure you wash out the tub. I did all of my cutting and drilling with the lid on the tub to make it easy. After you rinse it out with hot water then use some rubbing alcohol and wipe down the entire tub inside and out with a napkin to break any static cling and also to clean the surface of any dust or dirt that might have been there when you bought it and also to disinfect the surface.

I will have more pics soon with it all set up my digital camera ran its batteries dead.

I hope this is useful to everyone. This site has helped me so much and I wanted to make my own contribution if you will. If you have any questions just let me know. Or if i did any thing wrong just let me know.

I got this tub at Walmart they had litteraly hundreds of them. It cost maybe 9 dollars. Total cost of materials with tub would be maybe $20. I had the mesh sitting around on my patio for a year and its still shiney.

Its holding the humidity at 68% and ambient temps are 81 Degrees.

Dude thats an awsome and cheap design. Congrats to you man really I'd reccommend everyone whos trying to keep it sweet and cheap do follow your steps plus the thing I like about rubbermaids is they are hazy so its hard to see in and out of which takes alot of stress from the animal.

Excellent! For what it's worth, when I made a similar enclosure on a smaller scale for my baby crested geckos, I used a soldering iron to cut out the patch on top of the Sterilite and to make the holes for the cable ties, and I also coated the wire mesh with Rust-O-Leum for extra protection against rust with the misting and humidity it will be subject to. I also like the fact that you put the overlap of the mesh on top, which is less aesthetically pleasing but safer for the occupant(s) of the enclosure to avoid scratches.

Well the mesh is galvanized so it wont rust or corode. I was going to paint it but changed my mind because i didint know what would happen to the paint when its "cooked" by the light i think it might give off some toxic fumes. I hope this helps someone.

I need to add some type of climbing aperatus now.

I would suppose if you did want to paint the mesh a more decorative color you could use some high temp engine paint. That stuff stands up to like 1000 degrees.

Does anyone know if they make clear-sided Sterilite/RMaid containers?

I think this is as clear as they get.

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Rust-O-Leum for extra protection against rust

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hey whats a matter with a little rust?? lol
Great design. Very well built!
Rusty

If I ever get my own ball I am definitely using a rubbermaid. Nice work!!

Damien, it's good that you were cautious about possible fumes the paint might give off when heated. In my case, the mesh is for ventilation, viewing, and easy misting, not to support a light source, so heat and resulting fumes aren't a factor. As you pointed out, engine paint should definitely be a usable option, though.

Ginevive, that's as clear as the plastic gets, but it really is pretty clear in actual usage. I don't have any problem reading through it, seeing if a bp's eyes have gone blue, or seeing spots on my geckos larger than 1mm or so, and that's as well as I really need to see without opening an enclosure anyway. You CAN get clearer by going with an acrylic container instead, but they're not as scratch resistant, may crack when exposed to heat or pressure, and are considerably harder to work with with drills or other tools.

Rusty, LOL. Nothing wrong with the right rust in the right place and time. :)

I like these tubs because they have no sharp corners and that makes it easy to clean. Also they are much lighter then an all glass vivarium. The main reason i switched from my glass vivarium to the sterilite tub is becuase when i was moving my tank outside to wash it i accidentily banged it on the step and it cracked the corner and the crack got worse in the course of a few days.

I smell a DIY addition.... or maybe it's pizza...

Maybe this should be made a sticky or be put in the DIY section.

s-t-i-c-k-y

and i'd put it in the general forum. I think there was a post there today about someone complaining about spending 50 dollars on a bp; not realize they'd be spending much more than that on the entire setup.

Not to mention feedings 1.50 a rat every week adds up.

Nice sterilite. I have a rubbermaid same size, Plissken loves his home plenty of room (for now).

Ginevive,

I have seen people that cut out the front of the sterilite and replace it with a small sheet of acrylic. You can attach it by using small screws and bolts.
(use hot glue on the backs of the screws to keep the animal from getting scraped up)
I am currently making a sterilite enclosure for my Ball python and another for a ball that I am going to rescue (hopefully today). There is a ball at a pet store near me that is in bad shape. He has had many bad sheds. He also has scars along his back. They are asking $75 for him but I think I can get them to knock the price down.

In the enclosures I am setting up, I have drilled holes in the top of one of the sides (the cool side) and drilled holes on the bottom of the other side (hot side). I am hoping that this will help with the gradient temps being that heat rises.
I will let you guys know how this works out. Ill try to get some pics too.

I am going to make one of these this week and do away with my 20 gallon glass setup. This is much safer and will prevent nose rubs I would think.

Hmm...June 7th since anyone's posted. Hope you don't mind me bringing it up again.(well..not bringing it up...its stickied.:P)

Anyway...I'm planning on getting my bp soon(hopefully within a week or so) and I'm preparing to purchase my things to house my snakey. I originally wanted a glass tank, but after I got over the whole "it looks better than a sterilite" thing, I realised sterilites would be better for the snake, and easier on me for husbandry(not to mention it's less expensive..which is nice for me).
So, what I was wondering... will having a mesh part at the top for the light..will that be enough for air circulation, or should I drill some holes aswell? I want it to be appropriately ventilated, but at the same time if I don't need to drill holes, I won't bother, lol.

thats plenty of air man. you need to remember if youre heating with a lamp humidity could be tricky.

Nah, I just want to use the lamp with a 60 watt blue bulb I have left over from my last herp(anole), so there will be a bit of light in there at night so I can see whatever I can see through the murky plastic sides, lol. I'll be using a UTH for heat. Seems heating from underneath would be better than heating from overtop...for belly heat with digestion.

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Originally Posted by Cody

Nah, I just want to use the lamp with a 60 watt blue bulb I have left over from my last herp(anole), so there will be a bit of light in there at night so I can see whatever I can see through the murky plastic sides, lol. I'll be using a UTH for heat. Seems heating from underneath would be better than heating from overtop...for belly heat with digestion.

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Doesn't a 60W blue Bulb create heat?
With a 60W Red Bulb I get like 94 degree basking spot.
How do you use a bulb and heat pad at the same time =0

Very carefully. ;)

I don't know how the bulb and heat pad is gonna work out yet. I've gotta get the heat pad, digital thermometer/hygrometer, substrate, and fake plants on tuesday. Then I have to set up my cage and tweak stuff, before I get the "you can come pick up your baby BP" email from my breeder. I should have enough time though. She lives near Toronto which is too far away for a drive there to get the snake, so her friend goes to University of Windsor, so I'll be able to pick it up from her when she goes to her house in Windsor later this month. Cant wait...

Why did this get moved?! Also where did it get moved too?

Look up top. Caging forum. Maybe it was moved because it more suits the caging forum, and maybe it'd boost a few posts out of the thread some. I dunno. :)

Does anyone know if they make those in 55 gallon?

Sterilite doesn't but go here and you will find one appropriately sized they do make an underbed storage box that is 44x22x7 and thats plenty big. They appreciate floor space more then height. But if you want to find a large plastic enclosure go here http://www.reptiletubs.com/ the largest ones are around $30+shipping.

Why a 55? That size will be big enough for an adult ball python. And also these are about $8

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Originally Posted by gozetec02

Sterilite doesn't but go here and you will find one appropriately sized they do make an underbed storage box that is 44x22x7 and thats plenty big. They appreciate floor space more then height. But if you want to find a large plastic enclosure go here http://www.reptiletubs.com/ the largest ones are around $30+shipping.

Why a 55? That size will be big enough for an adult ball python. And also these are about $8

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Why a 55? That size will be big enough for an adult ball python. And also these are about $8

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Which size? The reptile tubs or the 55 gallon? I have great plans for a 55 gallon tub. The one I founf isn't very deep, but it is solid colored and a want to be able to see a little. I have the inside set up all planned it I can find one about that volume

This 90Qt model is plenty big for an adult ball python IMO. Jojo is around 40" now and loves it. These tubs are usually measured in quarts. 4 quarts=1 Gallon. I have seen some very big plastic containers at lowes and they are clear but they are made by another company but forgot the name.

hey was just wondering will that steralite set up last the bp's whole life(i got one in my house) this would really help because i was planning on buying reeses a 55 gal on his 1 year birthday( i am gonna throw him a house party in the new and bigger enclosure lol) but if this can hold a full grown bp than i might throw that plan out the window.

A full-grown bp needs about 5-6 square feet of floorspace and a minimum height of 6 inches, so just look for a Sterilite that meets those space requirements. To calculate floor area, just multiply length x width, for example, 38 inches by 17 inches is about 3 feet by 1.5 feet and gives you about 4.5 sq ft of floorspace, roomy enough until your snake is approaching 4 feet. You want about one more foot of floorspace than your snake has length, so 4 foot snakey gets 5 feet of floorspace. Does that help?

yes that helps alot marla. it also shows that i will be buying a new tank sooner than i thought(reeses is half the tank size now an dhe is only 16 inches lol. maybe a year's time is long enough time to get a new tank anyway.

Glad to help. :) Just remember, it's not specifically length or width that matters most, it's the combination of the two, so it can be just 18" wide, but if it's long enough, that's fine.

oooh, Lowes. I know that store. I guess I will check there. I couln't find any at Home Depot, or at Wall Mart (at least not clear ones)

Try Target, too, if you have trouble finding them.

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Does anyone know if they make clear-sided Sterilite/RMaid containers?

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I don't know about back in May, but I just bought one from Target, R'Maid brand that the sides are very clear. Not quite glass, but quite clear.

Very Nice my man