About Pythons and Rubbermaid containers.

Hey guys I hear a lot of you snake owners talking about using Rubbermaid containers as your snakes home? I was just wondering how they get air and breathe with a secure lid on top? you'd think if they couldn't get air they couldn't breathe?

Im thinking about using a large rubbermaid myself because they are cheaper than aquariums and I can get a bigger one than the aquarium I currently plan on using. Would some of you please respond and give me some suggestions or explain what you guys do? thanks.

Aaron.

If you click on the 'Do it yourself' link at the top left side of the page, it will direct you to an area that has information on using rubbermaid containers and how to set them up. :wink:

As Caren pointed out, there's a pretty thorough how-to available here, but the quick answer to your question is that we make holes in the container for ventilation.

ALL PRAISE THE SOLDERING IRON!!

We are currently using a mix of glass and tupperware - you are sacrificing nothing but aesthetics and weight going from one to the other. Keep us posted and feel free to ask any Q's you feel weren't covered.

i just used a drill for about 8-10 holes in the top of the lid, and 3 on each side. humidity beez perfecto yo.

Indizzy - some plastic containers can be brittle (what makes em transluscent instead of opaque) and first couple tries with a drill made some big cracks in mine :S so broke down and went the soldering iron route. But only in a WELL VENTILATED AREA.

You dont need too many holes i drilled holes for my little BP Coco and it does fine. I guess just as long as you make the holes bigger than an oxygen molecule you will be ok LOL. And my 90QT only has an opening on one side and it does fine.

And it's a good idea to make your warm side holes near the bottom and escalate up to cool side holes near the top. It will help your heat gradient.

Good advice - that nabs you the Thermodynamocs Award! Aids in air circulation as well.

Just a little tip, If you guys buy a rubbermaid container from a store, Dont forget to rinse it out.. A mistake my friend made and his snake got mites. It wouldnt hurt to use a tad bit of bleach either.

That's pretty odd - what kind of store did he get it from? Wonder how they managed to live off the tupperware?

Good tip though - the odor of most new plastic products is pretty rank. Hell, I won't even wear new clothes until they are washed though - hate that sizing stuff they put in there.

I dont think mites live on plastic in the stores. Good point none the less. I always rinse mine out and give it a good rub down with alcohol its 49 cents and it disinfects any surface very well and the best thing is that when you wipe it down you dont have to worry about fumes for too long becuase this stuff evaporates very fast unlike bleach which should be used with water and then dried and allowed to air dry. This also removes any dust or pestisticides that they might have sprayed to get rid of rodents or insects. Also these tubs seem to have spots on the bottom where the plastic was injected into the mold i always flatten them out with a rasor blade. These plastic tubs are great they are cheap, light, indestructable, and easy to clean. And they hold heat and humidity much better then those screen lid tanks. But you do sacrifice a bit of asthetics when using these tubs but i say they are much better suited for your herps.