Should I Switch to a Tub?

I currently have a 40 gallon tank for my recently adopted ball python and I'm well aware of the pros and cons of both glass tanks and plastic tubs. My room temperature is roughly 60°F and I am unsure if I could heat a plastic tub to the correct temperatures. I have a herpstat 2 at my disposal. Any thoughts on a possible switch would be appreciated.
Thank you

My room is about 18c which I think is around 65f and I use rubs
Smaller rubs for the younger ones around 2 ft are perfect with a heat mat that covers just over 1/3 of the rub but the bigger rub for the full growns have a heat mat that covers pretty much half and goes up one side but is a bit more difficult to keep the cold side from dropping too much.
Iv been thinking of going with heat cable so it's a bit more flexible in where the heat is delivered.. that way could put a bit all around the outside or something to keep the ambient up abit. Switched from exo terrace viv in the beginning and would never go back

You can use the 40g tank just fine you will just have to do a few mods. I am assuming that you have a screen lid. Get a piece of plexi that covers 2/3 of the screen. Then get a CHE and put it over the open third. This is how i currently have one of my BPs set up but in a smaller tank. You also can add a few strips more of heat tape or heat maps on the sides of the tank. Not as pretty but it will get the job done. You are definitely going to want to cover a majority of the screen though. You can switch to a tub but since you already have a majority of the setup with your 40g, you can spend a few dollars more to meet your needs. Just my opinion. :gj:

A tub is so much easier.

Can't see it in a tub.

I made a cover that goes between all 6 of the mesh lid clips I use on my tank and covers 95% of the screened area. I vent the tank on the cool side over his perch on the right side of the tank over his cold side hide. Helps hold the humidity in on the hot side too and you use way less juice on the bulb.

I would assume you could also ghetto it and just wrap cardboard in foil wrap.

As soon as I made the cover I was able to drop wattage on my bulbs and just soaking cypress mulch and keeping the water dish close to the hot spot is enough to maintain 60 humidity at 90 degrees. For sheds I will soak some moss and then put it in his hides and everywhere but his basking rock.

I get why breeders use racks and tubs, but if you have 2-3 reptiles I'd prefer to display them.

My Ball Python knows us, he comes to the glass to check us out if he's out cruisin and not in hunt mode. I'd hate to miss that. Plus being on my gf's dresser, it's nice to take a peek when you're tossing and turning at night.

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Originally Posted by ItsAllNew2Me!

You can use the 40g tank just fine you will just have to do a few mods. I am assuming that you have a screen lid. Get a piece of plexi that covers 2/3 of the screen. Then get a CHE and put it over the open third. This is how i currently have one of my BPs set up but in a smaller tank. You also can add a few strips more of heat tape or heat maps on the sides of the tank. Not as pretty but it will get the job done. You are definitely going to want to cover a majority of the screen though. You can switch to a tub but since you already have a majority of the setup with your 40g, you can spend a few dollars more to meet your needs. Just my opinion. :gj:

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I do have a screen lid which is currently covered with aluminum foil.i also have a 150 watt infrared heat bulb (currently what keeping my rank at "ok" temps) until I figure out if I want to make the switch. On another note, I inherited the tank when I adopted the snake so it's no loss if I switch.

What does the temperature look like with what you have now?

For starters, put some sort of insulation around three sides of the tank, plus the bottom. Foam is good insulation; if you use foam core (like presentation boards, etc) you can maybe make it look a little nicer than just foam insulation board. Wood is a good insulator, too. I have a 80-watt RHP on a glass tank (and the screen lid mostly covered even where the RHP doesn't cover it), which keeps the temperature very nice and even. I am completely an RHP believer, because it works so well on a (insulated) glass tank even in a room that can get below 55° in the winter.

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Originally Posted by Coluber42

What does the temperature look like with what you have now?

For starters, put some sort of insulation around three sides of the tank, plus the bottom. Foam is good insulation; if you use foam core (like presentation boards, etc) you can maybe make it look a little nicer than just foam insulation board. Wood is a good insulator, too. I have a 80-watt RHP on a glass tank (and the screen lid mostly covered even where the RHP doesn't cover it), which keeps the temperature very nice and even. I am completely an RHP believer, because it works so well on a (insulated) glass tank even in a room that can get below 55° in the winter.

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Currently the floor has a high of 85°(in shade, 95° if direct) and a low of 75°, ambient is also 75°. I was thinking of insulating the tank as well if I decided not to switch. I also intend to get a uth if I decide not to switch.

I have limited experience with tubs, but have found that ambient room temps are key with tubs. If your ambient room temps are below 75F, you're better off going with something else.

Coluber how is your humidity with the rhp? Also do u think using an RHP and a uth would be a good setup? Both would be regulated by my herpstat so they don't have to run at full power.

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

I have limited experience with tubs, but have found that ambient room temps are key with tubs. If your ambient room temps are below 75F, you're better off going with something else.

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So you're looking at some kind of an oil heater in that case?

I have used oil heaters that have their own thermostat to raise ambient room temp.

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Originally Posted by Jeanne

I have used oil heaters that have their own thermostat to raise ambient room temp.

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I'm currently using a heater to bump up ambient temperatures,but I want to be independent from it since it does require a substantial amount of power.

A lot of people here recommend space heaters, but IMHO it's crazy to heat a whole room with a space heater just to heat one single enclosure that is a tiny fraction of the total volume being heated; especially when you're talking about heating the whole room by at least 15°. But regardless, insulating is critical to heating efficiently. The plastic that tubs are made of insulates a little bit better than the glass that tanks are made of, but the walls are way too thin to really be that great at insulating by themselves. It's probably easier to cover a tank in foam board insulation than a tub, because the tank has flat sides with square corners, but you can certainly insulate either one.

RHP's are expensive, but they are cheaper than running a 1200-watt space heater for a couple of months, let alone for *years*.

Along similar lines, you can also use a UTH stuck to the side of the tank rather than to the bottom. You still need to regulate it, but since it has no substrate over it to trap heat, it will not get nearly as hot as one on the bottom of the tank that is covered; and it will heat the actual air, too. The usual disclaimer applies though - make sure you actually check the temperature and make sure it isn't hot enough to burn, rather than just taking someone's word for it on the internet.

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Originally Posted by Coluber42

you can also use a UTH stuck to the side of the tank rather than to the bottom..

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This ^^
This is what I ment in my previous comment where the UTH goes up the sides as well. Works wonders for ambient temps

Go get yourself a nice AP or vision cage. All the time and effort you put into making a fish tank with a screen top into a suitable enclosure for a snake isn't worth it. I think there needs to be a sticky on this for new people, the screen top tanks pet stores sell for snakes are trash For keeping heat humidity and keeping a snake in for that matter. They can work the edges of the screens and eventually rip right through. You are better off in a tub or rack and if you want something that you can see the snake in go check out something like I mentioned earlier. AP cages look great and keep heat and humidity perfect.


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Originally Posted by Rob

Go get yourself a nice AP or vision cage. All the time and effort you put into making a fish tank with a screen top into a suitable enclosure for a snake isn't worth it. I think there needs to be a sticky on this for new people, the screen top tanks pet stores sell for snakes are trash For keeping heat humidity and keeping a snake in for that matter. They can work the edges of the screens and eventually rip right through. You are better off in a tub or rack and if you want something that you can see the snake in go check out something like I mentioned earlier. AP cages look great and keep heat and humidity perfect.


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I intend on upgrading to a pvc cage by the end of this year. I do not see my snake ripping through my top since it's more or less wire, but I do agree that the pet store tanks are terrible for keeping humidity in. The only reason I may consider to use the tank is that it came with the snake, so may as well try to work with it.

I have to say it kind of bugs me that the people here always try to convert those who came into the hobby to keep a pet properly displayed in a nice glass enclosure into using a $7 tub from Walmart.

I find it no challenge at all to maintain heat and humidity in a glass tank. But then again I did my research well before buying.

My guy comes to the glass almost every time we go upstairs and check up on him.

Breeders use racks, any other hobby I have been involved in...we've proudly displayed our animals.

Such a strange hobby...

IMO there are some reptiles that are fine to keep in glass "display" enclosures, but I think my ball pythons prefer the tubs. They're much better at holding temp/humidity. The snakes feel less exposed, especially in a closed rack. Plus the tubs are much easier to clean than tanks, which is a great bonus for me!

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In all fairness, if I added 5-6 snakes I would have to look into an alternate system. But for 1-2-3 snakes, I think I could stick with my current method. I seem to be able to control humidity quite well with cypress mulch and moss. Maybe I'm just lucky.

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Originally Posted by Hammertime1977

Breeders use racks, any other hobby I have been involved in...we've proudly displayed our animals.

Such a strange hobby...

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Bps are not social creatures as much as we'd like to think they know us and love seeing us, they do not. They tolerate being handled. They much prefer to be left alone feeling secure so a nice dark tub or rack is heaven for them and easy to maintain proper husbandry. They are not a dog or cat it coming up to the glass is not it wanting to see how you're doing. Unfortunate but true. Not sure why you think suggesting AP/vision type cages over glass screen tops is suggesting not being able to display them. I'm not attacking you at all but more times than not keeping a glass tank is a nightmare of constant maintenance, and you can get the same amount of display you like without any headaches with something like AP cages.

Here's my t8, you can see them just fine.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...ca8dcc8b33.jpg

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Originally Posted by Hammertime1977

I find it no challenge at all to maintain heat and humidity in a glass tank. But then again I did my research well before buying....

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As always your milage may vary.
And IMO if you really do that much research well before buying a bp then you wouldn't have bought a glass viv with a mesh top which can cause problems for you BP. . All research would point you towards a viv that can hold heat and humidity without having to use things like wet substrate, mods to the viv, several mists a day and the list goes on and on.