Do you have your BP in a tank or tub?

Do you have your BP in a tank or tub?

I started off in a tank, and then I switched to tubs, and will never look back, I'm getting a rack in about a week, can't wait for that, GO PLASTIC TUBS! :rockon:

Same as Mitch. Started off in a tank, switched to a tub and never looked back. Been easy ever since.

Tubs, SO much easier to clean and sterilize.

Tanks...
I'm just a beginner! :bolt:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallPythonsRule

Tanks...
I'm just a beginner! :bolt:

---

You should consider switching, you will think it's the best choice, trust me!

I went all out, I only had one bp (still, even now I only have 2) and I build myself an 11 slot rack, greatest decision ever.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

I went all out, I only had one bp (still, even now I only have 2) and I build myself an 11 slot rack, greatest decision ever.

---

LOL I still can't believe you made that :P

neither!

I have mine in a purpose-built snake enclosure!
it's plastic with front-opening doors.
The beauty of a tank, the ease and humidity of a tub.
plus I never have to approach my snake from above, which tends to stress him out :D

my new red-tail will go in the same type of enclosure.

I love my tub :) I'd love it even better if it were in a rack... I'm thinking that's gonna be my Christmas present to myself (and to Auryn, of course!). That way, I've got room for a hatching in the Spring :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bright202

You should consider switching, you will think it's the best choice, trust me!

---

I don't have $100s to get one.. C'mon I'm just a kid not a milionare.. lol
But I will probably switch once I get a corn snake and a femal juvie bp.. soon... after Christmas...I hope.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallPythonsRule

I don't have $100s to get one.. C'mon I'm just a kid not a milionare.. lol
But I will probably switch once I get a corn snake and a femal juvie bp.. soon... after Christmas...I hope.

---

Really all you need is a thermostat- $75-$100
tub-$10 (if that)
flexwatt- $5 (not even)
and you good, use the hides from your tank, you will probably end up liking it better, you don't have to be a "millionaire"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallPythonsRule

I don't have $100s to get one.. C'mon I'm just a kid not a milionare.. lol
But I will probably switch once I get a corn snake and a femal juvie bp.. soon... after Christmas...I hope.

---

I switched to tubs, and I can't tell you the amount of money I have saved not having to try out 15 different heating configurations and trying to regulate humidity. I'm a beginner, and making the switch has been tremendously helpful.

my sire sotek is in a tank and will stay in his sweet palace! i have just finished my 5 adult rack which will house his females 1 to 2 normals a pastel and a spider come november.

Alright...I just have to say it. Please don't be insulted or upset all you tub people out there, but I just don't understand how a plastic, semi-transparent at best, box that could be mistaken for a clothing container is a thrilling enclosure for a snake. I understand the space saving concept for breeders, and I also understand the whole temperature and humidity control issue, because glass can be quite a challenge to regulate, but you have to open the tub to even see your pet. And although I have seen a few pix of decor in a tub, you can't put in much and wouldn't be able to see it anyway.

I guess it's just a thing of mine, but I prefer to be able to see and watch my little one...even though it's usually only in the late evening (which is a good arrangement since I'm away at school all day). The same goes for my corn snake and leo gecko in their 10gal tanks. I've never really had a problem getting temps right, though humidity can be challenging in dry Colorado, and it's really nice to have the decorated tanks in the bedroom...even when the snakes are in their hides.

Call me old fashioned, but to me plastic tubs are for storage and are not very nice to look at anyway. Eventually, I intend to put both my snakes into custom built wood/plexi enclosures which will be even nicer and easier to maintain than the tanks. :)

Ok, end rant.

For a snake that spends 99.5% of their time in a burrow or other hole in the ground, a transluscent tub that holds temps and humidity at a consistent level, is a very suitable enclosure. These animals don't need constant activity or stimulation to be happy in their environment. I don't think they would eat, shed properly, breed or successfully reproduce if they weren't content in their environment.


These snakes rely on temperatures and humidity being at proper levels all the time, and in a glass tank that is constantly sucking the heat out so it can equalize itself between the temp of the room and the higher heat in the tank, it's just not very efficient.

Tanks are drafty and difficult to maintain if you don't have the proper equipment. They need to be insulated and the screen top covered before they even work well. Glass is a good conductor of heat, but not a very good insulator, so you're constantly going to be fighting that problem and worrying about temperature swings. Storage tubs and snake-specific plastic enclosures are made to hold in heat and keep it in.

If you want to see your snake, open the tub(same as if you were in Africa, if you want to see the snake, break open the hole or termite mound). There are some great storage boxes that are very transparent. The Sterilite Clearview tubs are nice as are the Iris boxes. I use the Clearview tubs in my bigger rack(8 shelf) and I can see each and every snake, and what they are doing. I'll take a picture so you can see.

Alot of people just aren't willing to spend the hundreds of dollars it takes to set up an aquarium properly, not to mention the work it takes to maintain the enclosure, take it outside on a regular basis and break it down for cleaning, the money it costs for electricity and all of the heating required, and tanks are heavy and fragile. One wrong move, one bump up against the bathtub, and there goes a huge crack up the side of your tank.

Tubs... I can throw down a flight of stairs if I want to :) Easy to clean, don't have silicone that retains the smell of urine/feces, don't weigh 100lbs, easy to heat and keep humid, inexpensive to replace, and the snakes thrive in them.

Tubs all the way here

1 of mine is in a tank now. Other 3 are in tubs. Tubs are SO much easier.
Once my Reptile Basics rack gets here, me and my snakes are gonna be happy campers.

Tubs for everyone :sunny:

Sanchez is my first bp and i have him in a tank...i have a ? in a tub how would you do the lighting? would you get a clear top or do they not need the light as long as they have an uth?

There is no need for any extra lighting. BPs are nocturnal.

From the caresheet:

"LIGHTING
Neither UV lighting or supplemental lighting is required for ball-pythons. They do well with ambient room light, so long as the light is not constant and some sort of day/night schedule is provided. Excessive lighting can induce high stress levels in these nocturnal creatures."

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=59

yea but how would you provide a day/night difference in a tub? isnt it all dark?

Most tubs are transparent. Regular house lighting will still penetrate the tub. Lights on in the day, off at night. As long as they can still differentiate between the two photo periods.

k thanks for the advise devious...i mite have to do that cuz it's hard to keep the humidity up in glass tank.

I have 8 in tanks and 11 in tubs. Just ordered my rack tonight! Can't wait to get everyone in. I got an 11 high 2 wide, a 40 tub hatchling rack and a 5 high 66 qt size for my large adult females. They even come with heat cable. It's going to be so much easier. Should get them just in time for when i move to a bigger apartment (no more room for snakes) on Nov 1.

Tubs all the way! :banana:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

For a snake that spends 99.5% of their time in a burrow or other hole in the ground, a transluscent tub that holds temps and humidity at a consistent level, is a very suitable enclosure. These animals don't need constant activity or stimulation to be happy in their environment. I don't think they would eat, shed properly, breed or successfully reproduce if they weren't content in their environment.


These snakes rely on temperatures and humidity being at proper levels all the time, and in a glass tank that is constantly sucking the heat out so it can equalize itself between the temp of the room and the higher heat in the tank, it's just not very efficient.

Tanks are drafty and difficult to maintain if you don't have the proper equipment. They need to be insulated and the screen top covered before they even work well. Glass is a good conductor of heat, but not a very good insulator, so you're constantly going to be fighting that problem and worrying about temperature swings. Storage tubs and snake-specific plastic enclosures are made to hold in heat and keep it in.

If you want to see your snake, open the tub(same as if you were in Africa, if you want to see the snake, break open the hole or termite mound). There are some great storage boxes that are very transparent. The Sterilite Clearview tubs are nice as are the Iris boxes. I use the Clearview tubs in my bigger rack(8 shelf) and I can see each and every snake, and what they are doing. I'll take a picture so you can see.

Alot of people just aren't willing to spend the hundreds of dollars it takes to set up an aquarium properly, not to mention the work it takes to maintain the enclosure, take it outside on a regular basis and break it down for cleaning, the money it costs for electricity and all of the heating required, and tanks are heavy and fragile. One wrong move, one bump up against the bathtub, and there goes a huge crack up the side of your tank.

Tubs... I can throw down a flight of stairs if I want to :) Easy to clean, don't have silicone that retains the smell of urine/feces, don't weigh 100lbs, easy to heat and keep humid, inexpensive to replace, and the snakes thrive in them.

---

Thank you.... I use rack systems because my collection wont stop growing, and i want my snakes to be happy. Also i live in an apartment. I could only imagine what my electricity bill would look like if all my snakes were in glass tanks.

Like many, I started using tanks when we were only keeping one or two as pets. Once our group started growing, I switched to tubs and then tubs in racks.

got two tanks now...when i get the funds gonna switch to tubs.

All of mine are in tubs in racks. :)Soo easy to lift clean and bleach out.. no problemos.

Don't get me wrong, guys, I truly understand the multiple reasons you gave in favor of tubs, but one thing stands out over all: Multiple snakes.

When you have more than, say, 4 snakes, of course tanks would be impractical. They take up a ton of room and you can't stack them. A rack system, therefore, would be a great space saver and way to heat all those enclosures 'at once' as it were. However, do not forget the existence of display cages. When built (or ordered) right, you can have 4 cages stacked and get the same benefits of simpler heating with flexwatt and saved space, as well as better heat and humidity control...and STILL have a great looking cage with naturalistic decor that you, your friends, and especially your snakes can love. Yes, they can get heavy - at least more so than tubs - but if you put a good locking wheel system on them (the same as I have seen needed on large racks) then moving them isn't a challenge.

Tubs are great and fine for those who are attached to them, and they can be real saviors when your collection is huge...but for those who only have 1-4 snakes and will never increase their collection beyond that (like me because I can't), then tanks and display cages are the way to go for enjoyment and beauty.

Just my :2cent:

what do you mean tub? I never even knew i had a choice....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

Tubs are great and fine for those who are attached to them, and they can be real saviors when your collection is huge...but for those who only have 1-4 snakes and will never increase their collection beyond that (like me because I can't), then tanks and display cages are the way to go for enjoyment and beauty.

Just my :2cent:

---

Well said.

A tub would be pointless for someone that has one snake.

Like me, I have a nice 40 gal breeder in my living room. Everyone that comes over gives me compliments on it and my bp.

Plus it more easy on the eyes when i'm sitting there watching tv seeing him roam around in it.

Just FWIW, I used tubs in varying sizes for my first snake that I got in 2004. It saved me alot of trouble and heartache trying to regulate temperatures and humidity(she always ate well, even throughout the winter, and always had great sheds). The other Ball Python in the house(a friend's snake) was kept in a 55 gallon tank with one heating pad, no thermostat/thermometer/hygrometer, never shed in one piece and only ate every 2-3 months(and gerbils at that).

I use tubs and a couple display cages here, at the zoo we use tubs and old-style slant front Neodesha cages.:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

When you have more than, say, 4 snakes, of course tanks would be impractical. They take up a ton of room and you can't stack them. A rack system, therefore, would be a great space saver and way to heat all those enclosures 'at once' as it were. However, do not forget the existence of display cages. When built (or ordered) right, you can have 4 cages stacked and get the same benefits of simpler heating with flexwatt and saved space, as well as better heat and humidity control...and STILL have a great looking cage with naturalistic decor that you, your friends, and especially your snakes can love. Yes, they can get heavy - at least more so than tubs - but if you put a good locking wheel system on them (the same as I have seen needed on large racks) then moving them isn't a challenge.

---

I have seen some of those cages and they are beautiful, but talk about needing to be a millionaire. I saw a 5 cage set up for $1200. Amazing tanks and display items with amazing locking systems. I think I would only have one of those if I kept venomous snakes. Tubs have so many advatages over tanks it is kind of one sided. The only good part of a tank is the display feature and if that outweighs cleaning, easier temp/humidity control, cheaper electric bill, sturdy, and being compact then tanks are for you.

But I bought a rack from RBI that holds either 8 juvies or 4 large adults or any combination of the two, for 234 dollars shipped with tubs included and flexwatt installed.

all of my other snakes are in tubs except for my BP. she's in a tank since it's been empty for a long time so she'll make good use of it until she outgrows it.

Tanks are for the humans pleasure and tubs are for the snakes pleasure.
You don't need a rack or multiple animals to use a tub. There are many people with 1 snake that use a tub for easier husbandry, cleaning and security for the snake(BP's that is). Other species of snakes may prefer alot more cage space but BP's like smaller areas.

Tanks are fine to look at your snake but your snake would prefer the privacy of a tub.

Tubs are better to control enviroment but most people would prefer to view their snake in a tank.

The other nice thing about tubs is since they are so cheap you can buy 2, still way cheaper than a tank, and when it's time to clean just swap them from one to the other. No stress on the snake, no need for a temporary enclosure during cleaning and less chance of escape.

Snakes don't always poop at convinient times so i have extra tubs, bowls and hides(from 99 cents store) so I just swap them out and clean dirty tub at my convienence. :cool:

A question... can you use a heat mat (like zoomed's) instead of heat tape for tubs....? Or is there a difference (except price)?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallPythonsRule

A question... can you use a heat mat (like zoomed's) instead of heat tape for tubs....? Or is there a difference (except price)?

---

Yes you can but I ALWAYS reccomend a T-stat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

Yes you can but I ALWAYS reccomend a T-stat.

---

Is this it?
http://www.bigappleherp.com/BAH-100-...Plug-In-Design
sorry if this is off topic..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallPythonsRule

Is this it?
http://www.bigappleherp.com/BAH-100-...Plug-In-Design
sorry if this is off topic..

---

Those are not very good or accurate. I wasted my $ on 3 when I was starting and then got a Ranco. It is more $ but you won't have problems and stress out!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

Those are not very good or accurate. I wasted my $ on 3 when I was starting and then got a Ranco. It is more $ but you won't have problems and stress out!

---

I have 3 of these and never had any problems.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Ranco-E...d-p-16172.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I have 3 of these and never had any problems.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Ranco-E...d-p-16172.html

---

Haha that makes me feel better. I ordered one of those and it looks not very well made. I am glad that they work awesome.

Thanks...

You don't really need to be rich to afford a good display tank...unless you order it from a place like Cages by Design or something. I have the plans to build a 42"x18"x12" wood and plexi cage for my BP once she's bigger and it will only cost around $80-$100. That's half the price of even the cheaper ordered cages. Of course, it's handmade, but I love building so it's no problem for me.

Satanic: Of course that snake wasn't doing too well, you said yourself that the tank was way too big, and there was no t-stat or way to monitor temps. It wasn't the tank, but the setup that was wrong.

Tanks aren't horribly difficult to clean, you shouldn't have to carry it anywhere if you have a good cleaner like Chlorhexidine or bleach solution in a spray bottle, and they can make a snake quite happy indeed as long as you have the right equipment and aren't against a little extra work. The electric bill isn't that high, at least not for the three tanks I have, though I know it could be with multiple tanks. And how a tank looks, whether your snake is visible or not, is up to you. A sparse tank wouldn't be much fun to look at, no, but a naturalistic looking tank is very nice. Privacy for the snake is actually not that hard, either, as long as you cover the back and sides and give plenty of foliage or driftwood with the hides.

I am quite sorry if I sound argumentative... I don't mean to rile anyone up or offend anyone. I just get a little frustrated when people don't give all three options of enclosures equal emphasis. It really comes down to personal choice, so newbies especially should be given the high and low points of all the options, as well as experiences and opinions, and allowed to decide for themselves. I am in no way saying that people are forced to do anything here, but I do believe that responses about caging are rather tub biased.

Anyway, sorry for the ranting... :oops:

Not offensive just expressing your viewpoint, which is what this forum is for. Well you said it would cost you around 80-100 for a enclosure around the size of a 55 gallon tank(48x13x21) You can buy these for around $200 with no work. Some people are not very mechanically inclined and can't build cages or they don't have the tools etc. If you like building good for you! Much cheaper that way. That was on reason I bought my rack, instead of building it. It would have cost about the same amount to just buy it.

I for one don't enjoy looking into a tank and seeing some water bowl with 2 plastic looking rocks with some mulch on the ground, branches, with a Thermo/Hydrometer in the corner. Static looking enviroments don't usually appeal to me, but to some it does but that is your prerogative.


Even you said it cleaning takes "extra work". Privacy is also extra work by adding stuff onto the tank. Your electric bill may not be high but do you know how many KWH it uses per month? I am curious about this myself but I probably will never know, since I can't unplug it =P, but I am positive it is higher. Tanks just don't hold heat or humidity as well as a tub does, without covering most of the top of the tank with something. I use duct tape and foil, like a few people do. Nothing says natural like duct tape and foil. For beginners I would definitely suggest a tub, since it makes almost everything easier to care for.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brimstone111888

I ordered one of those and it looks not very well made. I am glad that they work awesome.

---

I'll second the praise on that thermostat...it works great, and is reasonably priced. I just ordered another one of those along with a bunch of heat tape from Rich yesterday for a new adult rack I'm about to start building.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ctrlfreq

I'll second the praise on that thermostat...it works great, and is reasonably priced. I just ordered another one of those along with a bunch of heat tape from Rich yesterday for a new adult rack I'm about to start building.

---

Awesome to know!

Oh you're quite right that tanks are not the greatest for long run keeping of a BP. However, if you don't like the look of tubs and can't yet afford to make or buy that great display cage then tanks work quite well with just a bit of extra effort. I always intended to keep my girl in a custom cage, but she's too small and I'm too poor right now. Since I have a fair collection of tanks already, I set the 20gal up with coverage, insulation, and the foil top to be her home in the meantime. So far it works great.

Also, I don't consider my tank to be very 'static'...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...aginishome.jpg

Just replace the cypress with aspen, since I didn't like the sharpness of that stuff. And I also tied the probe cord to the unit so it wouldn't drag like that.

Anyway, everyone has their own preferences for looks, ease of care, and cost...that's what makes the hobby varied and fun. I would just like to see the ups and downs of tanks and display cages listed along with the ups and downs of tubs so new owners can have a full idea of their options.

Oh, and as far as the Ranco goes...I also support it. Although it's much bigger and bulkier than my Johnson, and doesn't have the indicator light, it works very well controlling my BP's cool side as well as my corn snake's UTH.

I personally just built 4 custom cages and it cost me 400$ total for all 4. So as stated it was 100$ a cage... Dimensions are 4x2x1.5ft and holds temps/humidty great. It is not hard at all and I actually paid for plans off the internet... 30$ but it was well worth it... They turned out great... check my gallery for pics.

i've got my girl in an ap cage- i dunno what to catergorize that as...