Help with tub set up! I hate the tank!

I am seriously considering moving my BP to a tub set up, but I need help. If someone could give me a play by play of the proper set up I would greatly appreciate it. The tank has proved to be quite a pain as far as humidity regulation, cleaning, etc. Thank you! :bow:

just build a rack for 30 bucks that holds 4 snakes
thats what i did
want pics?

Sure! Do you have time to talk about heating...my UTH says it can not be used in conjunction with plastics

no problem, as long as the heating element is hooked up to a rheostat (dimmer), or a thermostat, it is fine with the plastic tubs, because if not hooked up, the temp will get high and melt the plastic.
heres my rack that costed 30 bucks to build (not including flexwatt, thermostat, and tubs.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...5/DSCI0120.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...5/DSCI0123.jpg

heres a pic of the lock i made so my two year old bro couldnt pull the tub out if he happened to get into my room
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...5/DSCI0001.jpg

tubs are great!!! you idea was so great (the metal piece) were going to do the same thing with our rack to keep little fingers (our kids) out of them! so far they have been good but we dont trust the idea of leaving their bins "available" to the little people...

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

tubs are great!!! you idea was so great (the metal piece) were going to do the same thing with our rack to keep little fingers (our kids) out of them! so far they have been good but we dont trust the idea of leaving their bins "available" to the little people...

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thanks ashleyB, it turned out exactley how i wanted it to

happened to find those metal pieces at lowes with all the L brackets and stuff

oh, btw, the pegboard sits on top of the flexwatt so easy sliding the tubs out and no hard times pulling them

I just moved mine into a tub over the past couple of days.

Step 1: Went to Wal-Mart and bought a 32 quart tub. (Bigger than needed, but the other sizes were much to small that they had in stock)

Step 2: Bought a roll of duct tape and some bungee cords (At Wally world as well). Make sure the cords will wrap around the tub. I also got a roll of double stick tape.

Step 3: Went to a couple of restaurants and picked up a bunch of newspaper for bedding (free).

Step 4: Went home and heated an awl in the flame of the stove and started poking holes in the top and sides of the tub. I figured I'd rather make to many and cover some up with some tape than have to keep going back to punch them. Just don't overdue it.

Step 5: Removed the UTH from the tank and transfered it to the bottom of the tub. I tried it without any additional bonding, but it heated up and fell off so I added duct tape to it. Just around the edges to secure it. Took four flat caps from water bottles and secured them to the bottom using duct tape. This gives some space between the bottom of the tub and whatever it is sitting on for circulation.

Step 6: Put everything but the snake in the tub. Newpaper, hides, water, moss, wood chunk, thermometer, hydrometer and then plugged everything in and let it sit for about 2 hours waiting to see what the heat and the humidity did.

Step 7: Poked some more holes in it to let some of the humidity escape. Waited and watched. Added more holes. Rinse wash repeat. Taped some holes up. Finally got it all where it needed to be. I then got four flat caps from water bottles as spacers

Step 8: Crumpled up a bunch of newspaper and put it in the tub leaving just one open area in the middle so I can see the gauges in the back.

Step 9: Introduced the snake into the tub and watched him to make sure there was no problem. So far, so good with the exception of the humidity being a bit high but removing the moss seems to be helping that out.

Tips:
1) Make sure you get a tub with a lid that latches.
2) It's easier to tape over holes than to have to remove everything to burn them in.
3) When you remove your UTH from the old tank either use a blowdryer or make sure it is still warm as it comes off much easier.
4) I prefer a flat, long tub (no matter how many quarts it is) not a small deep one, but you can probably work with either. The deeper ones are more display like if they are clear plastic.

Cost of project:
Tub: 4.99
Tape: 5.99
Double sided tape (I never used): 2.79
Gauges: 10.49
Newspaper: Free
Hides: Free (one from the tank he was in and one an old plastic container I cut up)
Heaters: Free (already had the UTH on the tank)

Total: $24.26 including tax

close to 30 bucks i paid a piece of 8' by 4' melamine

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bsd13

I just moved mine into a tub over the past couple of days.

Step 1: Went to Wal-Mart and bought a 32 quart tub. (Bigger than needed, but the other sizes were much to small that they had in stock)

Step 2: Bought a roll of duct tape and some bungee cords (At Wally world as well). Make sure the cords will wrap around the tub. I also got a roll of double stick tape.

Step 3: Went to a couple of restaurants and picked up a bunch of newspaper for bedding (free).

Step 4: Went home and heated an awl in the flame of the stove and started poking holes in the top and sides of the tub. I figured I'd rather make to many and cover some up with some tape than have to keep going back to punch them. Just don't overdue it.

Step 5: Removed the UTH from the tank and transfered it to the bottom of the tub. I tried it without any additional bonding, but it heated up and fell off so I added duct tape to it. Just around the edges to secure it. Took four flat caps from water bottles and secured them to the bottom using duct tape. This gives some space between the bottom of the tub and whatever it is sitting on for circulation.

Step 6: Put everything but the snake in the tub. Newpaper, hides, water, moss, wood chunk, thermometer, hydrometer and then plugged everything in and let it sit for about 2 hours waiting to see what the heat and the humidity did.

Step 7: Poked some more holes in it to let some of the humidity escape. Waited and watched. Added more holes. Rinse wash repeat. Taped some holes up. Finally got it all where it needed to be. I then got four flat caps from water bottles as spacers

Step 8: Crumpled up a bunch of newspaper and put it in the tub leaving just one open area in the middle so I can see the gauges in the back.

Step 9: Introduced the snake into the tub and watched him to make sure there was no problem. So far, so good with the exception of the humidity being a bit high but removing the moss seems to be helping that out.

Tips:
1) Make sure you get a tub with a lid that latches.
2) It's easier to tape over holes than to have to remove everything to burn them in.
3) When you remove your UTH from the old tank either use a blowdryer or make sure it is still warm as it comes off much easier.
4) I prefer a flat, long tub (no matter how many quarts it is) not a small deep one, but you can probably work with either. The deeper ones are more display like if they are clear plastic.

Cost of project:
Tub: 4.99
Tape: 5.99
Double sided tape (I never used): 2.79
Gauges: 10.49
Newspaper: Free
Hides: Free (one from the tank he was in and one an old plastic container I cut up)
Heaters: Free (already had the UTH on the tank)

Total: $24.26 including tax

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I hope u have some sort of t-stat

I am a big fan of professionally built racks. I have a freedom breeder style rack, and a few pvc racks. I really like both. If you are going for heat and humidity, then the pvc racks are perfect. You will probably have too much humidity. A few holes melted into the sides and front of the rack will fix that.
Another reason that I like the pvc racks, is that they will last a lot longer than wood racks. If you think about it, wood mixed with humidity for a long period of time is going to start to rot. PVC is not going to do that.
There are a lot of companies that make pvc racks. I have personally bought from reptilebasics.com. They make really nice ones. The main reason that I chose them over the other companies, is that everything is included even shipping. The only thing that you have to buy is a digital thermostat, to control the heat.
I would suggest buying the 32qt rack. Some people keep all of their ball pythons in these tubs. I personally switch my big females into CB70 tubs. I keep all of my adult males in 32 qt tubs. You can also keep hatchlings in these tubs. They sell a tub divider, so you could keep 2 hatchlings in one tub.
I personally use disposable cage liners as substrate. You can use whatever you like. Most people use newspaper. I like the disposable cage liners, because they soak up really well, and are extremely easy to clean.
Make sure you have a heavy water bowl, because they will definitely tip them over. I use the 5" ceramic bowls. They are heavy and are rarely tipped over.
I do not use hide boxes, because the tubs are tight and dark, so I do not feel that they need the hides. A lot of my snakes will burrow under the cage liner.
Hope that answers you questions. :cool:

same with me
i do not use hides either

but i built my first one just cause i only needed 4 shelves cause i wont have more snakes than that for a while

i plan on buying my next though

Quote:

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Originally Posted by atp151415

I hope u have some sort of t-stat

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Got it covered. Bought a line wired t-stat from home depot and am in the process of having a friend hardwire it for me with a probe. In the meanwhile I'm using a rheostat and a digital thermometer to check temps. I put it on medium and it holds perfectly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by atp151415

same with me
i do not use hides either

but i built my first one just cause i only needed 4 shelves cause i wont have more snakes than that for a while

i plan on buying my next though

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Is there a reason not to use hides in your opinion? I mean does it do them harm to give them a hide or two?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bsd13

Is there a reason not to use hides in your opinion? I mean does it do them harm to give them a hide or two?

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No it does not harm them, all of mine are offered hides, whether they are in a rack or not.

hides offer security, if they are not eating, it is because they dont feel secure enough, so then you must have a hide

my pastel is in a 15 qt and goes under the newspaper when he wants just like a hide
he has never refused a meal for me the whole time ive had him so there is no reason to put a hide in there, plus the rack is darker in the back then the front so it makes him
feel secure

if he wouldnt eat for me, then yes i would put a hide in there

Quote:

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Originally Posted by atp151415

oh, btw, the pegboard sits on top of the flexwatt so easy sliding the tubs out and no hard times pulling them

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That's a great idea!! :gj:

thanks, wasnt really my idea though lol

it was a friend of mines idea
www.davisconstrictors.com

Quote:

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Originally Posted by atp151415

no problem, as long as the heating element is hooked up to a rheostat (dimmer), or a thermostat, it is fine with the plastic tubs, because if not hooked up, the temp will get high and melt the plastic.
heres my rack that costed 30 bucks to build (not including flexwatt, thermostat, and tubs.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...5/DSCI0120.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...5/DSCI0123.jpg

heres a pic of the lock i made so my two year old bro couldnt pull the tub out if he happened to get into my room
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...5/DSCI0001.jpg

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So Crazy!! I am building the EXACT same rack tomorrow without ever seeing this post before when i was planning for it.

Quick question tho: which direction did u place the flexwatt - across the back under the tubs, or like on one end?

I used to have the same problem with the tank. I switched my baby ball to a 15qt tub early last week and i'm so glad I did. I use a UTH under his water dish to keep the humidity up and different lamps above his tub to keep the temp regular. I can tell he's a lot more comfortable than what he was in the tank.

lol chrisguz
thats weird

i wound 3" flexwatt through each shelf

it was so easy, took two days cuz we did like 30 min one day and 30 another


i did it all with using only one piece of 4X8 melamine, prolly couldve got one more shelf but i told the guy wrong measurements, but things happen for a reason so



i ordered 11 feet of flexwatt, and had about 7-10 inches left

ordered an extra foot just incase, hope all helped