Tub Holes...

I know this may be a stupid question but I have no idea holes you need to out into a tub in order to not suffocate your BP. :P

I have a 34 qt tub with 10 holes currently in it. (holes are about the size of a hole puncher hole)

How many more do you think I need?


Thanks forlistening to my newbie questions. :gj:

As many or as little required to maintain proper temps and humidity ;)

So they will not suffocate in a tub with so little and small holes?

If the holes are there, the air is there.

Snakes use much less O2 and energy than a mammal would. I have tubs with 4 holes and they are fine. I know people that dont put any holes in them only using the little gap from the tub and the top of rack.

I have some reptile basics racks with no holes in the tubs, but I normally melt around six to eight holes in the front of the tub using a soldering iron to control humidity. The holes are not needed for them to breath unless there is no space between the top of the tubs and the bottom of the level above in a rack system. If you are using tops on the tubs, then you will need the holes.

Melt in some holes, set up the tub just as if it contained a snake (substrate, full water dish, hides, heat, etc.). Let the tub sit for a number of hours or even a day and check your temps and humidity. Adjust as required by adding more holes on the top, if you use a lid, or the sides or both. It's best to get this sorted out and stabilized before putting your new snake in it's new tub. :)

Thanks guys, I always want to ask before assuming. :)

I plan on setting up the tub tonight and see how it goes. Hopefully all goes well.


Thanks again.

It never hurts to check first when you're doing something for your snake that you've never done before. :)

anyone opposed to drilling the holes??

I dont have a soldering iron that is like a pen (i guess thats what you would call it) but the tips that came with it are like u shaped kinda like this

===)

so I used a drill and then a file to make sure the edges werent rough...

^ I drilled the holes without a probem. I see nothing wrong with it. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ted1025

anyone opposed to drilling the holes??

I dont have a soldering iron that is like a pen (i guess thats what you would call it) but the tips that came with it are like u shaped kinda like this

===)

so I used a drill and then a file to make sure the edges werent rough...

---

Nothing wrong with using a drill. I did for my first rack. But then for my next couple of racks, I went to Wal-Mart and got the cheapest soldering iron I could find (I think it was around $8) to use solely for "melting" holes.

Let me tell you it made life SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier. Trust me when I say, go pick up a super cheap soldering iron, and melt the holes. Having done both, you couldn't pay me enough to drill them any more.

drilling holes is a pain sice if you are not careful the platic can crack .. i not melted any hole yet but i also got about 3-4 extra tubs right now.

I have probably obsessed way too much over this issue. I set up a tub exactly the same way I would for a BP with proper heat and humidity but without the snake. Then burned incense to be able to actually see the airflow in the tub (I did the same thing for tanks too). Here is what I finally discovered. 1) Holes all the way around the tub at the same level is the least efficient. Hardly any air enters the tub. 2) The best air flow results from holes in the front and back only (no holes on the sides). 3) There should be a few more holes in the back than the front (about 10% more). 4) the holes in the back should be slightly higher on the tub than the holes in the front.

This design creates a gentle, very slow, airflow. The warmer air in the back of the tub rises and exits through the higher holes, drawing in fresh air through the lower front holes. The cooler air then flows across the bottom of the tub (where the snake is), over the water bowl creating humidity, and finally to the back of the tub where it is heated, rises, and exits.

Once this positive airflow is achieved holes can be covered or opened to adjust humidity. If you cover a hole on the front, cover one on the back too. Same if you drill more holes to lower humidity. If you add one hole to the front, add one to the back.

Probably way too much information but that's how I roll.

Interesting concept Jenn, never thought of it like that.

I do not use holes. I open the tubs usually once everyday to water and check on everyone and it lets new air in.