90 QT Sterilite Housing W/ Light.(LOTS OF PICTURES)

I found the greatest Sterilite container for a ball python. Its model number 1865 its 90 quarts or 22.5 gallons and has the exact same footprint as a 20gallon long aquarium.

I decided i would incorperate a light with this new container and wanted to share with everyone how i did it.

Here is a picture of the container.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...Great_find.jpg

Here is the materials list.
Sterlite storage container Model 1865.
Galvanized steel wire mesh.
Some 4" wire ties.
And some wire cutters.
A drill.
A jigsaw or a sharp utility knife.
1/4" drill bit if using the jigsaw.
Permanent Sharpie Marker.

Here is a picture of the mesh i used.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/.../Materials.jpg

The first step is to mark the area to be cut. I am using a 6" diameter light so I marked off an 8"x8" square to keep the plastic away from direct heat and to allow some air exchange.

The picture below shows how i marked the lid.
[http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step01.jpg

The second step is to drill holes at each corner of the square you marked in the step before. The holes are so the jigsaw can start at each corner.

Here is a picture showing how i positioned the hole.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step02.jpg

The third step is to cut the hole out with the jigsaw or you can use a sharp utility knife. I used the Jigsaw because it was much faster but becareful because the saw may jump a little when you start.

Here is a picture of the hole after being cut.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step04.jpg

The fourth step is to use the wire cutters and cut out a square piece of the wire mesh. The Sharpie marker could be used to mark off the area to be cut. The mesh should be at least 2" larger on each side then the hole.

Here is the cut piece of mesh as I did the test fit.
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step05.jpg

Now for the fifth step you need to attach the wire mesh to the lid. I chose to use wire ties for a few reasons. They stand up very well to heat. They are dirt cheap. And if you need to replace the screen for any reason you can just clip the ties and put on a new one.
Use the drill with a 1/4" drill bit and drill holes between the mesh about 2" apart it dont have to be exact just as long as you drill the hole where the mesh isnt covering a hole. I layed down the mesh and used the marker to mark where i wanted my holes. For the wire ties to work you need to drill a pair of holes per tie.

Here is a picture of how i attached the ties and it also shows how the holes are positioned. Again it dont have to be exact just as long as there isnt a wide enough space for you BP to get out. Sorry its a little dark but you get the picture (no pun intended).
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step06.jpg

Now the final step is to use the wire cutters and cut the excess nylon off the wire ties.

AND YOU ARE DONE.

Here is what it looks like with the ties cut.

http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...ons/Step07.jpg

And here is the finished product.

http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...s/Finished.jpg

And here it is with the light.

http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/...with_light.jpg

Make sure you wash out the tub. I did all of my cutting and drilling with the lid on the tub to make it easy. After you rinse it out with hot water then use some rubbing alcohol and wipe down the entire tub inside and out with a napkin to break any static cling and also to clean the surface of any dust or dirt that might have been there when you bought it and also to disinfect the surface.

I will have more pics soon with it all set up my digital camera ran its batteries dead.

I hope this is useful to everyone. This site has helped me so much and I wanted to make my own contribution if you will. If you have any questions just let me know. Or if i did any thing wrong just let me know.

I got this tub at Walmart they had litteraly hundreds of them. It cost maybe 9 dollars. Total cost of materials with tub would be maybe $20. I had the mesh sitting around on my patio for a year and its still shiney.

Its holding the humidity at 68% and ambient temps are 81 Degrees.

Dude thats an awsome and cheap design. Congrats to you man really I'd reccommend everyone whos trying to keep it sweet and cheap do follow your steps plus the thing I like about rubbermaids is they are hazy so its hard to see in and out of which takes alot of stress from the animal.

Excellent! For what it's worth, when I made a similar enclosure on a smaller scale for my baby crested geckos, I used a soldering iron to cut out the patch on top of the Sterilite and to make the holes for the cable ties, and I also coated the wire mesh with Rust-O-Leum for extra protection against rust with the misting and humidity it will be subject to. I also like the fact that you put the overlap of the mesh on top, which is less aesthetically pleasing but safer for the occupant(s) of the enclosure to avoid scratches.

Well the mesh is galvanized so it wont rust or corode. I was going to paint it but changed my mind because i didint know what would happen to the paint when its "cooked" by the light i think it might give off some toxic fumes. I hope this helps someone.

I need to add some type of climbing aperatus now.

I would suppose if you did want to paint the mesh a more decorative color you could use some high temp engine paint. That stuff stands up to like 1000 degrees.

Does anyone know if they make clear-sided Sterilite/RMaid containers?

I think this is as clear as they get.

Quote:

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Rust-O-Leum for extra protection against rust

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hey whats a matter with a little rust?? lol
Great design. Very well built!
Rusty

If I ever get my own ball I am definitely using a rubbermaid. Nice work!!