Truth about tubs?????

[scalesj]

Ok, I am just getting back into the whole snake thing again after 10yrs of no snake.. I posted earlier about aquiring a new Ball Python. But what is all this about keeping snakes in tubs. Wouldn't that stress a snake out??? Sorry to sound ignorant,but I never knew you could keep snakes like this.. Is something I could do for another Ball Python. Although I was thinking of getting another Red Tail. I realize the heat gradient issues. But wouldn't it be a tramatic thing everytime the lid is poped open,especially not being able to see out??? Help!! Enlighten me!!!

[mainbutter]

In short, it'd be just fine. The problem is that red tails get kind of big, and IMO even the big tubs just aren't suitable for big snakes.

Tubs are much better than your standard glass cages at MANY things, including holding heat and humidity. Plenty of species DO NOT thrive as well in glass cages as they do tubs.

The biggest revolution in reptile caging has been commercial snake racks and plastic caging (common brands are Reptile Basics and Boaphile Plastics), designed and marketed to the hobbyist keeper or minor breeder. IMO, large plastic caging is perfect for adult RTBs.

[bsavage]

Well typically, snakes are most vulnerable when they are eating, and for the most part, they are solitary, ambush predators who tend to hide, and many seem to prefer for smaller, more cramped quarters. Many hobbyists and breeders find the tubs seem to keep the Snakes feeling more secure, and they refuse food less. In aquariums, it is typical for a snake to feel exposed if it is visible from all sides, and it can become stressed, sick, or overly aggressive.

Tubs are safe and easy to heat with flexwatt, and also save space when utilized in Rack systems. Tubs also hold humidity much better than tanks and tend to be much much easier to clean, not having the dirt trapping corners of an aquarium/terrarium/glass tank. Tubs also tend to be shallower and so, I find it easy to approach a more aggressive snake in a shallow tub as opposed to exposing my entire arm reaching into a deep tank.

Those are the reasons I lean towards tubs. With RTB's, I would suggest an extra large rack system, as any of the common tub-and-racks systems you'll find are geared towards Balls and Colubrids, even Geckos, but there are some that do exist which are built for snakes the size of RTB's and upwards.

[scalesj]

I appreciate the info. I never knew...

[Vypyrz]

Tubs also make great, inexpensive grow-out enclosures that can be used until larger, more permanent caging is required for larger species. The largest tub that I know of is the VE-175, which is basically the same as a 4 X 2 enclosure.

[kitedemon]

One isn't better than the other just different. The real difference is the person setting up the captive environment. The care and attention to variables the keeper does makes an a snake thrive not the enclosure. A tub doesn't help one bit in the hands of a ignorant uncaring keeper it doesn't magically make things better.

I am not going to disagree but I am also not agreeing. I have a rack and enclosures and tanks i switched from a tub some time ago. Every ball python is thriving in all. Actually as I think on it the breeding season hunger striking snakes are in only the rack. Not sure if that means anything or not even, though the oldest male (24 or so) is in a enclosure. I found that the single tub was by far the hardest to maintain a proper gradient, I had a hot spot and then a cool spot no gradient at all. My enclosures step a single degree every 1.5 inches or so, gradient. My rack has a hot spot that drops 3 degrees every 1 inch not a real gradient, just a hot spot and cool spot. I don't have issues with humidity in any of mine I just have differing problems that require different solutions. Tubs need careful ventilation as they can become a breeding ground really easily for nastys. (warm high humidity with low airflow)

[jsmorphs2]

The real difference is the person setting up the captive environment. The care and attention to variables the keeper does makes an a snake thrive not the enclosure. A tub doesn't help one bit in the hands of a ignorant uncaring keeper it doesn't magically make things better.

Very true.


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[xFenrir]

When I got my Ball, I got an aquarium for her, and while it's lovely to look at and gives you a nice conversational showpiece, they're a PAIN to keep the humidity up in. They heat up alright, but the screen tops just leak humidity everywhere.

I recently got a RTB and since we were approved for the adoption the night before we picked her up, I rushed out to the pet store to buy a tank, only to be totally thrown by the prices! (the first tank I got was on sale, a dollar for every gallon!) I remembered a thread about making tubs, and so I went to Home Depot, got a tub that turned out to be the exact floor dimensions of a 40 gal. tank, and built a temporary tub for her. I had to improvise a bit, because I didn't have any UTH's or heat cable/tape, so I cut a square in the lid, soldered a few holes in it (and of course in the tub), tied a square of chicken wire to it with the wire that it was tied up with, and mounted a heat lamp. Amazingly, the chicken wire doesn't get hot at all! And I can say WOW, does it hold the humidity well, and the temps are exactly right, 90 on the hot side, 80 on the cool. I got my girl while she was in shed, so keeping the humidity up is easy. Just my !


(The pieces of cement block are there because I wasn't 100% sure the lid locks would stop her from pushing the top off )

[MikeV]

I have kept my baby RTB in a 2 ft long, 15 inch wide 6 inch tall tub for 9 months now

And guess what? She is 100% healthy, eats every time. She is THRIVING, infact she is already well over 3 ft 4 inches (and I measured her a few meals before her last shed! so shes probably even bigger lol!) not to mention she is thick!

Last time I weighed her about a month or two ago, she came in at 475 I believe? if I weighed her now I wouldn't be suprised if shes past 550 - 600 grams

All im saying is.. boas can and will thrive in a tub until you have a good upgrade (I have a 4x2x1 PVC enclosure that she will be moved into on the 19th!!)

Hope this helps!