I read the stickies. :-P (Kidding!) I just wanted to share my research as I did it, and also see if anyone had any experience with these particular models. It definitely seems to be a lighter and more cost effective alternative to Melamine, with the downside of insulation which I think I can solve with the insulating board.
I'm seeing a lot of posts about using the mixing tubs for rats, but not a lot for snakes. I hunted but couldn't find any specific reasons why. I'm guessing it's because of the lack of lid. I guess it might be possible for an adult female to push the entire tub off of a shelf if there's not a lid, but it seems kind of far fetched.