Personally, I use both tubs and display caging and have no problems with either. I do sometimes feel that there is an assumption by 'experienced' keepers that a newbie is just making it hard on themselves with display settings (ie time and effort to keep clean, effort to make sure there are appropriate temps, esp with glass enclosures, etc). For me, the rub is that you just need housing that makes the animal feel 'secure' so it exhibits 'normal' behaviors, yeah? But if it's a newer person, who hasn't learned basic behaviors, how do they know the difference between 'comfortably cruising and exploring' and 'desperately seeking a way out'. It's a bit of a bell curve, which leads to the assumption that it would just be 'easier' all around to stick em in a rack. Especially if there is an expectation that more than one animal will be following the first. I have a friend who originally got a BP for her kids (who are now in college). The BP still lives in a 60g tank, nicely displayed and gets brought out all the time to explore. Sweetest, healthiest snake imaginable. And much enjoyed as a 'display' animal. Would it be the pride of the family in a tub? probably not. I'm not advocating either way, I just think there are always multiple factors to take in and the best thing more 'experienced' keepers can do is offer education as the the whys and wherefors, rather than dictate.
Just my .02
Cheers,
Kat
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