Escaping from rubbermaid enclosure?

[sabriel415]

I followed 2 different tutorials from this forum https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...%20tub%20setup and https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...e-Basics-*DUW* to set up a new rubbermaid for my ball Charlie. Pretty much everything is done the same except I have an infrared laser thing that tells me the temp inside the rubbermaid instead of the acurite.

I have 2 bungee cords wrapped around the rubbermaid in addition to large binder clips around the edge (there are 12 total, 4 on long sides and 2 on short sides). The edges seem secure and I cannot move or stick my fingers under the edge into the tank, so I am pretty sure that it would be difficult for him to escape. I am wondering if anyone has experience with balls escaping rubbermaids even with these precautions? Charlie is pretty big, so I am paranoid. I do not want to sell off the glass tank Charlie was in previously just yet in case something goes wrong with the rubbermaid.

[Oxylepy]

For all snake enclosures:

Step 1: check for points of escape. This is any place where the enclosure is not completely connected. In the tutorials you posted, the only point of escape is through the lid.
Step 2: make sure the points of escape are firmly anchored and cannot, under realistic amounts of stress, be opened by the reptile.

From the sounds of it, you should be fine, but honestly I'd swap from bungee cords to a set of clips on plastic fabric (like the kinds used for backpack straps). The reason I suggest that is because it's really easy to secure, allows little to no give, adds almost no stress to the enclosure, and is very easily visually identified as attached/open. I used them on a tank before and I honestly cannot oversell the things. Plus the plastic fabric and clips are pretty cheap

[A_Literal_Dog]

I second the recommendation for luggage straps- I have a pair of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0193...0,140,180_QL70 and I like them a lot, no problems so far.

A word on thermometers- an infrared "laser gun" thermometer is good for checking the surface temperature of things in your tub, but that's different than the ambient temperature of the air- I recommend the Accu-rite in addition because it'll give you a constant read on what the air temperatures are on both ends of the tank, as well as humidity.

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[Oxylepy]

HEY that's exactly what I'm talking about. But you can usually get the straps and the clips at a retail store's craft section for a few bucks (usually they're separate). They are amazing to secure enclosures. They're the next best thing to a built in securing system.

[redshepherd]

Either using super secure straps or putting heavy things on the lid will work fine.

The binder clips don't do diddly squat once your snake is a little bigger though. They can push those out very easily, so having or not having them doesn't make a difference.

I didn't use the bungee cords like you're using, but I had only used binder clips at one point until my dumeril's boa was just gone one day. The lid handles were still on, and only one side of the binder clips had popped off, meaning she pushed the lid up and squeezed through the edge. (Thankfully I found her soon after in the bathroom!)

[Oxylepy]

You know what would work the best, though? A rack setup. You can even do it with a single tub, with or without the lid. If you measured out the tub and took two sheets of wood, one under and one over, then setup supports on the sides, boom single tub rack, maximum security.

[FNG]

I use the fabric straps but I got mine from home depot and they have the metal clip/teeth adjuster. Super cheap and easy as well. The fabric def has little give and secures nice and snug I've found

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[paroxysm]

like others have said, i use luggage straps. got them pretty cheap from target and have never had an escape yet.

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also make sure to get the tub that "locks", the one that has the handle that you have to slide up to close. sorry if that doesn't make sense... don't get a tub where you just put the lid on, get on where you put the lid on and then close the handles.