Yes tubs are better, but glass tanks aren't the end of the world if you set them up right. You can use heat pads under a tub as long as you have a reliable thermostat, and as far as holes are concerned, less is more, i learned that the hard way (see below) and had to add a whole lot of tape, lol. A professionally made reptile enclosure is the best choice, but budget and location may not allow it, Animal Plastics is a brand that lots of members of this site rave about though i don't have one myself. My favorite trick to use what i call "Dave's famous side-tub" (modest, aren't I?) Get an appropriately sized tub, usually a rather large one, and turn it on it's side so that the lid becomes a front access door. Not only do you get the advantages of front access, but with a little ingenuity you can utilize a radiant heat panel from the top. The photo below is an older one, i don't use the analog dials anymore and most holes are taped over, but the engineering is the same. The RHP in the middle sets a comfortable ambient and then on the right under the temple hide there is a heat pad (stuck to the outside of the tub) for a hot spot. Both heating devices are on dimmers and thermostats.
Now for the tricky bits. I was having trouble maintaining humidity, then i used some self adhesive foam weather stripping along the lip of the opening and now its tight as a drum, i have complete control of the humidity by opening or covering vent holes. The RHP is a little more involved. You can't see in the pic, but i have a plank of wood on top of the tub that is as wide as the whole thing (side to side, not front to back). This give the RHP something solid to mount to and also distributes the weight so that the middle of the roof doesn't sag. It was a little involved to build but really not bad, and the only component that cost more than $20 was the RHP. I dont really think of it as permanent, but a very nice place for the snake to grow up in until it ready for a bigger higher quality forever home.
OH! and as far as security, look for a tub with a very tall lip on the cover, it will be very hard to escape from, high quality tubs you will notice have lids that are hard to twist or bend, i have a cheap one that i have to use squeeze clamps in the corner to prevent escapes.
Hope this helps, good luck!
May I know what a RHP is? Is it a certain kind of radiant heat panel? Is it the black thing with a red light in the middle up of your tub? Is it different from heat lamp or ceramic heat? May I know where did you get it and do you have its link?
I always warried they may escape from like the upper part or the bottom part where there's no clamp like left part and right part. Thank you so much !!! I asked too many stupid questions... I'm too warried and don't want them sick or something.
Originally Posted by dkatz4
Yes tubs are better, but glass tanks aren't the end of the world if you set them up right. You can use heat pads under a tub as long as you have a reliable thermostat, and as far as holes are concerned, less is more, i learned that the hard way (see below) and had to add a whole lot of tape, lol. A professionally made reptile enclosure is the best choice, but budget and location may not allow it, Animal Plastics is a brand that lots of members of this site rave about though i don't have one myself. My favorite trick to use what i call "Dave's famous side-tub" (modest, aren't I?) Get an appropriately sized tub, usually a rather large one, and turn it on it's side so that the lid becomes a front access door. Not only do you get the advantages of front access, but with a little ingenuity you can utilize a radiant heat panel from the top. The photo below is an older one, i don't use the analog dials anymore and most holes are taped over, but the engineering is the same. The RHP in the middle sets a comfortable ambient and then on the right under the temple hide there is a heat pad (stuck to the outside of the tub) for a hot spot. Both heating devices are on dimmers and thermostats.
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