I use a tub for several reasons.

1. They say it makes them less cage aggressive, I know some people dont believe this but ask anyone you know about "Hook training" and you can see that snakes DO learn associations.

2. Eating substrate

3. Better strike acuracy

4. I feed live and I dont need a mouse borrowing under the substrate or hiding in a bush somewhere where he bites me as I pull him out.

5. If some thing goes wrong (bad strike, mouse bitting snake, snake frightened, etc.) I have much better control over being able to handle it.

6. Easier to clean up, live mice poop or pee sometimes when struck.

So there's my but I get change back all the time so take it with a grain of salt...

-Mikey