all glass tank super big storage container, help me decide.

[beaglegod]

Theres an Iris 127 quart clear plastic storage container sold at office depot for about 25 dollars, its got a locking lid and the dimensions are 30 3/4 inches long 19 3/4 inches deep and 18 1/4 inches high, not as clear as glass but clearer than most rubbermade products. For a Ball Python would I be better off with this or a 40 gallon breeders tank with screen top?

Oh and by the way this will be my first snake!:p

Ive posted this same question at another snake site but I figured I better get all the opinions I can before make my setup.

Lemme know what you guys think.

Beaglegod

[Linds]

Definitely the rubbermaid :) This will help you maintain a good relationship between airflow and humidity. Ball Pythons do not require very ventilated enclosures, but you want to have strategically placed holes so that air can enter from all sides, this helps to stave off mold in a humid environment ;) Another thing I would like to add, in addition to the locking lid, you will also want to provide some sort of securing system, the lids that lock on two sides are quite flimsy and a BP can easily push out through the sides.

[beaglegod]

Thanks Linds.
Do ya think thdimensions are large enough to house a full grown BP? Or will that be to tight a fit?

[Ron]

If it is a male is should be okay but if you have a big female I would definitely put her in something a little bigger.

[beaglegod]

Do the even make plastic containers larger than the one Ive posted?:confused:

[sapphire_moon]

I've seen breeders on here say they house their bp's in rubbermaid that are about that big... so I don't see why it wouldn't be ok to house a full grown bp in it. But I say if your not going to get tons of snakes then the bigger enclosure the better!

And do not forget to research your reptile BEFORE you get it. Set the cage up first so you can make sure temps are good before you put the snake in. and DO NOT get it from a pet store! lol

[sapphire_moon]

lol, yes they do. But you really have to search for it. I've got an IRIS HOLIDAY CONTAINER that is for fake christmas trees and it is 4ft long. (sorry for bein lazy didn't feel like editing, my computer is so slow)

[Auskan]

BPs actually do ok in relatively small spaces since they like to spend a lot of their time curled up in a ball in a hide anyway. Giving them room to exercise is good, but if you have a smaller enclosure for them, you can get them out to exercise from time to time. By this I mean supervised time - not letting them just roam the house. If you have a BP that likes water, you can put a little lukewarm water in the bathtub and let them swim (but don't take your eyes off them - if they can find a way to crawl out, they will). Otherwise, some exercise crawling over you, or around the living room floor (again, never leave them alone even for a minute - they can move suprisingly fast) is appreciated by the animal and will help to make up for less moving space in the enclosure. I am not suggesting you can use this as a substitute for a decent sized enclosure, but some exercise time out of the enclosure will probably be appreciated no matter how large an enclosure you have.

[mykee]

Rubbermaid also makes an underbed wrapping paper box, #2119-87. The dimensions are 34x16.6x6.5. Most big breeders and keepers of multiple large balls keep them in these containers, myself included. The height is not that important as ball pythons are not arboreal, length is much more important to allow for thermoregulation. These rubbermaids can be had at Wal-Mart for in and around $12. In my opinion, the dimensions are better than the one you mentioned, and cheaper.

[Linds]

Those dimensions are fine for a functional setup, if you want to get in to decorations and all that it will be a bit tight. The largest rubbermaids I have come across are 34"x24"x6" made by Gracious Living. I'm not sure who would carry them down in the states however, the only place I have found them at up here are at Canadian Tire for $13 I think it is. I have to partially disagree with the statement above, although BP are not categorized as arboreal, if given the chance, they will spend a fiar amount of time up in the trees, even perched like a tree boa :p

[Vengeance]

I say use whatever you like, just know what work is going to be involved. Everyone here is going to tell you to get a Rubbermaid but Glass enclosures work just as well. The screen lid will cause you a problem with keeping humidity. To combat that problem what I did was create a Plexi glass lid with holes drilled at a 45o Angle all the way around the lid to allow for proper ventilation. I've been able to keep my humidity in my 50 gallon glass aquarium at 60% and above without misting. Also people will tell you that Ball's don't climb, but every ball is different. When you get him/her find out what yours likes to do and make it available for him. Mine loves to climb, I have two pieces of wood attached to slate and a vine in-between both sticks and my little guy will go back and forth, up and down those sticks all night. It's great fun to watch him go up the stick across the vine, to turn around on the other stick and come back again.

The Rubbermaid will of course be easier and less expensive to setup. But if you don't mind a little work and would prefer a better "show" cage then there is no reason why you can't use a glass tank despite what everyone else will say here.

[RandyRemington]

I actually wrote a letter on this subject recently for some friends going through a city permit process.

Let me know if I'm out of line or any suggestions for improvements.


Thanks!

http://snakemorphs.home.comcast.net/caging.htm

[beaglegod]

Wow Randy, that article you wrote was very well done and interesting, I can see your point and its definitely got me thinking that the plastic storage container will be my enclosure of choice.

I never thought however that the lower ceiling would be better. I just thought people with alotta snakes used em for space coservation only,wrather than good husbandry. I will be looking for a clear case however cause I need to derive some enjoyment from my setup as well so far the iris 127 quart storage taink seems to fit the bill although at 18 inches high it may be a bit tall,but as you make mention a good hide can remedy that.

[RandyRemington]

I wrote it in a BIG hurry and had wanted to spend time polishing it and site references and the like. Some of it is just my opinion so I need to double check to see if there is a consensus on items such as the height angle. I know ball pythons will climb and probably benefit from some exercise so it's hard to say what height the idea cage would be.

You bring a good point about the human interaction side. I wouldn't expect a lone pet to be kept in a tub.

Mainly I was trying to counter act a specific knee jerk reaction by the city where my friends live to racks. The city ordinance is actually written to regulate all animals by default and then list common domestic exceptions. I find this limitation of liberty offensive; especially where they haven't even thought enough about the animals they are regulating to even list them. I mean they could have made some pretense at quantifying risk and required permits for snakes over a certain length (not that this is perfect ether) if not taking the time to consider each species.

[beaglegod]

Ok I finaly found a larger rubbermade container sold at "Linens n Things" it 33 inches long 19 inches wide and 18 inches high, thats the best I can find and its 22 bucks :)

[mykee]

Vengeance, I didn't say that balls don't climb, I said that ball pythons are not arboreal. If you go to Africa, I'm fairly sure you're not going to find BP's in trees. With the balls that I have, when they were setup in an aquarium, they all climbed, rather wellalso. It's more a personal choice as to what type of enclosure you provide for your snakes. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[snakegal12345]

My brothers got a 41/2 by 12by12 rubbermaid for his lego it's one of the biggest rubbermaids i've seen.

[tHeGiNo]

say use whatever you like, just know what work is going to be involved. Everyone here is going to tell you to get a Rubbermaid but Glass enclosures work just as well. The screen lid will cause you a problem with keeping humidity. To combat that problem what I did was create a Plexi glass lid with holes drilled at a 45o Angle all the way around the lid to allow for proper ventilation. I've been able to keep my humidity in my 50 gallon glass aquarium at 60% and above without misting. Also people will tell you that Ball's don't climb, but every ball is different. When you get him/her find out what yours likes to do and make it available for him. Mine loves to climb, I have two pieces of wood attached to slate and a vine in-between both sticks and my little guy will go back and forth, up and down those sticks all night. It's great fun to watch him go up the stick across the vine, to turn around on the other stick and come back again.

But it is not about what we like. It is about the snake we are providing housing for, and ITS needs, not ours.

[Vengeance]

That's right it is about the snakes needs, and there is no reason why those needs can't be met in a Glass tank. Just because Rubbermaid’s may be cheaper or easier to setup does not mean that the same things a Rubbermaid can offer cannot be duplicated in a glass tank. When I first posted here about what I wanted to do when it comes to a setup I got slammed because everyone said use a Rubbermaid forget about glass. Well I was able to create a glass enclosure that met the needs of my ball despite what I was told here. My ball is thriving in his enclosure as far as I can tell, it may seem I post allot thinking I'm in the middle of a crisis, but I'm just a little over paranoid. He's gaining weight, eating every 5 - 7 days, active, sheding in one full piece and doing really well I think.

So I was just saying that just because everyone says Rubbermaid is the way to go does not necessarily mean that you can't duplicate those same requirements in a glass tank. Just know that it will be cheaper and easier setting it up in a Rubbermaid and it will be much more work and more expensive to do it in a glass tank. So really at the end of the day as long as the necessary requirements for a ball are met, then it doesn't matter if it's a Rubbermaid or a glass tank.

[mykee]

Vengeance, very well put. I have all but one of my 20+ bp's in rubbermaid/racks sytem, but if you have the time and money to put your snakes in aquariums, and do what needs to be done to ensure proper husbandry, more power to you.

[lilyskip]

lemme tell you though, a forty-gallon aquarium is an unruly mofo, and it's ultra-difficult to move, transport, clean, or otherwise handle. i've got a 55-gallon, and everyday I wish it was a Rubbermaid.

[Linds]

Originally posted by Vengeance
So I was just saying that just because everyone says Rubbermaid is the way to go does not necessarily mean that you can't duplicate those same requirements in a glass tank.

I'm going to have to disagree. There is no way you can duplicate the requirements in terms of ventilation unless you do some serious modifications to the tank. With rubbermaids, you can easily attain cross-ventilation to help prevent mold growth while also minimizing the ventilation to maintain humidity. Unless you hack away at the sides of the tank and install vents, you cannot equal this in an aquarium.

Originally posted by lilyskip
lemme tell you though, a forty-gallon aquarium is an unruly mofo, and it's ultra-difficult to move, transport, clean, or otherwise handle.

Hahaha for sure! :p

[Vengeance]

Linds

Actually you can maintain a good airflow without having to drill holes in the side of the glass. My method was to cover the entire lid of the cage with a plexi glass lid. Now that by itself is not enough because it will restrict the airflow. But what I did was drill holes in the lid at a 45o angle. It slows the rate of escape of the humidity because the vapor will hit the plexi glass when trying to rise out of the holes. I have yet to have a problem with mold or even a build up of condensation on any of the sides of the enclosure and have still been able to keep it at a steady 60% humidity by just keeping a bowl of water over the hot side of the enclosure.

So I fail to see how this method does not provide the same results as a Rubbermaid does. Sure it may not be a cross ventilation, but the ventilation needs are met without sacrificing on humidity or constant misting.

Lilyskip

See and that's exactly my point, at the end of the day it really comes down to a matter of personal preference. You'd prefer a Rubbermaid because it would be easier to maintain and there's nothing wrong with that. As long as the needs of the Ball are met it doesn't matter what type of enclosure you use.

[mykee]

Word. You nailed it Vengeance, like I said, IF you can attain proper husbandry in your aquarium, then use what you will. It's a matter of personal choice.