Another daring escape/rubbermaid question

[ChristinaM]

This time I KNOW the lid was on tight....it was still on tight this morning. My daughter comes to me once we all get up ( she wakes earlier than us ) and informs me she saw Promise (brb) oh about an hour earlier in her room :mad: uggggggggggggg.

I did end up finding her after searching for a bit. She was hiding in my other daughter's room. She was sooooo cold when I picked her up. I put her body against my chest to warm her up, and the ungrateful bugger bit my hand as it passed infront of her face LOL.

Now, here's my question.... Did I pick a crappy rubbermaid for her? I have this one (http://www.rubbermaid.com/common/images/product/HP/2159_lg.jpg)

As I inspected closer...I noticed that it only really snaps shut on the ends, not the sides. Will putting additional weight on top keep it secure? Or should I be finding myself another rubbermaid????

Thanks

[Siretsap]

Yeah I get that problem with those ones too. If you don't have a rack made for it, just put a little 5 pound weight in the center, should prevent it from escaping again.

[ChristinaM]

thanks, I will do that :)

[foman]

Try a bungy cord across the lid, it works good for me. I get mine at a buck or two store.:hammer:

[marisa]

HAHA yes you definitly need weight for those! I dont keep rainbow boas but If I am seeing it correctly, its the same one I use for all my corns and kings. I have mine in a rack though so they are tight fitting.

What you can do is use black office clips/snaps, velcro in the middle where its a bit weaker, weight like mentioned, or bungee cords.

Good luck!
Marisa

[Jeff_Favelle]

Yeah, that Rubbemaid model is not really good for Rainbows or any other slender snake. They will escape, or get injured trying.

Not to mention that that is entirely too big for the size of rainbow you have. Get an 11.4L one ($4) or a 26.4L one ($7). That would be much more appropriate.

And Rainbows are not so hardy that they can survive too many escape attempts. I would be worried and do something about this immediately.

[ChristinaM]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle

And Rainbows are not so hardy that they can survive too many escape attempts. I would be worried and do something about this immediately.

I am worried and I am doing something about it....hence posting and asking.

Why is this one too big for her? I have many hides in it, water bowl, water dish for soaking, and newspaper. There is hardly any open space in it.

I understand the need to feel secure, hence the hides for her.

I don't comprehend the need for less space :confused:

I do have the smaller containers. Actually I had just moved her to this one yesterday LOL.

Thanks for the input.

[snakelet]

I'll 2nd the idea of black binder clips. These things were lifesavers when I found the sterilite tubs I bought had awful lids. I have heard if you place something heavy on top of a loose lid, there is a big possibiliy that the snake will dislodge it near the corners and get stuck and suffocate under the lid. Just a thought.

Leanne

[Stockwell]

The only rubbermaid with a lid that can be trusted is the shoebox size, which is obviously too small for brazilians that are older than a couple months.
Although you can TRY to keep snakes singularily in bigger ones, by putting weights on the lids or wrapping cords around them, this is not really a suitable way to keep snakes long term. And Jeffs correct when he says they can get injured. What can happen is they push their head out, but can't get any further. Then they can't pull it back eitehr because the lid acts like a barb...This can kill or injure snakes if they do that with a heavey weight or bungy cord putting pressure on their neck. I had a couple young snake die that way many years ago, before I gave up on lids

I would recommend that you construct a simple rack, ie wooden frame that you can slide the tray into, and
do yourself and the snake a favour and throw the lid straight in the garbage.
Having a little shelf type unit where you can pull the tray out like a drawer is the way most keepers are using Rubbermaids.
I have dozens of trays but I don't even bring the lid home when I buy them..
Having even a small one or two container rack will makes it easier to feed and quickly replace water... Messing with lids of any description is just not a good choice
Just for a reference, here's how I do it...
Now you could simply make a box the same height as the tray, so that it just barely fits without rubbing. Melamine is often used for racks as you don't have to paint it.
I prefer pine frame systems, as it's lighter but this is just an example and is more complex than you need.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1801racks03a-med.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1801newrack-med.jpg

[Derrick]

you might want to check out the link below. notice how he uses bolts and wing nut to secure the lid. you may want to give it a try.
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35346

[ChristinaM]

Thinking about building a wee rack now....Question.....BRB's require high humidity.....what/how do I make it so the wood does not rot?

[TheRedDragon]

Ken and I had a few Kenyans escape from Rubbermaids like that. We got wise and now have two Yellow Pages phone books on each side to weigh the lid down.

[JDouglas]

Thinking about building a wee rack now....Question.....BRB's require high humidity.....what/how do I make it so the wood does not rot?

You can make a rack that uses the lid. Like this...
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/2/280632-med.jpg

or this...
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/503/2806odienrack-med.jpg

Both are very easy to make and With the lids on humidity is not an issue.