The Rubbermaid Converted

[Vengeance]

It's funny to look back at things, I was remembering back to my first post on this site where just like every newbie you are still picking things up as you go along. Biggest thing for me that I remember was that I wan insistent on keeping my Ball in a big 50 gallon glass tank.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=240763#post240763

It's funny to look back and remember just how stubborn I was to make that 50 gallon work. Made a special plexi glass lid, bought a ton of "cage furniture" and spent allot of money to try and make that cage perfect for my new friend. I thought I had met all the requirements, lots of hides, temps were good, and humidity was steady. It seemed to be working, he was eating and growing but then started to fast for months on occasion. I spent allot of money to get that tank setup and even thought it was a good idea.

All until I learned how FREAKING easy it is to use Rubbermaid’s and how much better they are for a ball python overall. The same Ball who I put in that 50 gallon who was a sporadic eater, and very timid, now being in a Rubbermaid has gone through 3 feedings in a row without a problem. He is still very timid, if he is coiled around the rat and I go to put the lid back on his Rubbermaid he drops the rat but has gone back to finish it off if I leave the rat with him, but I'm sure he'll get used to it, but his feeding response and obviously his stress levels are miles better.

So for anyone else who is thinking of putting there Ball in a glass tank, take it from me, this kind of setup....

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3606Old_Cage-med.JPG

Doesn't even compare for the health of your snake to something as simple as this...

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3606new_cage2-med.JPG

So to conclude my revelation I'd just want to say to Jeff, Tim, Marisa and anyone else who was telling me I was a duma$$ back then, you were right :D


Adam

[jglass38]

I too started my BP off in a glass aquarium. Every shed was in pieces and he was always stressed. Since moving to the rubbermaid a while ago, he feels more secure and sheds have been perfect! I have left the aquariums for my Uromastyx!

Jamie

[marisa]

Nice!

I too went through what you did. I couldn't imagine a snake LIVING in a rubbermaid! It was beyond me!

The after snake #5 got here, I realized things were getting out of control with the tanks. Same way you did. I was wasting time and money to make tanks work.

I couldn't believe how relieved I was after a week of rubbermaiding it. :D

Marisa

[Vengeance]

Started for me when I got my last 3. I remember just how much money and time it took me to get that cage setup. Just thought, lets try this Rubbermaid setup. The babies were eating and still are eating like crazy, every 5 days without fail. So I thought wonder if my other guy would do better and low and behold he is. I could never ever get him to eat out of his hide, it just wouldn't happen. Now he comes out of his hide, strikes and feeds. The difference is staggering, and the amount of work vs. the results on glass tanks is just not worth the aggravation, it's that simple.

[Bartman]

I found that out the hard way as well. Ive had my male in a tank for pretty much his whole life. I recently got 2 females and im keeping them in rubbermaids. They are both eating rats like its going out of style! My male is still an extremely picky eater but I think hes just going to be like that forever. Hes in a rubbermaid as well now, but I dont think its going to make a difference since hes over 2 years old and spent at least 1.8 years in a tank

Moral of the story..rubbermaids are the best :)

[paulsreef]

Hows your back? Mine hasn't felt better. Lugging an aquarium to the bathtub for a cleaning every week nearly wasted me. A 30 gal. is bad enough, a 50 almost puts me into cardiac arrest. Rubbermaids are going to keep me in the hobby till I'm 100.
Paul.

[marisa]

Paul- That was a MAJOR problem for me!

Sometimes I wanted to clean when my boyfriend wasn't home and lifting up 4 or more 40 gallon + tanks was literally killer on me. Twice I almost shattered one getting it into the cleaning tub.

Rubbermaids I just throw into the cleaning tub to soak and clean in the winter, summertime I just take 'em out back which is almost impossible with the tanks. Boom done. :D

Marisa

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ok, now imagine US TRYING to tell you all of this to SAVE you (and the snake) all the trial and error and all that jazz, only to get into arguments and fist-a-cuffs, LOL!!! ;) Now maybe someone will understand the way questions are answered and why sarcasm and the like abounds.

Good stuff. Glad you converted, not only for YOUR well being, but all the snakes' that you will own!

[Vengeance]

Sometimes the best lesson learned is the one you learn yourself.

But I can definitely understand the frustration of trying to impress upon a person who is new to the hobby that putting a ball python in a small plastic container is better then in a big glass tank. I think the most accurate description of that post time and time again would be this.... http://www.onelittlecoconut.com/boards/images/smiles/banging.gif

But think of it this way at least you got through to somebody :)

[Jeff_Favelle]

LOL, my head isn't THAT round, is it??

But yeah, that's almost EXACTLY what it was like, heh heh.. ;)

More important than getting through to someone Adam, was that we gained someone in the hobby that was WILLING to learn and evolve. That's what makes a great keeper/breeder. :)

[Bristen]

I second Jeff's last comments... hats off to you Adam.. you took advice, and your snake has much to thank you for now (from what you're reporting).

Congrats and best of luck with your Ball Python!

Bristen.

[Vengeance]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Jeff mabye if you bang it against the wall somemore it will round out just right :p

If my trio keeps eating the way they do now I might be ready by this time next year, who knows, I'm in no rush. But I hope to continue this Hobby for many years to come, first Albinos, next PieBalds and need to get a pastel in there somewhere :)

[HighFlyer]

I started with snakes about 6 months ago. I also started with tanks, hides, water dishes, heat lamps, UTH pads, etc. I now have 3 BPs and 4 Corns and have run out of room for tanks. I couldn't even fit another tank anywhere even I I had to - so in order to be able to expand my collection I have decided to go with a rack and "rubbermaids".

I am wondering how to get the correct temperature with the rubbermaids. I now use UTH on each tank as well as heat lamps on top of the tanks. Until I build a rack and install heat tape in the rack, should I move the UTH to each rubbermaid that I replace the tank with? I assume that no heat lamps should be used with the rubbermaids since the lamp would melt the plastic. I also assume that the UTH does not generate sufficient heat to melt the plastic of a rubbermaid.

Also, what size rubbermaid would be best for a BP? and what size for a Corn? BTW, all the snakes are still young and growing.

Thanks!:)

[sapphire_moon]

an unchecked UTH can melt plastic! If you have it rigged up with something to control it (like a lamp dimmer) then you should be fine. Until you get the heat tape you can (if you built the rack to be 2 rubbermaids side by side) put one UTH inbetween 2 rubbermaids (if they are the same type of snake) until you get the heat tape....

Just my thought, maybe someone has a better idea....


When I used rubbermaids for my bp's, I just used sterilites, umm can't remember the number but they were only about 34 inch long, about 6-8 inch wide, and about 5 inches tall. Don't know about the corn though, ours always got it's head stuck on the lid so we had to switch back to a glass tank.