Rubbermaid vs. Glass Aquarium

[Tinytim12333]

Wich one would be better to house a corn snake. I plan on to breed colubrids. Im going to start buliding the shelfs but im low on room and on a budget.

[Tim and Julie B]

A lot of colubrid breeders use a rack system that uses rubbermaids. Aquarium/rubbermaid? I don't think it makes a big difference except that rubbermaids don't look as good. But if you are breeding then who cares. Also rubbermaids are a fraction of the price. If you are going to breed you want to save as much money as possible. So I guess rubbermaids are better. They are easier to clean, lighter to move and don't chip or crack as easily. Also if one gets to bad you can just chuck it because the cost is so low. I switched all my hatchling turtles to rubbermaids because they were easier to move and clean for all the water changes.

[Big Mike]

Also...Rubbermaids (covered) will hold humidity much, much better thank a standard tank. This is because you can put ventilation holes in the side. Tanks, although nice for looking at, are not really a good choice for keeping most snake speceis in. Alot of people (including me) do keep snakes in tanks so we just have to deal with the humidity problems.

[BoidKeeper]

I use both depending on the snakes size.
This is a set up I use a lot it's a 10g on its side.

I also use 15g, 20g high, 27g high and 33g on their sides too. They work great with a locking screen front. I'm always picking up cracked tanks to add to the tower.
Here is a 4 sweater boxes on a 27g on a 33g.

Cheers,
Trevor

[marisa]

My vote is for rubbermaids all the way.

My personal cons to tanks are 1. they have crappy humidity and ventilation...2. they are damn heavy! it can be a huge pain to clean them completly. 3. They are really expensive when you factor in a reptile lid.

Rubbermaids are great. They can be cleaned 100% clean easily, they are very light weight...they have good ventilation and you hardly have to work at all to keep a nice humidity level...they can be heated easily, and you can buy a HUGE rubbermaid for a fraction of the cost for a tank the same size. And they come pretty much clear as well.

Marisa

[ThEmAdHaTtEr]

Heating? How? I always thought heat rope and tape. How else? Seeing this post made me think about switching my two BPs to rubbermaids...I look forward to seeing more info.

[marisa]

I have my BP in this rubbermaid:

<img src="http://members.rogers.com/mattl/enclosure.jpg">
<img src="http://members.rogers.com/mattl/enclosure2.jpg">

I use a heating pad underneath, controlled with a thermastat. I never ever have to mist unless he is shedding, because the humidity stays at around 70% all the time with just two water bowls.

Marisa

[SerpentLust]

You know, I was always against rubbermaids just because, for me anyways, i want to give my snakes the best. But now looking at this. It really all depends if you want to show the snakes off or now, because both seem really good. For me, for my pets and only pets I would do Aquariums and for breeding...rubbermaid.

Jenn

[ThEmAdHaTtEr]

Heatpad? Doesnt it melt the plastic? What kind of heat pad are you using? Thats an AWESOME set up too btw.

[marisa]

Frankly aquariums aren't giving some species the best. In fact some species will do horrible in tanks, and simply cannot live in them.

I do not keep my animals in rubbermaids because I want "less than the best" for them. My ball python has the BEST because he is in a rubbermaid. Nothing can beat stable humidity, great ventilation (which you simply cannot get in a tank, period) and roomy, light weight enclosures than can be cleaned better than tanks.

You really need to look at the species specific requirments closely before saying aquariums are the best. Because even as a pet, some species can't live in them and many people mistakenly keep some such species in tanks thinking they are the best when they aren't. Tanks are for my fish now, and my fish only.

marisa

[marisa]

MadHatter: Thanks...heating pads don't melt them. They *could* melt them if they are uncontrolled. Mine is set to get no higher than 95, (ends up being around 88-90 in the hot spot above his towels and hide) and that can't melt anything really.

Marisa

[Big Mike]

Marisa is right, heat pads should not melt any plastic container that you would use for snakes (if properly controlled). If the plastic was melted then your animal would probably be long dead.

[depressor86]

yea i dont think heatpads that can melt plastic should be used on tanks either !

[ThEmAdHaTtEr]

So you just stick the heatpad on the bottom of the rubbermaid? What kind of heatpad do you use? How do you control the temp it puts out? Thanks guys!

[BoidKeeper]

Never stick your heat pad to anything. Leave the backing on it so that you can use it in the future on different tanks. I uses exo-terra and zoomed heat pads and I just leave the backing on them.
Cheers,
Trevor