Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I received from a friend a free glass 20L tank that I thought would make a nice transition home for my 6 month old ball. It's a herp designed kind with a screen lid that slides into channels on the side and back molding. For a visual reference it looks likes the Creative Habitat brand tanks.

Here's my issue: I am having difficulty coming up with a way to lock the lid. This isn't the kind of tank where there is a tab that sticks out on the front screen that matches up with a similar tab on the tank molding. On this tank there are two small drilled holes just inside of the front screen molding and I assume they have something to do with locking the tank but I can't picture how. There is no tank molding across the front, just a glass lip and the screen molding sits flush up against it.

Any advice from people with a similar tank would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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O.1 Cat "Bella"
1.0 Ball Python "Spanky"
3.0 Red Earred Sliders "Yertle" and "The Twins"
1.0 Husband "John"
297.331 Elementary School Students

Try sticking paperclips in the holes to see how deep they go. If the tank's like I think it is, they should go all the way through the screen and into either holes drilled into the glass/whatever the screen rests on or sit on the inside of the cage, preventing the screen from sliding out.

If that's the case, just find something that won't bend when you pull on the screen and put that in the holes.

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 neurotic mouse (Cute Girl Mousey)
1.0 escape artist mouse (Jesusmouse)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

The Saddest Mouse

That's the problem. The holes do not line up with any other holes or slots. When the screen lid is all the way in, the two holes sit just past the glass tank wall. Remember, the front wall of this tank is just glass with no molding or trim. The only molding is on the screen so that when it is pushed in, it looks like a single piece of molding all the way around the outside of the tank.
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O.1 Cat "Bella"
1.0 Ball Python "Spanky"
3.0 Red Earred Sliders "Yertle" and "The Twins"
1.0 Husband "John"
297.331 Elementary School Students

>>When the screen lid is all the way in, the two holes sit just past the glass tank wall.

That's what I meant. So the holes are on the inside of the glass, on the side that the snake would be in? Stick somethin' in them and it'll work the same.

If not then I have no idea.

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
1.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy and FuzzBucket)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

I had a 10 gallon that was the same style. There actually is a front piece of molding that sldes into place when the lid is slid closed, and "helps" to hold the lid closed. They work fine for terrestrial geckos and other non climbing species, however I have never had luck using them with any kind of snake unless I rigged up my own way of keeping them closed.

I've used adhesive velcro...find it in the fabric section. Has adhesive on both sides. I cut the toothy side in two pieces,one for the side and one for the front and cut a long fuzzy piece to streach around to reach both. Fuzzy stuff has adhesive too but I just didn't peel off the plastic. Works well for all but real strong snakes. Wasn't real pretty but my snake didn't complain.
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3.5.0 Beardies
1.2.0 Crested Geckos
1.1.1 Box Turtles
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise
0.1.0 Russian Tortoise
1.3.0 Ball Pythons
2.1.0 corn snakes
0.1.0 great plains rat snake
1.1.0 Blue Beauty Snakes
1.0.0 Banana King snake
1.0.0 Desert King snake
2.7.0 Guinea Piggies
3.6.0 Dumbo rats
1.0.0 Blue Front Amazon Parrot
0.1.0 Congo African Grey Parrot
1.1.0 house cats
2.0.0 Maine Coon Cats
2.0.0 Boxers

I have 2 tanks like that... and i thought most were like that... Just put a nail or something straight in the holes. Your snake won't be able to push it open because the nail/whatever can't go past the glass I used a paperclip once... but it seemed too thin to be sturdy. Thats how those tanks are meant to be locked though. Good luck!