Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i've kept lots of snakes in the past, but regrettably i decided to sell them, and have since regretted that decision. I've decided to get back in the hobby and may pick up a couple things this weekend. Eventually I plan on building a rack system but until that point do you think it is ok or appropriate and safe to house the young snakes in lockable plastic shoeboxes with holes made via soldering iron, and attaching the adhesive heating pads to the bottom of these shoeboxes? I don't think that those would get hot enough to be a fire hazard on plastic, or to melt the plastic? any suggestions, pointers, ideas, or experiences to relay to me?

The boxes you describe sound fine.. You may want to consider using a helix or a dimmer switch to control the temp of your heat pads...

Welcome back, now build that rack and fill it up!

~ Mike Russo

yeah i definately plan to do so. thanks a lot.

I keep my neonates in 4Qt Sterilite #1952
The lids snap on, and they do not escape (Cal Kings and a MBK).

You don't need to use a soldering iron to make air holes - a drill works fine w/o cracking.

Start with a 5/64 or 3/32 bit using a low power drill (or a powerful drill set to a low setting) to make pilot holes.

Then go over the holes again with a bigger bit - such as 9/64 - and it will enlargen the holes w/o any cracking. Safer than using a soldering iron. Just run your hands over the holes when done to removing any hanging chad, especially if you live in Florida where hanging chad can swing elections.
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3.3.2 L. getula californiae
1.1 L. getula nigrita
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
2.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

thanks. the hanging chad gave me a good, chuckle.

...and a good laugh!
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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
2.4.0 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.1.0 Hypo Everglades Rat Snakes
2.1.0 Baird's Rat Snakes
1.2.0 Trans-Pecos Rat Snakes
1.1.0 Trinket Rat Snake
1.0.0 Japanese Rat Snake
1.1.0 Salt and Pepper Bull Snakes
0.1.0 Amel Pacific Gopher Snake
1.0.0 Het Amel San Diego Gopher Snake
0.1.0 San Diego Gopher Snake
3.2.0 Sonoran Gopher Snakes
0.1.0 Amel Sonoran Gopher Snakes
1.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
2.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (2.1 River Road)
1.0.0 Hypermelanistic California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Albino High White California Kingsnake
0.2.0 California Kingsnakes
1.1.0 Thayeri Kingsnake
0.1.0 Florida Kingsnake
1.1.0 Boa Constrictors
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
2.0.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
1.1.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
1.1.0 Cape York Spotted Pythons
1.1.0 Macklot's Pythons
1.1.0 Western Hognoses

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
0.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
1.0.0 African Fat-Tail Gecko
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
1.4.0 Leopard Geckos
1.0.1 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
1.1.0 Chuckwalla
0.1.0 Banded Gecko

FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
1.0.0 Bubbling Kassina
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs
0.0.2 Gold Frogs

I HAVE melted / burnt plastic boxes with under tank heaters. It depends on the brand. Some get VERY hot and others not so much. Definetely do a test run first. A dimmer would be a good idea.

I would use a long strip of 3 inch wide flex watt under multiple boxes before using sticky under tank heaters on each one. It would be cheaper and it does not get as hot.