Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been reading up on land turtles and torts as I am planning to get one soon. For indoor housing, most recommend 55 gallon rubbermaid tubs or concrete mixing tubs. The turtles get stressed when they can't scratch their way out of aquariums. They are perfect for clamp-on heat lamps, and fluorescent uv bulbs can be placed across the length of the tub. I've been thinking about using this for my bearded dragon as he/she doesn't appear to like being looked at through the glass. It also scratches against the glass quite a bit. I know these containers aren't the best as far as display goes, but does anyone think they could help lessen stress? I don't thing the dragon could get out if it's basking spot were placed as far as possible from the edge, but could that be a danger? If so, a mesh top could easily be made.

I would appreciate any advice on this! Thanks!!
Laura

I used them for my cresties and they worked fine, and they keep heat in a lot better. This was bad since my cresties can't take temps higher than 85. I simply cut along the outside of the lid with a carpenter's knife, and hot glue gunned screen to the lid. Cheap, and simple. I didn't see any long ones that were high enough though. Most were long enough but were very short. They should work fine for beardies.

Thanks for the response. I might ask someone on the chelonian group what kind they bought, because the pictures that are posted looked pretty tall. Hey, I just thought of something...you could use the BIG storage bins that have lids on them that are hinged. Then you could cut out a large opening in the lid and glue the screen on like you said. That way it would still open easily for access. I think this might work! I hope it encourages my baby to eat as well. He won't eat unless I leave the room. If he can see me, he just freezes and looks at me like "aren't you going to leave me alone to eat??"

Laura

i use rubbermaids for tons of things.. especially new animals that have to be quarinited or easily stressed animals.. in fact i have come up with some very interesting ways to use 55 gallon rubbermaids.. i have used rubbermaids with beardies before and have had no probs... they aren't that attractive but nobody but me and my family see them so i don't care if the blue tub doesn't match my green walls...for a screen top .. i used a sabre saw and cut the inside out of the top.. took some hardware cloth and bent in the outer edge (so it wasn't all spiney) and air riveted the screen unto the plastic top.. but you could hot glue it if you don't have a air rivetor or don't want to spend a good part of your day hand riveting ..and drilling ..the end product looks wonderful even if its only a rubbermaid..

alissa

Another thing that works pretty decent and fairly fast is a staple gun. I bought one at Home Depot for like $15 with staples. I cut out an inner section like 10" long by 5" wide where the design on the top was and covered it with the screen cloth.

I use these for our crix and it works decent for ventilation and keeping the crix in.

brandon
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Dragons by Nature

what did you use to cut the lid with? my scissors are nowhere near strong enough even my wimpy drill couldnt get through it; i had to use my roommate's more manly drill and that was still a chore
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proud mama to:
1.0.0 ball python (mr snake),0.0.1 albino florida kingsnake (CK),1.1.0 leopard gecko (sebastian and vilma),0.1.0 colombian rainbow boa (luce),1.1.1 bearded dragon (kaipo, dulce, and kellen), 1.1.0 colombian redtailed boas (adam and eve)

I used a razor blade from a utility knife and just cut through the top. It worked well, but it's a tad tough to get going.. but once you make the first puncture it slid right on through. Just be careful obviously that you don't snap the razor blade in half or cut too far through and like get your legs if you are dumb enough to have it in your lap like me lol

brandon
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Dragons by Nature

I'm not that big on display. I would rather the enclosure be as comfortable as possible for the inhabitants. Of course, it also helps when it comes to cost and you have a lot of animals to house. I think I am on my way to becoming a herp collector! I just love them!!

Laura

Really depends on the size and age of the dragon and what size tub you get. We use the tubs as a last resort for our hatchlings (when we run out of room in our rack systems) and they do real well for smaller dragons.

The problem is when your dragon starts getting some size to him/her they become very good escape artists. We have had a few occasions when dragons at 12" or longer have jumped out of containers that are 18" high with no basking perches leading up to the top. The basking lights were lowered into the tubs for heat to reduce the risk of escapes. Needless to say that didn't work. If you can put a screen top over it that will allow both heat and UVB then they will work much better and safer.

Just be careful. They do work well for eliminating stress and making a dragon feel secure. A lot more so then glass tanks. Be very careful of the heat make sure you have some type of substrate on the bottom to absorb heat or at least a rock or something. The high temps needed for the dragons can burn and melt the plastic and can also create extremely hot spots on the bottom of the tub that can burn your dragon. If you have a substrate that should help eliminate that problem but it's important to make sure it does not get to hot.

g'luck.

brandon
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Dragons by Nature

You could drill or use a hot nail to make holes & use small cable ties to attach your screen/hardware cloth.
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God Bless, Beardie Dreams, & Peace!
Pogoniacs

another idea with rubbermaids is if you have an animal that is highly stressed (hrmmm water dragons) you can screen half of the top and drill two holes in the other half and hang your uvb light fixture from the inside....for high humidity herp that works great.. but for beardies you could just drill some holes along the sides for more ventilation.. anyways thats what i did for a temp cage for a water dragon i adopted...

alissa

Wow! Some really great ideas here. I was planning on using washed play sand as a substrate with a paving stone on the bottom to absorb the heat.

I also need to get a new thermometer. My dial one just isn't accurate. I always read about using digital therms from wal-mart. Are these the regular human ones? If so, do you just measure the temp with the probe every couple of days?

Laura

No, not like one used for humans. An indoor/outdoor one; usually found in housewares, hardware, or lawn & garden. Probe can be placed & left on highest basking spot for continuous monitoring. Email me for a pic of one! ted6199@hotmail.com
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God Bless, Beardie Dreams, & Peace!
Pogoniacs

I use one for my rankins dragon. I think it's a 20 something gallon tub. I cut a section out of the lid and hot glued in the screen. It works out really well. This was actually my cricket tub, but it works well as being his house.