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I didn't see this question on here yet.... When you cut a hole in the top of the Rubbermaid, how do you keep it from having sharp edges. Just sandpaper till smooth? thanks for any tips

Jenny
1.0 Ball Python (Zeke)
0.1 Box Turtle (Ferdie)

I cut the hole in the side of the rubbermaid for my Kenyan... Then I put electical tape (thick, and mostly waterproof) around the edges so she wouldn't scratch herself. It works nicely. Mine was originally designed as a humidity box, but now I just use it for humidity when she's in shed... another reason for the hole in the side rather than the lid.

My bad experience was with duct tape and a corn snake but I would recommend against using tape in a snake cage if at all possible. The duct tape stuck to the corn snake scales like you wouldn't believe and it actually pulled some if it's skin off trying to get loose. I had to cut the tape and leave a little on the snake, which eventually came off after several days of Neosporin treatments for the injury. Snake eventually recovered fine by the way.

Same here but I rescued mine from a stupid friend. It was a baby BP and the tape was removed by my vet. It tore part of the skin and took many months to heal.

I'm using electrical tape, not duct tape. Its not very sticky, but sticks to plastic quite well. I doubt it would harm her, but will definately keep my eyes out for loose corners in the future. Thanks for the heads up!!

I was very surprised at how well the duct tape stuck to the snake scales. I'm thinking there is something about snake scales that makes good contact with adhesives and it might not matter much which type of tape you are using. Might be best just to get rid of the tape altogether and try the sand paper method rather than risking it.

Did the corn some how peel the duct tape off the box? I use to have a piece of duct tape taping a thermometer to the side of a cage and the corn never had any problems. I just rescently put in a duct-taped edge humidity box with my ball-python, I will be safe and use to sanding method, but I am curious as to how the corn actually got in contact with the tape.
-Steve

It was years ago but best I remember I was using the tape to secure the lid on a plastic storage box I was using as a hide box (not sure why I thought a corn needed a hide box but apparently the lid didn't snap tight on this one). I'm thinking the snake tried to crawl through a space where the tape was stretched away from the box to reach the wider lid. The risk may be low with most applications for tape in the snake cage but if possible avoid it all together. In my experience most accidents/escapes are things that you think will never happen but unfortunately sometimes do.

>>I didn't see this question on here yet.... When you cut a hole in the top of the Rubbermaid, how do you keep it from having sharp edges. Just sandpaper till smooth? thanks for any tips
>>
>>Jenny
>>1.0 Ball Python (Zeke)
>>0.1 Box Turtle (Ferdie)
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Sonya

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.

use a flexible blade & razor sharp like an exacto knife, utility knife, razor blade..etc.. stab the container& then while the blade is still in just draw a circle & it should come out smooth....or after making a the hole use a one of those blades & just follow the shape against the shards...example you cut a hole & there's 3 shards all going clockwise. take the blade & cut slightly into the surface on a smooth piece & got counter clockwise around until you have no more shards. also if you are doing this make the initial hole smaller than you need because when you go over it to remove shards you are making the hole a little bigger & before you realize it you have a 9 inch hole just because you wanted smooth it out.
hope i helped

later

electrical tape should not harm the snakes. Electrical tape has hardly any adhesive strength, thats why you have to wrap it tight aroud stuff. But, it would also fall off alot in high humidity situations. Just sand it down to a fine smooth point.