Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click here for Dragon Serpents
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

sterilite boxes as housing question

bradarmstrong Aug 16, 2004 05:31 PM

this might only get opinions as answers - but i have two corns, and right now they are in seperate 30 gallon aquarium tanks, and i am thinking of moving them to sterilite boxes so that i can save space - well, more for the fact that i want to set up a rack system conveniently.

however, my question goes like this - i know that both of them seem to enjoy watching the activiy in the room. i know when people are in the room they both come out and seem to "watch" what is goign on. i also have them by a window so there is some level of activity - i like to think that it creates a more natural environment.

if they were in sterilite boxes i was originally thinking they would not be able to see etc. and would be closed off in a very unnatural plastic box environment. in that sense i am somewhat apprehensive about sticking them in sterilite boxes. however, now i am wondering if their eyesight is even good enough that the sterilite box would make a difference as to how good they can see?

any thoughts? it would be especially helpful if someone knew something definitive on their eyesight, and whether they even use it that much to target activity, or is it mostly vibration and heat sensing?

Replies (6)

aplaxco Aug 16, 2004 05:55 PM

I don't know if corn snakes see more or sense heat or whatever. What I do know is I keep my breeders in larger Sterlite boxes and if you get the clear kind they can sense you on the other side of it. If I walk over near them and they think it's possibly feeding time I can see them all following me back and forth across their boxes as I move through the room. Because the Sterlites are easier to stack up everywhere I think I interact with those snakes more than the ones I keep in tanks. AND the best part is how much easier they are to clean and disinfect.
-----
Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
2.1 Ghost(pastel) - Pink, Gray & Spot
1.0 Amel - Parker
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
1.1 Carmel het Mot - TBD
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
0.1 Dumeril - Ursala
0.0.1 Amazon Tree Boa - Lucia
Lizards
1.0 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
About a million by now.
Cats
1.2 Siamese - Blue, Fiona & Wink
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody
Plus whatever animals I am fostering for the local shelter!

bradarmstrong Aug 16, 2004 06:33 PM

also, since the "clear" ones are not really clear (although i dont know why there are no clear clear ones) is anyone of the opinion that there could be lighting problems, or would most people think they let through enough light?

hevychevy427 Aug 16, 2004 08:10 PM

I can only speak from my experiance..some of my snakes "like" to be in them..some do not care and some do not like them..Some will eat better when they are in a glass tank and some will only eat better when they are in a tub.
Nancy
-----
Some of my best friends are snakes
Snakes Rule

duffy Aug 17, 2004 12:58 PM

I currently have three glass aquaria with snakes in them and nine Sterilite containers ranging from 50 gallon down to just a few quarts. None of my snakes have seemed to "care" which type of container they are in. Most have been switched from one type to another at some point with no trouble. I don't think that light is an issue with Sterilite...plenty seems to get in.

The main difference(s) from my perspective are easiness to clean and cost, with Sterilite winning out both times. Sure, glass does look nicer...No question about that. But every time I clean out one of my larger glass tanks I wonder why I bother with them at all. And 50 gallon cages for $10 each!!! The most economical ratsnake cages I have ever found. Duffy

oneidapro Aug 20, 2004 03:18 AM

I was also thinking of using this type of enclosure for my corns but I am worried that they might get out as the lids do not seal tight all the way around.
Any suggestions would be great thanks.

Cam
-----
1.3 Ball Pythons with more in the oven

duffy Aug 20, 2004 06:59 PM

Saw your post on this topic in another forum, and almost posted there. Anyway... I weight mine down a bit. Either another plastic box stacked on top, or phone books, etc, on top of those. I have had 2 escapes in 3 years, both from glass tanks with screen lids (one that I forgot to replace the weight on). So far, no escapes from Sterilite... So Far! Duffy

Site Tools