Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. Ok well I was wondering, since babies need to be in smaller enclosures and aquariums cost quite a bit, I was wondering if rubbermaid tubs would work until the snake is an adult? They are very cheap and I could just get some very small chicken wire and make a lid for the heat lamp and light and everything. They come in very many sizes so I could just keep getting bigger ones as it grows until it's almost full grown and ready for a 40 gallon tank. Thanks
Meghan

Lots of folks are using Rubbermaid (and Sterilite, etc) boxes these days. I have some of my larger ratsnakes in 50 gallon Sterilites. Take a woodburner or soldering iron and make air holes (do this in a well-ventilated area). You might want to keep the lids, use a small under-tank heater, and use bungee cords or stack something on top of the lid to secure it. If you have only one or two snakes, glass tanks work out great, but with much more than that, you find that plastic is also MUCH easier to move around and clean. Duffy

You can drill holes into the containers as well. Much easier and less risk of fumes or burning yourself. Just use a 1/16" drill bit or close to that. A 1/8th" may be alright as well.

you can use the rubbermaid containers. I house mine in aquariums. babies like to feel very secure. to big an enclosure will make them stress out and not eat. they can do well in a shoe box side container. but i wouldn't heat it with a light. it will get to hot.
i have my baby in a 5 gallon size tank. then i have the tank setting on a human heat pad, set on LOW. only 1/3 of the tank is set on the pad so she has a temp gradiant. that is all you need for a baby. well, plus hideing places, little water dish, and a very secure screen lid. be very careful using some kind of chicken wire. they can squeeze out of the smallest of places you wouldn't think they could. i'm just using that green carpet with papertowels on top. works great. all my bigger snakes have the UTH on them. expect my python, she has UTH,plus lights since they like it warmer.
it will take a couple of years before your baby is big enough to make use of a 40 gallon size tank.

>>you can use the rubbermaid containers. I house mine in aquariums. babies like to feel very secure. to big an enclosure will make them stress out and not eat. they can do well in a shoe box side container. but i wouldn't heat it with a light. it will get to hot.
>>i have my baby in a 5 gallon size tank. then i have the tank setting on a human heat pad, set on LOW. only 1/3 of the tank is set on the pad so she has a temp gradiant. that is all you need for a baby. well, plus hideing places, little water dish, and a very secure screen lid. be very careful using some kind of chicken wire. they can squeeze out of the smallest of places you wouldn't think they could. i'm just using that green carpet with papertowels on top. works great. all my bigger snakes have the UTH on them. expect my python, she has UTH,plus lights since they like it warmer.
>>it will take a couple of years before your baby is big enough to make use of a 40 gallon size tank.

with the rubbermade or sterilite containers you do not want to try and fashion a screen lid. It will never fit properly.
Use the lid that comes with the container. Just drill a few holes in the lid and around the sides of the box and you're set. If you want a little more security use binder clips to help keep the lid secure.
Use a human heat pad under one end of the container.
provide a hide and a water dish (water dish that doubles as a hide works better)
For a hatchling a 6 quart sterilite shoe box works quite well. As the snake gets older you can upgrade to a 28 quart box and when the snake gets large enough you can put it in the 40 gallon.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes