Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering do any of you use large rubbermaid tubs for your beardeds. I am thinking of useing a large tub and attach a clamp light to the top to make a basking spot. I mean its not great looking like a cage but it will do while they grow and then I can build something when they get older. If anyone uses tubs as an enclosure I would love to see pictures of your set ups.
Thanks

No, I have thought of this, but decided against it only because it'd be too small and you can't see through those tubs, and i like to watch my beardies from bed! I have one that's a screened dog carrier and one that is home made using ply-wood and screening.

I'm sure that if they're little though that'd be fine.
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1.1 Bearded dragons (Kunja and Lily)
1.0 Algerian Uromastyx (Jacques)

Thank you for your advice!

The clear sterlite containers are often used for young bearded dragons. Many breeders use the sterlite or rubbermaid clear type tubs for hatchlings etc to help with the costs. One thing you have to be very careful with is letting the basking lamp lean against the sides of the container. Though fairly heat resistant, a hot bulb can melt the plastic.

You can get clear Rubbermaid containers that are a good size for young dragons till they reach about 16" long and need to be moved to an adult tank. These containers are just an inch or two shy of being 3' long (34.5"x17.7"x15.74". You can either mount a UVB fixture on a board and place it ontop of the container (no lid being used at all) or mount the UVB on the shelf above the container in a rack type system..though this would mean making the rack tall enough so you can pull ou tthe container without having to remove the UVB light.

I use these types of containers for some snakes and right now, my Blue Tongue Skinks till I build their adult home. A 6"x1" board works good to attach an under cabinet florescent tube fixture (pretty cheap, and UVB tubes come in 18" sizes which is pretty common for under cabinet lights). The Basking light I use a hooded clamp fixture picked up at Home Depot and clamp it to either the side of the container, making sure the dome doesn't come in contact with the sides, or, if you have a low basking spot, you can clamp it on the board used to hold the UVB light. This makes the hooded lamp hang within the container in a more up and down position instead of an angle, but temps are easier to get on the basking spot. Most of these clamp lights are rated to maximum 75 watt bulbs. I use 60watt right now, but my house temperature in the winter is a bit on the warm side (75F) and for my blue tongues, the surface temp of the cage bottom is around 98F. A higher basking spot for bearded dragons will easily bring it closer to 110F without bringing the dragon too close to the light itself.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of my setup, and the batteries of my camera are dead and having gotting around to charge them so can't show you pics. However will give you the model number of the Rubbermaid containers I am using, if you want to track them down. I bou ght them in Canada, at Walmart, so the US walmart stores should carry them.

Company is Rubbermaid.
brandname: CLever Latch Hinged Storage Box
Model Number: 4647
Size: 111.39 QTs, 105.44L
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PHLdyPayne