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 #190068


Roxmysox99
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 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

hey okay ill go with rubber maid so can u give me some pictures of Rubbermaid containers Made for Ball pythons?? The thing is i DO NT get snakes to breed i just have 1 corn snake and aim gonna get a ball python now because i like them. Not for breading just for my pet so aquariums seem better but i guess not. So show me pics of Rubbermaid containers.

Thanx,
Maleeh



11/28/04  1:14pm
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 #190094


Roachey56
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  Message To: Roxmysox99   In reference to Message Id: 190068


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

For those Who haven’t seen this:

For Clear "Rubbermaid" type containers Try "The Container Store" I believe they have several kinds. Iris tubs (reptiletubs.com) might have clear containers. Also Phillips makes a clear polycarbonate box that Jeff Ronne uses for racks. Try contacting Jeff i am sure he will help you.

-Where to find Rubbermaid containers (sterilites too)-
Target
K-mart
Wal-Mart
The Container Store
Bed Bath and Beyond


How to make the cover-
Buy the top

Ventilation-
Get a soldering iron or a hot glue gun (if hot glue gun take all glue out) and melt about 10 holes on each of the "short" sides of the container about 3" above the bottom or if you will be using a particle substrate 2" above the substrate level (keep it low, at the top kills heat and humidity).

Heat-
Use Heat pads. I suggest either a human heat pad with low, med, high settings (keep it on low) or The T-rex, Ultratherm, or Four paws (the only one i’ve used, runs at 95 degrees) brand reptile heat pad. If you do buy a reptile heat pad DO NOT attach it to the container. Get a thin piece of cardboard (the box it came in folded flat) and attach it to that. Then place the heater under the cage and it will not run as hot and be more effective.


Why not Aquariums-
Ball pythons are small, shy, and secretive snakes. Their favorite thing to do (after being adjusted to a new cage) during the day is to hide. Very rarely have I seen my ball python out during the day (except right when i turn the lights on, but that is right after night so it doesn’t count) it is usually feeling comfortable in one of its terra-cotta hides. Ball pythons like "dark" containers they do not like being in light (take your ball python outside on a sunny day in the summer and it will try to find shade) they like it when it is semi-dark to dark (they can hide better).

Aquariums are made out of glass, a material that defines insulation at its worst. Glass heats up and cools down extremely quickly. When kept in a cool room it does not hold heat good at all. Glass aquariums also have bad ventilation, in this case ventilation at the top. The top ventilation combined with how hot air rises and how humidity is the amount of moisture in the air makes for a cool dry cage. The hot humid air rises straight out of the cage and into no where land leaving you with a dry cage. The top ventilation combined with a heat lamp make it even worse. The heat lamp heats the air (as opposed to objects) and makes it rise even faster makeing more heat and humidity escape.


Pros of Aquariums-
You can see in it perfectly (how does that help the snake?)

Cons of aquariums-
Made of glass
Allows tons of light in
Top ventilation
Heavy
Hard to keep heat and humidity in
Annoying to clean (stupid streaks....)
Expensive (when compared with its quality and price of other cages)

Pros of plastic (rubbermaid/sterilite) containers-
Holds heat and humidity well
Can control the ventilation
Allows little light in
You can see in it (quite easily, just a little darker and "blurry" IMO)
Light weight
Easy to clean
Racks...
Come in lots of sizes and are CHEAP
Usually on sale at one store

Cons of Plastic containers-
You can’t see in it as good as aquariums


-Note-
My opinion is biased for rubbermaid and sterilite containers. Try to find just the facts.


I do not have pictures of any of my set ups because i lost the USB cable. They look the same as every other cage.

two hides
water dish
substrate
decoration



11/28/04  2:12pm
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 #190111


ReptoDude
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  Message To: Roachey56   In reference to Message Id: 190094


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

DO NOT USE RUBBERMAIDS!! I started off using one with a heat pad. Big mistake. The rubbermaid start to melt even though the heatpad was on low. The heat pad was also not touching the rubbermaid. They are not safe and can melt very easily. Aquariums do not melt.



11/28/04  2:40pm
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 #190122


BoaBabe448
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  Message To: ReptoDude   In reference to Message Id: 190111


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

YOu can use rubbermaids. You just had bad luck. Now a fight is going to start, im out of here, bye.



11/28/04  3:03pm
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 #190124


Roachey56
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  Message To: ReptoDude   In reference to Message Id: 190111


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

improper use and equipment malfunctions are not a reason to have a bad opinion against a product.

Your heat pad would have got just as hot if it was used with an aquarium, probably burning your animal and killing it.



11/28/04  3:07pm
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 #190125


Anole_keeper
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  Message To: Roachey56   In reference to Message Id: 190094


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

well just thought i’d add my two cents on ventilation of rubbermaids or plastic containers.i just recently bought a new rubbermaid for my crickets and the way i put ventilation holes was i found a 3/8 inch drywall drill bit and drilled out 15 perfect looking holes.just thought i’d add that idea because i believe its safer than using heat.



11/28/04  3:08pm
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 #190131


BoaBabe448
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  Message To: Anole_keeper   In reference to Message Id: 190125


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

how is ventilation better than heat? Ball Pythons have to have heat, not ventilation (well they need that too..but..)



11/28/04  3:16pm
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 #190136


Roxmysox99
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  Message To: BoaBabe448   In reference to Message Id: 190131


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

Wait!! can anyone show me a picture of a rubbermaid made for ball pythons?? and how can u heat a rubber maid with out burning it??

Thanx,
maleeh



11/28/04  3:24pm
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 #190222


Roachey56
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  Message To: Roxmysox99   In reference to Message Id: 190136


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

Why do you need a picture of a rubbermaid type cage for a ball python? they look the same as a ball python housed in something other than a rubbermaid. you set them up exactley the same.

For heat:
Use heat pads. Use a thermostat or rheostat also just like you would if you were using an aquarium....

Boababe
He meant drilling holes is safer than useing a heat element for makeing ventilation.



11/28/04  6:11pm
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 #190259


Anole_keeper
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  Message To: Roachey56   In reference to Message Id: 190222


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

yes,sry for the confusion.thanks for clearing that up Roachey.but just a question, i used to use a huge rubbermaid(48x18x?H) for a large adult mali uro.i saw that it actually didnt hold heat nearly as well as glass.but that was probably b/c i had to have the top off to allow for lights.and when my beardie becomes an adult i plan on using the same size and make rubber maid but i dont know how to have lights on it.any ideas?



11/28/04  7:16pm
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 #190322


Roxmysox99
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  Message To: Anole_keeper   In reference to Message Id: 190259


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

okay 1st of all i need to use a heat lamp with my Rubbermaid because in my 20 gallon aquarium i use heat lamp and a UTH and its gets 90 degrees F. So ill at least need a heat lamp but how can you put a heat lamp on a Rubbermaid??

Thanx,
Maleeh



11/28/04  8:33pm
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 #190372


Roachey56
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  Message To: Anole_keeper   In reference to Message Id: 190259


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

Was it a clearish container or like colored? how deep was it?

For the lights and stuff. I sugest building a screen top sorta.
Make like a frame that fits along the top of the container. Put some metal screening on a part to hold the heat lamp. Then get some thin wood (like a 1/8" thick sheet) and attach that to cover the rest of the frame. then Drill holes in the wood for ventilation as needed.



11/28/04  9:13pm
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 #190376


Roachey56
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  Message To: Roxmysox99   In reference to Message Id: 190322


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

1) You don’t need a heat lamp and an UTH. If your room is cold the heat lamp is enough, if your room is warmer (75ish) then the UTH is enough.
2)Use a digital therm with probe, with a heat lamp and UTH i bet it gets to more than 90.

heat lamp for rubbermaid



11/28/04  9:16pm
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 #190378


Anole_keeper
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  Message To: Roachey56   In reference to Message Id: 190372


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

i was thinking about makin a screen cover....but do u know if they make screen covers for aquariums that are atleast 48x18?
thanks



11/28/04  9:18pm
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 #190399


Roachey56
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  Message To: Anole_keeper   In reference to Message Id: 190378


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

no idea. but with a screen cover it won’t hold the heat in well.

What is your room temp?
If your room temp is warm enough you can just use all heat and have an elevated basking area under the lamp.



11/28/04  9:49pm
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 #190414


Anole_keeper
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  Message To: Roachey56   In reference to Message Id: 190399


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

well during the summer my room temp. is real good...bout 80+ so that’ll be ok but over the winter it’d need to be hotter



11/28/04  10:10pm
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 #190438


Roxmysox99
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  Message To: Roachey56   In reference to Message Id: 190399


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

Wait, so we can just use a UTH?? Do we need light??

Maleeh 12



11/28/04  10:53pm
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 #190453


Braondt06x
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  Message To: Roxmysox99   In reference to Message Id: 190438


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

heres a great plan for a rubbermain enclosure at another forum I use:
http://www.ball-pyth



11/28/04  11:12pm
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 #190676


Ballzthebest
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  Message To: Braondt06x   In reference to Message Id: 190453


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

couldn’t the lamp burn the sterillite?



11/29/04  11:52am
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 #190817


Roachey56
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  Message To: Ballzthebest   In reference to Message Id: 190676


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

UTH if your room is like 75+

and no heat lamps cant burn sterilites. They are only heating it to 90 degrees, how can that burn something?



11/29/04  6:07pm
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 #190831


Roxmysox99
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  Message To: Roachey56   In reference to Message Id: 190817


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

So can a Ball python live with no light?? because a UTH only gives heat. And also how hott should the container be?? How cold??



11/29/04  6:18pm
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 #190960


Ballzthebest
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  Message To: Roxmysox99   In reference to Message Id: 190831


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

i couldnt find the "Sterlite storage container Model 1865"



11/29/04  9:22pm
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 #190970


Roachey56
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  Message To: Roxmysox99   In reference to Message Id: 190831


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

questions:

1)yes. Why would they need a light?
2)hot part of the cage should be 90 degrees and the cool part should be 80 degrees. Measure with a digital therm or temp gun.



11/29/04  9:27pm
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 #194462


Roxmysox99
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  Message To: Roachey56   In reference to Message Id: 190970


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

okay i have a digital thermometer and in my 20 gallon long aquarium with mesh top an UTH its only 80 degrees F. but with a UTH and a Heat lamp its 90 degrees. so in my rubbermaid would i need a UTH and a HEAT LAMP or will a UTH work fine in a Rubbermaid??

P.S. my room is 75 degress



12/05/04  8:09pm
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 #194480


Pythonlver827
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  Message To: Roxmysox99   In reference to Message Id: 194462


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

i kno i dont relle hav a voice n this because i dont have my ball yet but my dads friend has a burmese tht i care for and i agree with the pro’s and cons but i think aquariums are better because it is more open and decorative. I mean not to be hatin on anyones rubbermaid setup but i think that aquariums are more loud and vivid looking and not an eyesore im 15 and i would want to flaunt my snakes cage. Its like say your filthy rich and you choose to live in a trashy really low trailor park instead of living in a mansion its like that for your snake. If you truly love your snake you should go that extra mile to make it more visulaly creative and exotic. If you chose to go with a rubbermaid make it more visually appealing instead of an eyesore.



12/05/04  8:33pm
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 #194513


Roxmysox99
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  Message To: Pythonlver827   In reference to Message Id: 194480


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

iam getting an adult ball python for Christmas and i was wondering which of the following sterilite containers i should get:
Model 1995: 66 Quarts, 39"L x 20"W x 7" H

OR

Model 1996: 74 Quarts, 44"L x 19"W x 6" H

OR

Model 1889: 106 Quarts, 33 3/4”L x 19 3/8”W x 13 3/8”H


So which one should i get for a FULLY GROWN BP??

Thank you,
Maleeh 12




12/05/04  9:41pm
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 #194528


Tito310
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  Message To: Roxmysox99   In reference to Message Id: 194513


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

yoo i use aquarium and my snake cool





and here is my snake sumo



it is just my opinion though lol



12/05/04  10:03pm
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 #194614


Pelota
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  Message To: Pythonlver827   In reference to Message Id: 194480


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

LOL a ball python doesn’t care if it’s in a lavish "rich" looking cage or not. It cares about probably only a few things; food, heat, safety. You can house a ball python in an old rubbermaid container with newspaper substrate, clay pot hides, and a dog water dish. They wouldn’t care, I can assure you. As long as they have proper heat and humidity, proper hide spots, and food when they need it, they’ll be fine. What makes you think a snake will somehow benefit with a "mansion" of a cage? One reason I would use rubbermaids over glass tanks is the security. A rubbermaid is usually opaque where the walls aren’t so clear. That would make the snake feel it’s in a more secure environment. If they have glass walls where they can see out all the time, it’d be more stressing I’d think. I mean, if you had a house made of glass, would you feel secure? Having anyone and everyone looking in and seeing you?

As for a rubbermaid being an eyesore....not everyone gets a snake just to show it off. No offense, but that’s what I got out of your message. You want your snake so you can show it off. I like showing my ball python to people, but I don’t have her just to show off. I have her to care for a snake. It’s a passion and hobby I’ve come to love. Some people are on a budget also, and can’t afford to pay hundreds of dollars for big heavy glass aquariums and fancy things. Plus, an aquarium is a bit more difficult to deal with, atleast when you’re getting to buying big long tanks for boa’s and stuff. Lugging around 200 pounds of glass to clean once a month....then possibly dropping it due to the weight and awkwardness...it’s just a hassle I’d rather not deal with.
Also, rubbermaids are known to be easier to heat and keep humidity in. And they’re a sinch to clean. If you’re more worried about the aesthetics part of snake keeping rather than the health and safety of your snakes, then maybe you’re in over your head.



12/06/04  1:13am
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 #194778


Roxmysox99
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  Message To: Pelota   In reference to Message Id: 194614


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

okay but whats a good rubbermaid or sterilite container for a adult BP?? also can u give me the model number??

Maleeh12



12/06/04  3:41pm
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 #195205


Pelota
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  Message To: Roxmysox99   In reference to Message Id: 194778


 Rubbermaid Vs. Aquariums

I’m not sure. As I’ve said, for an adult, any rubbermaid with the floor space of 3 foot by 1 foot or more is fine.

In fact, I think I answered this question already, and told you I’d go for the Model 1995 where it has roughly 3 by 1 1/2 feet. That’s what I’m hoping to get for Pelota this month.



12/07/04  12:54am
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