fish tanks as reptile cages??

[mis-devious]

hey guys i was just wondering if anyone has trouble getting there snakes out of a big display tank? a 6ft one for example. they are pretty high up an deep. do you need step ladders/hooks? and how much of a hassle would it be if they were to come out every day. thankyou

 

[AaronR]

Firstly how big is the snake you want to put into it?
IMO fish tanks arnt the best enclosure as they are hard to maintain a constant temp. If you were to use a fish tank as one consider the use of fake rock backgrounds as they will assist you in creating an abient temp, make it more attractive and also should assist you get the snake in and out.
A hook is al\ways good to have to get snakes out.

 

[pythonmum]

I've used fish tanks, but prefer a wooden enclosure with sliding glass front. I have enclosures with hinged doors, but don't like them as much.

As Aaron has pointed out, insulation is a problem. I put quilt batting and a cheap auto sun reflector behind my fish tank to keep heat in at the back. You can put an aquarium picture on the back to make it prettier, but my snakes didn't care if they had to look at white polyester fibre.

As far as hooks go, they are very useful. I find that snakes are more apt to act defensively if you approach from above, like a predator, rather than from the side or below. With a front-opening enclosure, I can always approach from the side or below. If coming in from the top, a hook is much less threatening and also extends your reach.

 

[mis-devious]

thanks i want to put a woma in it so heat mats under the sand should help with heating. I use to have a big cabinet style fish tank with fish and it was a struggle just to feed the fish so how do you handle getting a snake in and out

 

[Serpentes]

It will be a real pain to get the snake in and out unless you build a platform to stand on. I have a big tank with lizards in it, but it is only on a 40cm high stand, and I can easily reach into it. Perhaps a lower stand will help you?

 

[pythonmum]

thanks i want to put a woma in it so heat mats under the sand should help with heating. I use to have a big cabinet style fish tank with fish and it was a struggle just to feed the fish so how do you handle getting a snake in and out

Sounds like it would be a major hassle to get a snake out, especially if it doesn't like the idea. You should see me fighting to get my chicken of a Darwin male out of his enclosure through sliding doors! He grabs the branch with one end, hooks onto the vine with the other, etc. If I didn't have a hook, a free hand and good access, I'd be stuffed. This the top enclosure with a smaller one and storage space underneath, so I'm reaching up which makes it more difficult.