Enclosure Don'ts

[Foxrun402]

Don't use anything sticky inside the tank... Tape.. Double-sided foam tape.. Anything they could get stuck to is bad, and anything that could adhere itself to them is also bad. For the thermometers/hygrometers I do not stick them to the glass anymore! I read to many bad things and worried myself to the point of just burying them flush into the substrate... Plus it gives you a more accurate reading of the floor temp.

[chris-uk]

If you need to stick anything to a tank use hot glue, a hot glue gun isn't expensive and comes in surprisingly useful.

I also use Blue Tac to fill in little gaps in one of my vivs around the hole that thermometer cables go in through, without the extra precaution the hole is large enough that a small scrub could get out.

[infernalis]

This recommendation is more of a enclosure maintenance item and I'm sure Wayne will substantiate its importance.

"NEVER LEAVE SHEDS IN THE ENCLOSURE"

I will pull the photo when I can, but I had a snake attempt to use it's own shed as a hide, crawled back into it's sloughed skin backward, became stuck and suffocated. I found this mess early one morning.

[infernalis]

Notice the snake's head is crammed into the tail of the shed, proving the snake completed shedding, then crawled back inside the skin in reverse prior to passing away. Pity too, it was a nice caramel coloured albino radix.

[gibble888]

That is soooo odd! Sorry for your loss.

[guidofatherof5]

Don't set plastic or glass enclosures in direct sunlight. The temps in side can become critical and kill your snakes. This can happen in a matter of a few minutes.
This is a serious situation.

[ConcinusMan]

Do not drill or punch ventilation holes if you're using plastic tubs for enclosures. And this applies to shipping containers too. Use a hot metal rot to melt the holes from the inside out and always remove any jagged/sharp spurs left behind. Make sure the holes are small enough that the snake can't stick his snout in it. Run your hand across the holes. You shouldn't get scratched or poked. Should feel smooth.

Let me show you what happened recently when someone drilled the holes and ignored the sharp edges and spurs left behind. Nothing like waking up to a hole in the head to start the week. Ouch!

[chris-uk]

When using fake vines be sure to keep them a minimum for 4 inches/ 11 cm off the bottom of the enclosure. Otherwise, they will use the vine and leaves toilet paper. There will be skid marks all over the place Cleaning poop off these vines is a pain. Don't ask how I know

I've reconsidered my thoughts on this advice. I now disagree with you Steve.

I use fake plants to give ground cover for the snakes, rather than for pure aesthetic reasons. So lifting the leaves to 10cm off the substrate negates that ground cover. So I'd modify the advice to - if you have fake plants trailing on the substrate, use plastic plants instead of silk because they clean easier (don't ask how I know ).
If you need to clean silk plants half an hour soaking in a tub of warm soapy water softens up the most stubborn of muck. I also take a hit every now and then and decide that a cluster of leaves has taken such a bad hit that they go in the bin, I'd rather buy a couple of new plants each year than clean snake s%£ from under my nails.

[guidofatherof5]

You disagree! Okay.
Your points are valid

[ConcinusMan]

Mine do use them for toilet paper but I don't care. They're dollar tree (dollar store) plants. Besides my enclosures are glass. I just take them out when cleaning the tank and soak them in bleach solution, rinse and beat them a bit and that takes care of that. they come out clean.