How Often They Escape?

If I have my snake in a common crystal tank the enclosure lid should be shut tight? or they can't open it with just pushing it

If there is a way out, the snake will find it.

If you don't think the lid is shut tight, you can put something like a heavy book to help weigh it down.

Snakes are notorious for escaping. Therefore all caution must be exercised when keeping snakes. Snakes are strong escape artists, so it is imperitive that their viv is secured with reliable fasteners. I've heard way too many stories where somebody's snake escaped only to be found by the cat.:bang:

So putting heavy objects on top of the screen will not keep them out. They will just push their way out and most likely get squished by the heavy object.

Hopefully this will encourage you to invest in some kind of locking system. I use clips for my snakes' vivs. They are very inexpensive and well worth the investment.

If there is even the tiniest gap that you think they would NEVER be able to squeeze through, they probably can! lol

If they get get their head through, they can probably get the rest through! lol

One of my big guys escaped through the tiniest gap imagineable! We had no idea where he got out, until and sat and watched him do it! lol I was AMAZED! lol

Snakes, even the babies, are surprisingly strong. They will lift off poorly secured lids given half a chance.

Better to be safe than sorry, make sure that lid is locked or weighed down if you have any doubts.

"How often do they escape?"

As often as you let them! hehehehe Sorry I'm in a very good mood this morning! lol

I didnt worry about having too much weight on the top of my tank when my snake was small. As he got older and I upgraded his tank, I changed from 3 college books to just 4 clips. Ive seen Nibbs various times poking at the lid, he seems very strong...sometimes I worry the clips might not hold!

OMG! They really are strong =S I really have to think what I can do to keep my vivarium secure... How do you put the clips? =O

Depends on what kind you buy. Have somebody show you. Their pretty easy to work.

I'm thrilled -- and relieved! -- to say that I've never had an escape...yet...thus far these 1.5 years of snake-owning. :dancer: Now, I need to go knock every part of my body against wood to prevent me from eating my words...!

Two of my snakes' tanks are Critter Keepers, with a sliding/snap-on lid, and it works great...especially the one that I have in my classroom (thank all powers-that-be!). The rest have regular lids that I keep down with clasps or in the case of my little snow, Schnee: she gets my French and Spanish college dictionaries (in spite of her German name). Oh, and Bellerouge (the French mademoiselle) gets my former ankle weights. It all works out well.