Fixing gaps left by broken tabs on a sliding top tank?

[jessicalb]

I just bought a 40 gallon critter cage with the sliding top for our snow corn, Ark. It was only 30 bucks, so I went for it even though the plastic tabs that usually lock those tops in place had been broken off. I'm not worried about the locking, because we can still put a pin through the front.

My son thinks it will be fine just leaving them, but I was thinking about that thread where someone's corn got stuck in that tiny little hole in their tub, and I would like to modify this somehow to close those holes. Any ideas?

Also, it is way too big for any of our shelving, but the kiddo has lots of space in his room, so we are thinking of getting some plywood or something a couple inches larger than the tank and putting it on the floor. What could we use to lift it a bit, so it's not sitting directly on the UTH? Maybe just two strips of narrower wood the length of the tank?

I am very excited to put Ark in his palatial new home!

 

[neiman07]

that what we use.. some scraps of plywood for under our tanks! =]

nice that the kiddo gets to have him in his room!! WOOHOO

 

[toxiclight]

We use the little adhesive furniture sliders to give our tanks clearance from the heating pads. But the wood would work quite well, I think

And for closing the holes...without seeing the holes and knowing how they're situated, I would suggest either a dollop of hot glue or some BluTak...I've used both to close small holes before.

 

[Nanci]

Or aquarium silicone...

 

[neiman07]

the silicone works great! its cheap and if you ever need the hole there for some odd reason you can just pull it out lol

 

[jessicalb]

that what we use.. some scraps of plywood for under our tanks! =]

nice that the kiddo gets to have him in his room!! WOOHOO

We're going to miss him in the living room, though! Maybe I'll purchase a full grown corn that's more like 2.5-3 feet so it would be comfortable in a 20 gallon long? I really think the solution to almost anything is more corns.

 

[jessicalb]

Thanks for the ideas! Here are some pictures to show the holes...

 

[neiman07]

hoe big is the snake you are going to put in there? cause that a big tank there is going to be a lot of hides needed in that tank.. if its an adult snake i wouldn't worry about it to much but that's just me you could always put a piece of tape over it and that will fix it easy and cheaply sense i think you use that part to slide it open?! i could be wrong lol but tape is an easy way to go!

always more corn we have a little over a 3 1/2 ft snow in a 20 he seems to like it alot we got him a dog dish from walmart to swim in but he would rather hide under it ill have to take a pick its funny, when we are making to much noise for him he sticks his head out and just stares lol silly boys!

 

[jessicalb]

He is pretty big! About three and a half years old, about 51 inches long, and 586 grams. The only downside I see to the bigger cage is how much aspen it will take and cleaning it is going to be a bear. We aren't volume owners at all at this point, so we have the time and energy to deal with the extra effort.

This is him pretty recently:

Also, this means I have the 20 gallon open and awaiting a new pet!

 

[neiman07]

naw i wouldn't worry about the holes personally! hes pretty big our snow boy is pretty big to but he lives in the 20 lol if you think his head can fit though the hole then i would tape it but i cant tell you 100%

we use aspen mixed with repie bark.. its the best i have found doesn't dry out the tank cause the repi bark holds humidity pretty well but there just enough aspen to pull some out, also i spot clean when i see theres poo or some tinkle i clean just the area so that help cause then i dont have to clean it all the way out as often =]

 

[CornAndBall]

Your problem isn't going to be the whole. Obviously, you can just tell by looking at your tank and your corn that he isn't going to escape through those wholes. What is important is that those tabs, now that they're gone, are no longer holding the lid shut. Thus, your corn could (with enough determination) use those wholes to slide the lid of the tank open enough to wear an escape could be possible. My solution? Use that little eyelet on the front of the tank lid (where a lock could be inserted) and put a sturdy piece of metal, plastic, or something else in it. This will prevent the lid from sliding open, and will prevent an escape.

 

[CornAndBall]

Your problem isn't going to be the whole. Obviously, you can just tell by looking at your tank and your corn that he isn't going to escape through those wholes. What is important is that those tabs, now that they're gone, are no longer holding the lid shut. Thus, your corn could (with enough determination) use those wholes to slide the lid of the tank open enough to wear an escape could be possible. My solution? Use that little eyelet on the front of the tank lid (where a lock could be inserted) and put a sturdy piece of metal, plastic, or something else in it. This will prevent the lid from sliding open, and will prevent an escape.

Hehe, my bad. My page only computer only loaded your second post down and below, I didn't see your first message saying exactly what I just posted. Ignore me. Regardless, I agree with the others that the hole shouldn't be a problem for your corn.

 

[CornAndBall]

The tabs on my tank broke off just like yours, but as they say, there's a silver lining to every cloud. I use the holes left by the tab to slide the cords for my probe thermometers and thermostat probe through.

 

[jessicalb]

Your problem isn't going to be the whole. Obviously, you can just tell by looking at your tank and your corn that he isn't going to escape through those wholes.

I'm more worried that he will wedge his goofy head through. inch the heck out of his neck and then be writhing, caught in the space, freaking out, when we come in the room one day. Not so much the escaping, but the sticking. Jessicat, I think, posted about her corn getting stuck in a space like that. Gives me shivers!