How do i make a tank lid!

[Cronsnakes]

So after about 2 months of Piper being in a tub it's obvious she needs more height to travel. The tank i had her in before had a cardboard lid and i woke up to her half way out of one of the holes in the card board so i bought her a tub and now i need a lid. I won't be able to go to town for another week or two to buy one so i figured why not see if i can make a nice sturdy one. Anything helps oh and she's a strong adult and has seem to gotten very aggressive whenever i open her tub lid.

 

[rrowdy]

I thought most all Sterilite tubs came with lids. I've purchased them from Wallyworld and they had lids with latches and were pretty inexpensice also.
You can add stationary clamps if you feel it's not secure enough which
I do because Corns are experts at escape.

Good luck!

 

[Cronsnakes]

I thought most all Sterilite tubs came with lids. I've purchased them from Wallyworld and they had lids with latches and were pretty inexpensice also.
You can add stationary clamps if you feel it's not secure enough which
I do because Corns are experts at escape.

Good luck!

I mean for my glass tank that doesn't have a lid*

 

[smigon]

Go to a pet store, they usually have what you need! Also, I just purchased a lid for a 20L for $15 on Amazon, if you are a Prime member you will have no shipping charges.

 

[colubridcando18]

If you go to a petstore like Petco or PetSmart ... lids are usually $10-25.00 depending on size of aquarium. Be sure to get clips for the sides and pay close attention as depending on size of snake they can push their way out if not secure.

 

[Chip]

Yeah, I wouldn't dare try to make a lid to keep a snake in!

 

[ken347]

if i were you i wouldnt go to a petstore if you have a tank like a 55g they will charge you 50 just for the lid. there are many ways to build one. the process that im gonna be doing soon is im pretty sure you have trimming on your tank with the little lip on the inside of it so all you need to do is buy a thin piece of plywood if you look around your local store you might find one that is really smooth but strong so you buy that and cut it or have it cut to fit right inside the trimming resting on the lip than you drill a few holes for screws for a handle and some locks id recommend either the sliding door locks or the window locks you screw part of the lock on the wood and glue (krazy glue) the other part of it on the trimming oh and make sure you add some screen (chicken wire) into it so you have ventilation

 

[kaypar2011]

Chicken wire will not contain a snake. Use screen wire.

 

[ken347]

chicken wire here has only about a centimeter holes. Ive been using it to keep my snake for the last year with zero escapes

 

[Chip]

chicken wire here has only about a centimeter holes.

Then it's hardware cloth, not chicken wire.

At my shop, a screen top for a 55 runs about $28 bucks. Your local prices may vary, I suppose.

 

[ken347]

they wanted 60 at my local shop and hmm i guess its different than cause they sold it to me as chicken wire

 

[Nythain]

Chicken wire normally has much larger spacing, 1-2 inches, and formed in an octagonal shape. You can find a less common half inch variation, but more than likely any screen suitable for containing a snake of any age will be some other mesh and not the standard "chicken wire" used for construction and coops. Really an argument of semantics though. The moral of the story is "Make sure to cut out some ventilation holes and cover with a sturdy find mesh screen".

 

[Nythain]

*find = fine (darn you lack of an edit button!)

 

[ken347]

couldnt have said it any better. i guess its up to the op if the lids at your local store are cheap than buy professional otherwise make one out of wood and screen.

 

[Chip]

Or invest in a Critter Cage or enclosure meant to keep a snake in. I can't stress enough how good they are at escape.

 

[Myca]

You mentioned she is becoming aggressive. Any thoughts as to the reason?

 

[Cronsnakes]

You mentioned she is becoming aggressive. Any thoughts as to the reason?

Not really sure, it's gotten to the point where i can't even open the tank without her trying to get me or sprint away. I moved her into a glass tank and moved her up right next to me to where i can keep an i eye on her and she hasn't tamed down at all, i just noticed she's sitting in her water bowl. It could be because semi cooled her on accident i'm not sure though i'll try to get a video up

 

[VampMN]

What are the warm side temps, and where are you measuring them? Too high a temperature can make them more aggressive, and they will sometimes soak in their water bowl to try and cool off.

 

[cagedbirdsinging]

Take whatever I say with a few grains of salt because I am not yet an owner, but I wouldn't feel comfortable at all with making a lid myself. I do, however, have access to a father and grandfather that are masterful wood workers and could probably manage to build a veritable fortress. In fact, I intend to eventually have them build a custom vivarium for my future little girl that will be a show piece of sorts! They built me a beautiful stand and canopy cover for my fish tank out of scraps from the shop and it could probably hold a horse!

Wow, that went way off the rails. Anyway... I would be so much more comfortable shelling out some bucks for a proper lid with multiple forms of locking/latching.

I have ordered a vivarium topper from Amazon at a very reasonable price ($14 USD) with several locking screen clips plus velcro closures. We shall see!

 

[Nythain]

Meh... is why this is in the DIY section. Sort of crap that someone asked a DIY question, got a DIY response, then a bunch of "Just buy one!" responses. And in all reality, if you got the type of tank described in the previously mentioned method... then the plywood and screen method would work. In fact, it's not any different in basic design than the lid that came with my critter cage. You'd have to make sure you install proper locking, but that was covered in the instructions. And make sure your screen is fine enough, but that was covered also.