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Need to provide a pet snake with a home which is safe, comfortable, affordable, and convenient? One option is simply to repurpose a regular plastic tub into a plastic container for a ball python. Previously, I shared the steps with you to get set up with a plastic bin for a ball python. Now, I want to provide you with some general advice to go along with those steps.

• There is some degree of controversy surrounding whether plastic bins are suitable houses for snakes. The main source of this seems to be the fact that many people who opt for bins choose bins which are too small, and may put minimal effort into creating a suitably engaging and comfortable interior environment. So long as your bin is large enough and you provide the hides and other features your python needs, it should be just fine.

• Be aware that the ball python snake cage you have crafted out of the plastic bin does not need to be evenly heated. In fact, it should not be heated evenly at all. It should be appropriately warm at one end (between 82-85 degrees Fahrenheit) and appropriately cool at the other (around 75-81 degrees Fahrenheit). The best way to be sure that the gradient is properly established is through the use of a digital temperature gun.

• You will have a hard time maintaining the heat gradient discussed above without the help of a rheostat or thermostat (the latter is preferred). Make sure that you purchase either or both. One thing you should not purchase is a heat rock. You will not be able to regulate its temperature, and it can pose a safety hazard.

• If you are worried about the clear plastic tub melting, don’t be. The only reason the plastic would melt is because the temperature is way too high. So long as you are regulating it properly using a thermostat and are sticking to the range specified above, the plastic will be in no danger of losing structural integrity.

• Do not put sand inside the container for any reason. Other super-dry substances such as walnut shells should be avoided too.

• Some of the best substrates are the simplest ones, namely paper towels. They are inexpensive and non-toxic, and not overly dry. Unlike a substance such as sand, they cannot become impacted, and your snake is not going to end up eating them and getting sick (or dying) from doing so. You can also clean and replace them with minimal effort.

You now have some tips and advice for setting up a plastic storage tote as a home for a ball python. If you haven’t yet, be sure to read my article sharing the steps for preparing the bin. Good luck, and do not forget to closely monitor your bin’s temperature and regularly replace the substrate. So long as your bin is set up properly and offers all your python needs to be safe and comfortable, it should live a happy life.