50 holes enough for a 28qt tub!?

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LizMarie

New Member
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I know this is silly but I want to make sure my geckos have enough circulation in their tubs. I bought 3 28qt tubs that measure 23" x 16 1/4" x 6" ... there 19 holes one inch apart on each of the long sides and only 6 on each of the short sides.. Is that enough!?

Everyone knows I'm a little paranoid..
 
T-ReXx

T-ReXx

Uroplatus Fanatic
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thegeckoguy23 said:
Haha not me use a torch and a screw driver in my front yard and every few mins my torch goes out so when i light i burn my hand some of the times lol.



Jake
Click to expand...

A soldering iron is like 5 bucks, and usually doesn't require a trip to the emergency room...
 
L

LizMarie

New Member
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i poked my holes with a little pointed screw driver and the stove, lol.. surprisingly i walked away with out any burn or melting a portion of the tub but then again it was my first tub! 2 more to go, lol.
 
M_surinamensis

M_surinamensis

Shillelagh Law
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Tony C said:
I've always wondered if the holes are more for our own psychological benefit than any actual function since there isn't really a good path for airflow through a typical rack...
Click to expand...

Airholes don't add much. The carbon dioxide mixture exhaled by the animal in the tub changes the density and composition of the air immediately in front of them as they breathe it out- it then dilutes into the atmospheric mix present in the tub, which dilutes into the atmosphere of the room which dilutes... and so on. Molecular exchange happens quickly when looking at such a small scale as the respiration of a gecko or a snake- the gap at the top of a lidless tub in a rack, that eighth of an inch or so where it's open- is sufficient so that the animal won't be suffocating.

If fresh air is more of an issue, species like chameleons that are more demanding or enclosures that are going to be wet down heavily, where air exchange includes the removal of fungal spores...

...either don't use tubs (chameleons) where air holes wouldn't represent enough forced air exchange to produce the desired effect by themselves anyway or implement some form of forced gas exchange as necessary.

I use PC fans in my candoia racks. Just cut out a number of squares on the back and sides of the rack and pull fresh air around and above the tubs... still don't drill air holes though, just changing the air pressure in an enclosed space is sufficient to draw additional air through the thing.

Holes just don't contribute much. Drill fifty holes in the side of a tub and the total surface area of the walls that has been removed is still tiny. That ⅛" gap between the lip and the next shelf is going to represent more actual space.

If someone is using tubs with lids, none of that applies.
 
Tony C

Tony C

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It would have been nice to know that my suspicion was correct before I inhaled all those plastic fumes from melting holes. :main_laugh:
 
Northstar Herp

Northstar Herp

Rhacs and Uros, oh boy!!!
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Plaistow, NH
This is really funny. I have gobs of holes in my tubs burned with a woodburning tool, just because "that's what you're supposed to do". All the while, I was wondering what difference it made if I had the air gap at the top of the tub.

I guess it's a good example of bad info transmission, and a negative side effect of forums where any ole' noob can start an old wives tale.

Since I make my own racks, I wonder if anybody could tell me if any of the pre-built racks have air holes in them when you buy them?
 
M_surinamensis

M_surinamensis

Shillelagh Law
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pakinjak said:
Since I make my own racks, I wonder if anybody could tell me if any of the pre-built racks have air holes in them when you buy them?
Click to expand...

Some of them probably do- I also build my own and haven't bought enclosures since before Neodesha went out of business the first time. I usually find fault with some aspect of the design from most manufacturers. Building my own I can adjust what is being made so that it is ideal for whatever I want to keep in it and my own preferences when it comes to some conveniences.

I think it probably goes back to what Tony mentioned- the psychological impact on potential buyers. Air exchange and proper ventilation (for the species being housed, making it a variable) are important. A whole bunch of tiny holes don't really contribute much of significance to addressing that but they give the appearance of having done so, even when the actual impact is minimal. We (people in general we, not you and I we) punch holes in the cardboard boxes pet stores put feeder mice in and they are nowhere near airtight to begin with- so enclosures are going to probably see a lot of manufacturers including a lot of tiny little not that necessary holes.
 
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