Quote Originally Posted by jitami View Post
It looks like most of the tops just rest inside the tank on that little lip instead of going around the outside like most of the commercial lids. I like... and would be easy... still not crazy about the bricks in the living room, but I'm sure I could figure out...

OH, one more question... if you've made it this far!... I have a large piece of driftwood that was too big to fit in my oven. What is the best way to prepare it for use in the tank? Can I soak it in bleach in the tank, since I'm soaking the tank anyway?
The lids do sit in the lip. I like that a lot, because the snakes can no longer hide in that lip, and it also cuts down their ability to push on the lid dramatically. In aquariums, Snakes in the 1-2 foot range get the most "push" out of wedging their bodies into that gap, and pushing with their whole bodies. Now the snakes have to push all the way from the cage floor.
I use thick enough wood that they do not flex- so when there is weight in the middle, the whole lid is secure.
I used to worry about how to clean the wooden lids, but I noticed that my snakes never crap "up". If you dont get the lids soaking wet, they should never warp.
There are other options to lock the lids down, if you get creative. You can put half moon type locking pins in the four corners that grab the underside of the lip when turned one way, and clear it when turned 180 degrees opposite. Just an idea I have seen used before. (I know this might be hard to picture).
You could also use a couple metal or wood strips under and above the tank(one on each end), with all-thread and wingnuts squeazing them together, thereby holding the lid down.

I found bricks were much easier.
On feeding day, I can get in and out of 35 cages super fast. I lift the lid a couple inches, and use my 24" long hemostats to reach a mouse to the snake, even if its toward the back of the tank- and I'm out again and off to the next one.
I use larger bricks for larger snakes.

On the wood- I suppose you could soak it in bleach- just dont mix it too strong, then rinse it well, and soak it in fresh water for an hour after, and allow it to dry for a few days. I did that once, and it seemed to work.