Help needed for enclosure building (w/ focus on glassing)

[thefridge71]

Cheers guys.

 

[thefridge71]

So I ended up getting the TV unit below for a bargain. Exams this week, but should get stuck into it all on the weekend or next week. Looking at knocking out the shelving in the middle, making a hole down into the bottom area and putting glass doors on the front. The doors at the bottom are a little bent, so I will make up some new ones and put them on there so I can still open it and check on the snake if he is down there but still have it nice and dark for him.

I am interested in what people who have done something like this do for substrate. How do you put in substrate that will allow the snake to go through to the bottom area but won't drag a lot of it down with him. I don't particularly want to use newspaper, if I go to all the trouble of making a nice enclosure with rockwall etc I want to be able to show it off in the loungeroom

I am also after information regarding the heat radiators you speak of Baden. Would one of these be powerful enough to keep an enclosure warm enough in the middle of winter in
Melbourne. It gets very cold down here. The shed where he is living now is getting down to 0 at night, the temps in the cage are fine but I have a 75w Ceramic and a 75w Red Basking light in the enclosure to keep it warm enough for him. I am just worried about having the bottom of the enclosure much colder than the temperature gradient I want. I would like for him to feel comfortable using the bottom and the top. Perhaps it would be an idea to have floor heating at the bottom of the enclosure and heating at the top as you suggested Baden. That way he can get his heat on branches at the top of the enclosure, and get heat down the bottom in his hiding area and the middle of the enclosure can act as a cooler area. I could set this up with ventilation pretty easily I would think.

Please let me know what you think everyone. I am keen on getting as many perspectives as possible so I can make up my mind

Regards,

Tom

 

[porks]

Just finished a similar build tho im only using the TV section so far my dim x coastal is still a baby



check out http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/diy-zone-5392/fixing-pine-unit-vinnies-160128/ (not me)
Shelves: Dont cut them out completely cut the center out with a jig saw and leave 100mm around this will stiffen the unit and create climbing/basking shelves
substrate: I'm using Marine carpet have 4 sheets so I can just swap and wash 1200x2000 cost $50
Heat: I have a 100w ceramic light sits happy on 30C most the day but on a 5C night enclosure drops to 21C adding heat cord soon. My enclosure is only 315L. You will need allot more heat I suggest a heat rack like in the above link but on the floor and 2 100w heat lights
Doors: I'm in Wollongong and every glass shop I've rang has told me to go to spacepac (the Qubelok guys) quote for 5mm slides $6 Bunnings $15. I'm told "spacepac have specialised in glass stuff for 20 years and are the best at what they do"
If you go with the timber frames be sure they are thick and strong 1000x700x5 glass is not light perhaps 2 or 3 doors is a safer option but will not look as good

keep you eyes open posting my build soon

 

[sutto75]

Hello Tom

Thay are a good unit to convert just clean it out and paint it.... here is one i done very happy with out come

http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/diy-zone-5392/new-enclosure-first-customer-158041/

If you wont some info just send a pm with an email address and i will send a word doc i done for another member.
Regrds
Tony