Skippii
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone!
So! Here's the deal… I've got this big old TV cabinet I picked up a few months back ($50, thought it was a bit of a steal!), and I've decided I want to convert it into some snake enclosures, 2 to be precise. I'm not positive exactly how this is going to work, and I'm definitely not much of a builder, but I'm gonna give it a whack.
I've attached some pictures (most of which I've scribbled on in MS Paint.. Made me feel like a 5 year old again haha). I'm still fairly new to the reptile world, and so far only had to use click clacks, so this will be my first time setting up a more permanent snake home, so bear with me and feel free to correct anything you feel I'm doing wrong or areas you think I could improve on. Completely open to suggestions, it's why I'm here!
First picture is just a blank picture of the cabinet. If you have any suggestions on things that need to be changed, PLEASE for my benefit (as I learn best from visual cues), save this image, scribble your adjustments on it and post it back here for me.
1.
Second picture contains measurements etc. both enclosures will be set up more or less identically, so any scribblings you see on one (unless I mention otherwise) will be the same in the other.
2.
Third picture shows my planned location for air vents, heat sources and main hides. This is still pretty basic (+ not to scale), and obviously I plan to add in water, Thermometers, light cages, synthetic plants and vines/perches etc to add interest and places to climb a little (May not be a super tall enclosure, but I'll still add something in case they feel like getting off the ground a little).
3.
Now a bit of an explanation:
My snakes are still very young at this point, so for now I'm just going to be working on the middle section of the cabinet. As they grow, I plan to expand into the outside cupboards (including the outside cupboards, the cabinet is 2 metres in length, roughly 6 and a half feet). The Cabinet's also got some little cupboards underneath, which I may or may not expand into at a later time
Questions! If you can answer all of them, great. If you know the answer to one or two, please still speak up, I'll take any help I can get.
- Can anyone tell me what the best way to install the separation shelf would be? Anyone here done this kinda thing before? I assume I'll need to put some sort of sealant around the edges of the new shelf, what's recommended?
- Most effective heat source? I've heard so much conflicting information about pythons not needing/liking heat sources that produce light. Some people recommend heat from below via heat pads/cords only. Some people recommend heat from above that heats a piece of slate etc (light producing or darkened globes). I'm so lost haha
- My location for the air vents is basically guess work. Cold end having a high vent to release the heat as it rises, thus sucking in fresh air at the low vent to be warmed. I'm not even sure this is what happens haha it's just how it works in my head! Suggestions are welcome..
- How should I block the hole in the back of the cabinet where the TV cord used to be?
- I LOVE the almost stained glass look of the windows in the side compartments. When I eventually expand into those areas, will that glass be strong enough? I'd hate to have to replace it, it's quite beautiful.
- What kind of doors would you recommend for the enclosures? Sliding doors? Hinged doors? Regular glass strong enough, or does it have to be toughened? Is there a huge price difference?
- Will I need to sand down all the wood to remove any finish on it, or is the original finish fine to leave on? If I need to remove it, what would you recommend, and what should I use to re-seal it afterwards? If not, what can I use over the top of the existing finish to ensure it's water proofed?
- Will the look of my enclosure really suffer without a rock wall/background? I actually quite like the look of the wood.. Plus I'm concerned about my snakes getting in behind them.
- Any other suggestions I may not have thought to ask about, please suggest them anyway!
That's all I've got for now, sorry this post is so darn long! Hopefully some of you managed to wade through it. Thanks guys, looking forward to hearing some responses.
PS - People always insist on knowing the species of snakes going to be housed: 1 cape york carpet( Floyd) and 1 water python (Sierra). Floyd's just turned 1 year old, and is about 80cm, Sierra's just over 1 month old, not much more than a foot long.
So! Here's the deal… I've got this big old TV cabinet I picked up a few months back ($50, thought it was a bit of a steal!), and I've decided I want to convert it into some snake enclosures, 2 to be precise. I'm not positive exactly how this is going to work, and I'm definitely not much of a builder, but I'm gonna give it a whack.
I've attached some pictures (most of which I've scribbled on in MS Paint.. Made me feel like a 5 year old again haha). I'm still fairly new to the reptile world, and so far only had to use click clacks, so this will be my first time setting up a more permanent snake home, so bear with me and feel free to correct anything you feel I'm doing wrong or areas you think I could improve on. Completely open to suggestions, it's why I'm here!
First picture is just a blank picture of the cabinet. If you have any suggestions on things that need to be changed, PLEASE for my benefit (as I learn best from visual cues), save this image, scribble your adjustments on it and post it back here for me.
1.
Second picture contains measurements etc. both enclosures will be set up more or less identically, so any scribblings you see on one (unless I mention otherwise) will be the same in the other.
2.
Third picture shows my planned location for air vents, heat sources and main hides. This is still pretty basic (+ not to scale), and obviously I plan to add in water, Thermometers, light cages, synthetic plants and vines/perches etc to add interest and places to climb a little (May not be a super tall enclosure, but I'll still add something in case they feel like getting off the ground a little).
3.
Now a bit of an explanation:
My snakes are still very young at this point, so for now I'm just going to be working on the middle section of the cabinet. As they grow, I plan to expand into the outside cupboards (including the outside cupboards, the cabinet is 2 metres in length, roughly 6 and a half feet). The Cabinet's also got some little cupboards underneath, which I may or may not expand into at a later time
Questions! If you can answer all of them, great. If you know the answer to one or two, please still speak up, I'll take any help I can get.
- Can anyone tell me what the best way to install the separation shelf would be? Anyone here done this kinda thing before? I assume I'll need to put some sort of sealant around the edges of the new shelf, what's recommended?
- Most effective heat source? I've heard so much conflicting information about pythons not needing/liking heat sources that produce light. Some people recommend heat from below via heat pads/cords only. Some people recommend heat from above that heats a piece of slate etc (light producing or darkened globes). I'm so lost haha
- My location for the air vents is basically guess work. Cold end having a high vent to release the heat as it rises, thus sucking in fresh air at the low vent to be warmed. I'm not even sure this is what happens haha it's just how it works in my head! Suggestions are welcome..
- How should I block the hole in the back of the cabinet where the TV cord used to be?
- I LOVE the almost stained glass look of the windows in the side compartments. When I eventually expand into those areas, will that glass be strong enough? I'd hate to have to replace it, it's quite beautiful.
- What kind of doors would you recommend for the enclosures? Sliding doors? Hinged doors? Regular glass strong enough, or does it have to be toughened? Is there a huge price difference?
- Will I need to sand down all the wood to remove any finish on it, or is the original finish fine to leave on? If I need to remove it, what would you recommend, and what should I use to re-seal it afterwards? If not, what can I use over the top of the existing finish to ensure it's water proofed?
- Will the look of my enclosure really suffer without a rock wall/background? I actually quite like the look of the wood.. Plus I'm concerned about my snakes getting in behind them.
- Any other suggestions I may not have thought to ask about, please suggest them anyway!
That's all I've got for now, sorry this post is so darn long! Hopefully some of you managed to wade through it. Thanks guys, looking forward to hearing some responses.
PS - People always insist on knowing the species of snakes going to be housed: 1 cape york carpet( Floyd) and 1 water python (Sierra). Floyd's just turned 1 year old, and is about 80cm, Sierra's just over 1 month old, not much more than a foot long.
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