60"x18"x26" aquarium top

[texasghoul]

I have a 60"x18"x26" aquarium that will eventually be home to a red tail boa. It currently has no top. Does anyone build custom snake tops? How much would something like this cost me? I had thought of building my own out of peg board but would like a more professional look. Thanks!

[jjhill001]

Glasscages.com - Screen Tops (http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=22)

[toddnbecka]

Screen top would cost close to $100 with shipping, pegboard would be less than $10. Not sure if a glasscages top will properly fit a different brand of aquarium, is that a glasscages tank? If you want to make it pretty you could build a wooden canopy.

[IW17]

Just use plexiglass. Cut it to fit right onto the lip that runs around the top rim of the tank.

[Sasha2]

That is an odd size aquarium. Not like the standards. If you get plexiglass make sure its not the eighth inch, that stuff sags and wont hold a determined boa. Get the quarter inch.

[texasghoul]

all good advice!! thanks!!

[texasghoul]

Just to make sure, if I use a piece of 1/4" plexiglass, would I lay it across the entire tank and just drill holes on the heat side for my heat lamp or should I drill a few on the cool side of the tank as well?

Thanks guys!

[toddnbecka]

Depends on the size and number of the holes. Some small ones on the cool side would help with ventilation, too many large holes will make it more difficult to maintain humidity. Jst keep in mind, it's better to add more holes until you find the right balance than to start with too many then patch some over.

[texasghoul]

yeah thats what I figured toddnbecka, I only have holes drilled in the hot side right now. H e is just a baby right now so I have him in a 10 gallon tank and I think I have the humidity levels and temp down for now. But just assuming when he gets moved into the larger tank things will be a bit harder to manage in a glass aquarium. May do some research and build an enclosure more suitable for a boa than a glass aquarium, as Ive been reading glass aquariums are not exactly the best enclosures.

[texasghoul]

And he just shed so thats why he was not eating and i left a pinky mouse in his hot hiding spot last night and he appears to have eaten it!!!! So thinking about trying to leave a little feeding bowl right outside his hide and see if he will use it. would be great if he does!

[IW17]

Sorry I've been gone for a bit. Anyhow, yes use quarter inch. If the tank has a built-in support at the top center you might need two pieces. And I would start out drilling holes on the cool side. You'll lose less heat which can be hard to maintain in a glass tank as it is. I use a quarter inch bit for mine and usually drill holes about an inch apart.

[toddnbecka]

I can tell you firsthand the difference between a glass 75 gallon tank and a 2'x4'x18" wooden (1/2" plywood) enclosure with sliding glass doors on the front. I hooked up 80w RHP's in both, with the t-stats set to 80. The wooden enclosure maintains the temp steadily, the glass tank (with pegboard top) hasn't yet reached 80, highest I've seen yet is 78. The wooden enclosure has 8 round 2" vents, 4 on the bottom right side, 4 on the top left side, and a slight gap at the ends where the glass and wood aren't exactly square. Also a little gap between the glass sheets in the front center. Even though the wooden enclosure is larger and likely has better ventilation/circulation than the 75 it holds the heat much better. I'm waiting to see how it does with humidity, but I use cypress mulch so it won't be difficult to maintain either way.