New Enclosures!

[Minkness]

Ok, so, as some of you know I scored big on some 2nd hand enclosures off Craigslist. They are a matching set of 36x20x13 (Length/depth/hight). They have ventilation holes in the back, bit otherwise is pretty closed. No odea what maker or brand they are, but they are great! Easily stackable, front opening, woth light fixtures inside...and my favorite color!!!

The woman I got them from said thT they were orriginally $200 each....I got both of them, 2 appropriately sized UTHs, 2 hides, some mopani wood, water dishes, and a climb all for just $120!!! All of that stuff combined is over $500!!!

So, I got the 2 new enclosures scrubbed down and put them where they need to go and all plugged in and set up. Put Moko and Amara in them and played some musical tanks by moving 2 of my female leos into Moko's old tank and one of my male hoggies into a 10 gallon from a 5 gallon, and my little temporary rescue into the little tub that the male was in.

It's feeding night as well, soooo....we'llsee who eats. Though I randomly offered Amara a live mouse to see if she'd take it...no different than her usual self. Stopped exploring, slammed the mouse down, then went right back to it lol. Offered one to moko, he said "Uh...yeah....don't think so...." lol.

They look so small in these new tanks!!!

Also, tried out the lights that were in them and they burn HOT and kind of bright (I'm actually pretty light sensitive myself). They also seem to think that the bulbs are their personal jungle gym, which scares me a bit since Moko is NOT a light guy and Amara won't be light for long. (Pun totally intended...har har har...). So, does anyone have suggestions on a cooler temperature light that is strong enough to handle an adult BP? Or should I just remove the bulbs completely and leave them unplugged? I really preffer white light as well.

[Bandit]

Awesome Mink. That's a hell of a deal you got. I've been waiting to switch up my enclosures as well.

As for the lighting, I would say either use heat pads or try to fabricate some sort of mesh surround so they can't actually touch it.

[Minkness]

Thanks! I have been wanting to upgrade for a while but these things are expensive and I just couldn't convince myself to spend that kind of money when trying to save up for a house.

Thwy have heat mats. The lights would just be for viewing. But these ones got like SUPER hot in just minutes, so I will not be using them until I get a lower temp bulb.

[Bandit]

Ah okay. Maybe try those fluorescent bulbs from Walmart. Not sure exactly how hot they get, but I know not as hot as other bulbs.

[Minkness]

Florescents are fragile though and filled with a poisonous gas. So if they leaked or broke, I could have very dead snakes x.x

Looking for something like an LED type that can screw into a conventional socket.

[Bandit]

Ah yes, wasn't thinking about them climbing on them and breaking them.

[Klaire]

Congrats they are awesome :)

[Tsubaki]

Very nice Mink! just get flat LED bulbs? They only get lukewarm, you can touch them easily when on.

[chairman]

Those cages look like Riverbend Reptiles cages. They're a company that is local to me just on the IN side of Louisville, KY.

It seems like they should sell a LED fixture to suit your needs. If not, the ceramic fixture should only be mounted with 2 screws. Remove it and replace with a fixture like this:
Hampton Bay, White Outdoor Oval Bulkhead Wall Light, HB8822P-06 at The Home Depot - Mobile (http://m.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-White-Outdoor-Oval-Bulkhead-Wall-Light-HB8822P-06/100648880)
Then stick your cool temp LED bulb w/standard base in it. Warning, a low watt CFL bulb will heat that fixture to about 90F and raise the ambient temps about 5F.

Nice pickup, though.

[knox]

You can get LED bulbs that look just like standard bulbs and fit in those sockets. Home Depot or Lowes. They are encased in Plastic, give off VERY little heat, and cost next to nothing to have on.

Excellent set ups you have there!

[Minkness]

Thanks guys! I will have tobmake a trip to Lowe's or Home Depot when I get paid again. I rarely slend this kind of money so I'm kinda broke till then lol. I will just make sure not to turn those lights on til then. =)

Woke up this morning and just stared at my new enclosures for a while. Both snakes happily out and about again. They seem to REALLY love the space!

[EL Ziggy]

Great deal on some really nice enclosures Mink. I hope your critters really enjoy the new digs. ;)

[toddnbecka]

Awesome deal, I'd have snatched them up too, lol. Buying or building new enclosures is expensive, and most of the ones I've seen at shows were either too small or lacking in quality as far as the construction materials. I'm not coughing up hundreds of dollars for a new enclosure that's built out of something that looks like heavy cardboard.
From what I've seen snakes will make use of whatever space you give them. One reason I don't simply build racks for tubs, though I'll have to for the babies when the DRMB's start breeding.

[IW17]

Led or fluorescent. I use fluorescent in all mine. I buy the pre-wired models that have a plastic cover. It's almost seemless so your snakes wouldn't be able to climb on it and the cover is plenty strong enough to keep the bulbs from breaking. The 24" model is around $20.

[IW17]

GE Slim Line 23 in. Fluorescent Light Fixture-10169 - The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Slim-Line-23-in-Fluorescent-Light-Fixture-10169/202024437)

[Minkness]

I know the florescent bulbs have a toxic gass inside of them. It's ot harmful when lit is it?

[chairman]

No, the mercury is vacuum sealed in the glass. The only harmful thing that can come out is UVC but they paint coatings on the inside of the bulb to prevent that.

[Minkness]

Thanks! I may actually look into that! I like that idea way better than a bulb since I could install them against the front 'lip' of the enclosure so the light faces in! ^_^