Need advice on modifying a terrarium

[Pixie]

I had purchased this nice big terrarium for my BP but realized soon after that the height wasn't going to be used by my BP as they don't climb very much. So what I would like to do now is separate it into three compartments to house a few snakes. Here's a pic so you can see.

http://pixie.magazoo.ca/terra02.jpg

The actual inside dimentions are 4'10" high, 3' wide and 2 1/2' deep. I want to first remove the two partial shelves and replace them with full sized ones to separate the enclosures for my snakes. I haven't decided on the material for the actual shelves but am thinking of tempered glass to resist heat pads or heat rocks with thermostats. I am also planning to add much more ventilation holes along the sides of the terrarium and add some low heat lighting in each "enclosure". The separate enclosures would be 2'10" high for the bottom one and 2' high for the two top ones.

One of the reasons I am considering heat rocks with thermostats is that I would be afraid that one of the snakes that is underneath an enclosure 2 bottom ones could get in direct contact with the heat pad above. Should I worry about this? I would prefer to use heat pads over heat rocks.

Once finished it would be great to house at least three snakes, the BP having the bigger space at the bottom, and corns in the top two spaces. At the size of 3' x 2 1/2' and 2' high, would I be able to house two adult corns in such a space provided I make sure there are plenty of hides?

Any tips on how to refurbish this vivarium would be greatly appreciated :)

Thanks,
Pixie :zi:

[Big Mike]

That's a nice enclosure. First, I think you should not have to worry about a snake coming into prolonged contact with the ceiling of it's enclosure (as long as you don't give it something to sit on up there) so UTH should be OK but it may not heat the enclosure above very well if it's open underneath. Using UTH's you may need a floor and a ceiling even if it's just two pieces of glass.

It's got such a nice big glass door. You would really need separate doors for each enclosure. It would be a pain to remove all the animals to clean just one enclosure or to keep them all in at once when the door is open etc.

That's such a nice piece I would suggest getting something suited to it (the way it is)...like an arboreal snake or chameleons or something but that's up to you :)

Good Luck.

[Pixie]

That's good to hear that the heat mats above the snakes won't be a problem, makes things easier for me to set up :)

As for the door, I'll leave it as is. I like it the way it is and even though it might be a pain I don't want to modify it.

I thought of getting an arboreal snake to put in it but I don't want anything agressive or too big. Besides, if I separate this enclosure I can put more :) Hehe!

Pixie

[Lisa]

Heat rocks are bad, even with thermostats.

you'll find a bp will climb a bit, at least our 3 do.