Need help with a new enclosure

[RB420]

ok so my female BCI is reaching her first birthday. So i want to get started on her adult cage. I currently rent a room out of another persons house so space is at a premium. I want to make something that will fit, be practical, and at the same time when i move out and buy my own house a couple years down the road, be a display peice in my living room so here is what i was thinking (try and stay with me cuz sometimes im not the best at communicating my ideas to others)

i want this to be a 3 part cage, with the snake enclosure its self being 6-6.5 L X 2 W X 2 H. the other two parts will sit below and abov the cage, and have similar dimensions, with only height possibly varying. i want the bottom of it to have 2 or 3 cupboards that open with shelves in them, and i want the top peice to be open shelves. The snake cage will open from the front via sliding glass or plexi glass doors.

I will be honest, i am not the most handy person aroudn which is why i am getting my father to help me with the construction and design of this unit.

Up until now i have only kept snakes in rubbermaids heated by human heat pads. I have had great success with this. But its time to step up. Now this is where you wonder people of the Ssnakess.com community come in. I need to know of any possible design flaws you could forsee in this unit, and help me out when it comes to figuring out how to proparly maintain husbandry of the snakes cage. I have read up and heard good things about Heat tape and am leaning towards that as a possible heat source. but am completely unaware of the best way to install and use it. Also i want a built in heat control device, and thermometers (but i think ican figure that one out).

so lets here some comments and suggestions as i want this to be a beautiful cage that will last many years.

I will post a computer sketch of what i invision the unit looking like the next time im at my Dads house.

Thanks for your time and comments

Ryan

[Rosy-enthusiast]

Ok, so want like a cupboard under the snake cage and shelves above it to keep supplies, etc. Interesting idea, its an all in one cupboard, snake cage and shelves. Cant really tell you much about heat tape and how to install it cause i havent used it myself. Iv got something like that but there not connected. Would work in my room perfectly


Rosy-enthusiast

[RB420]

no its not all in one, i want the bottom, cupboard space to be one peice, the snake cage to be one piece and the shelves one peice. that way it would be easier to move when the time comes.

[Rosy-enthusiast]

oh, i gotcha now, ya, that would be a large piece to move...Definatley has to be in parts. One thing i see is that your going to have to put some kind of groove on the top of each so it connects and cant easily fall/slide off. Thats about it then.

[Serpens]

My thinking is that sliding probably won't be a problem, as the weight will be keeping the friction pretty high and hence the lack of sliding. A couple catches or latches would work to make double sure.

I've never used heat tape myself, but check to find out about placement...you'll need to give the tape air to breathe, otherwise it's a fire hazard. Also, from my research, heat tape is best placed UNDER the cage, so if the cage itself and the undercage cupboards are two pieces, they're going to sandwich the tape and not allow it any air...it would work if there was a bit of room between them, like a 1/4 inch or so...just make sure that there's air for the heat tape. But again, check with someone, cuz if you can put it directly under the substrate, then you're laughing.

Sounds like an awesome idea all in all...post pics when you're done. I'd love to see the finished project.

Serpens

[SnakeyeZ]

Why dont you try somthing like a Radiant Heating panel? For home-made wooden enclosures its a little difficult to use heat-tape, for a couple reasons.

*It's got to be on the inside of the enclosure...because, It might not be sufficiant enough to penetrate the bottom of the cage if its on the outside.

*Another thing is it needs to be completely out of the snakes reach, also must be somwhere no water can get too just incase the snake tips the bowl, AND they do that quite often.


If you choose to use Heat tape:

*I have a few ideas of building a few larger enclosures for a few of my boas and Im thinking about building a plexy glass drop in bottom...I will be able to remove it for cleanings or electrical work if needed. Build the sides of it so it goes atleast 4-5 inches up the wall for any larger spills, or humidity issues. Or having a large (floor space) rubbermaid that will do pretty much the same thing.

Hope this helps ya....

[RB420]

what would be the best way to place a radient heat panel?

[SnakeyeZ]

Beleive it screws right into the top of the enclosure. Heat is directed downwards. :-D