every man's dream

[Kmef07]

I need ideas.......

My friend and I have just decided while sitting here at work that we are going to build the ultimate MAN CAVE!!!
He has a bunch of left over building supplies and I have a huge concrete pad we used to have a shed built over in the woods next to my house. He has enough building materials to make a frame that will span the whole concrete pad. The demensions are 20'x30'. We have planned on dividing the room into two pieces. one part is going to be 17' by 20' and the other is going to be 13' by 20'.

the larger of the two rooms is going to be the snake center. I really want to get into breeding snakes and having as many as i possibly can and also breeding the rats and mice to feed them. the mice will be kept in an outside little room that will be heated.

the smaller room is going to be the entertainment room. my friend is going to bring over his 50" tv and also run a satelite box to it. we picked up a couple couches and chairs from another friend who was looking to sell them and also we just ordered the parts to make a full functioning wet bar. with a tap on the wall. I know i'm only 20 but i figure getting a head start won't hurt anything. Best part is from my friends contracting business we will barely have to buy any construction materials. it will be heated by a fireplace and a blower. and also we have a couple heaters and a few humidifiers we are going to use in the snake room. We are also trying to find parts to make a little kitchen in it.

if anyone has any ideas that might help this project or make it better in any way please let me know. we plan to have it up and running in 3-4 months so i will try and maybe post some pics in the next couple weeks. anyone know the best way to heat a bunch of snake racks? i think im going to use heat tape on the back wall of the racks like my breeder does and i am going to custom build my racks with a great deal i got on some rubbermaids at meijer. However, i am still going to keep my personal snakes and my favorite snakes in my main house.

Thanks in advance for the advice and insite

[Aaron_S]

Insulate it so all the heat doesn't escape. If you plan to build racks with heat tape, the best way to use it is to put it on the bottom of each shelf. Belly heat is the most useful to a snake. Check out Mykee's website, Welcome to StrictlyBalls.ca (http://www.strictlyballs.ca), it's got a great how-to on building racks.

[Kmef07]

ya thanks forgot about the belly heat thing to digest. i use it in my cage now but i always forget cuz i don't see it everyday. also should i simulate the day and night cycle still in the racks by leaving the light on a timer. right now it's 930am on and 930pm off. if i'm in there till midnight one night is it ok to leave that room's light on or will it disrupt the cycle. right now in my room when it is after 930 i use a flashlight to navigate so i don't disrupt the day/night cycle of my brb. and will a tv's light in my room disrupt it? silly question that probably will get laughed at or doesn't matter but i'm curious.

[angie_85]

I've actually wondered that question: will turning the light on after the snakes' lights are out disrupt the day/night cycle? I hope not because they too are in my bedroom and I need to see when I go in there at night.

[Aaron_S]

My snakes are in my bedroom. They are in a rack system and in rubbermaids. They have no extra lights for them and I turn my light on and off and it doesn't seem to bother them.

[Kmef07]

good cuz im tired to doing everything at night by flashlight.

[Kmef07]

also would you recommend having clear rubbermaids or opaque?