I need your help please!!

[nuno]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning a enclosure building project for my Bci I'm going to use 5/8 melamine to build it and the dimentions are going to be 4x2x2 and will have sliding glass doors. I will not be using heat tape but want to use a basking lights. Does anyone have any suggestions or pictures of their enclosures and maybe some ideas on how to...ie...glass tracks, light cages..ect.

Thank you

[Mark]

For lighting I buy either shop lights(single or doucle tube,$15-30) or under cabinet lights($15-50). For heat I use a ceramic($2-4 light fixture(I'm worried about the platic ones melting) and I'm mounting them on a 4"x4"x2" octagon box. Not too sure on the glass since i havn't used it yet(too expensive for me)

[Them and Us]

on my Grey Rats enclosure i mounted the ceramic light fixture right to the melamine. i was told by the electrician at home depot that would be fine. no octagon box needed. just get a two wire powertool replacement cord and wire it up. you can install a dimmer too and mount it to the side. but really i think heat tape would be best or like a zoo med uth as i believe boas need or benefit more from the belly heat. thats what i was told anyway.

[Them and Us]

ask grant or jeff about sliding glass doors as their shown enclosures seem very awesome with the sliding glass. I'm going with hinges for now. i may and probably will switch to sliding glass later on. i do know that you can get the tracks at home depot and i think grant told me he put a two inch littler dam on both top and bottem and then siliconed his tracks to the litter dams. but yeah just confirm with them.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Yeah, I'd go with a UTH as well....

[Lisa]

for lighting you might consider that strip lighting that's flexible. It doesn't take up much space and it doesn't get hot enough to burn the snake. for heat i'd go with a substrate heater of some sort, like heat tape or a pad that can go inside the enclosure

[nuno]

The reason I don't want to get heat tape is because it isn't approved,I was also thinking of using acrylic doors. I have yet to find a heat pad that gets hot enough to heat through glass nevermind wood I tried the Cobra pads and they were terrible!!

[asphyxia]

Hey Nuno, I have some pictures if you want
give me an email and i will send them to you

Brian

[dead bob]

Heat tape will go through the wood just fine. During testing I have had the tape reach 135f. It will heat the enclosure just fine but you do need a dimmer. And invest in a infra-red thermometer.

[reverendsterlin]

the best solution with your enclosure for heating will probably be a radient heat panel.

[asphyxia]

That "heat wave" by exo tera is working perfect for me actually it was to hoT, so i used the rehostat (by lisa) and it can be adjusted now

I think jeff has em at the store aswell!

Brian

[nuno]

Thanks Brian, I sent you an E-mail. I know heat tape is the best solution but I don't feel comfortable with the chance of fire. Does anyone else use Heat Wave? Thank-you all fore taking the time to help. :D

Nuno

[asphyxia]

Hey nuno,

I sent them...Sit files ok

I felt the same about the heat tape but its fine and CSA approved

B

[krrc]

lots of people use heat tape so that souldent be a big worry for you I would check you heating before you get too far into building it anyways just so you know your alright! good luck and I cant wait to see pics!

[Doug Wyatt]

Heya Nuno, I'm using Heat Wave and so far it's served me well, I haven't had a problem yet! Hope this helps.

Doug

[nuno]

Thanks Doug!!..Hey Brian I replyed to your E-mail.

Thanks,
Nuno

[Them and Us]

the only problem that does occur with heat tape that occurred with me was that my wood is a bit too thick so I'm going to have to have it routed or something. i don't have a router or know anyone with one so thats 80 bucks extra i gotta spend. oh well. its worth it.

[nuno]

You can maybe rent it from Home depot might cost less.

I was wondering does that "Heat Wave" actually go through the melamine?

Thanks,
Nuno

[XxRachxX]

i like glass sliding doors. i would have thought with hinges i would be easier to get animals legs/tails/noses/eyeballs/wigs;) caught in them:( plus slidey doors are easier anyway!
two things i have to say:
dont forget that the glass needs to be about a cm (depending on your tracks) too small for your viv.. so you can pick it up and lift it out of the tracks......i drew a piccy incase you have no clue what im talking about!! im a very arty person!!:D
and get the glass with nice rounded edges so it doesnt chip! cut fingers and snakes hurt....lots:(
oh and thirdly you need to make your glass overlap at least a few inches in the middle! ive made this mistake and my snake could get out EASILY! lucky hes in a tub till i get some new stuff!! good luck and happy building!
ok so three things.......well 3 for the price of 2! what can i say!
edit: i forgot to put my piccy on.......ill have to make another post.....god damnit

[XxRachxX]

sorry bout that:( btw the tracks the outsidey ibit the glass is in the thick part the middle cuz you might not understand my miniturised poop drawing!

[asphyxia]

Yes, the heat wave heats through the melamine to well actually for my species i needed to hook it up to a rheostate (sp) as i mentioned earlier on

Nice illustration XxRachxX, on my set up the botton track is not as deep as the top, and they call the rounded edges on the glass "polished".
I use 4ml thick glass BTW.

B

[XxRachxX]

well it saves on having to buy two types of track!!! :p

[nuno]

Thank-you XxRachxX for the diagram, also thanks to everyone who took the time to helpme out..wish me luck!

Nuno

[paolo_28]

Good Luck Nuno!

Paolo

[Piers]

heat tap is fine with a thermostat. You should lift the cage a little so the heat tap isn' pressed down. You only have to lift it a eigth or quarter inch or even less.
As for the sliding glass it has its pros and cons. I don't like it because it is harder to get the animals in and out, as well as cleaning the cage more dificult.
Lights as a heat source with boas I have found that they break them too often. Boas are very powerful and can be very active, I have found that I spent a lot of time changing bulbs cleaning glass, sometimes everyday, Now I just heat the snake room.
Piers