One of my BP enclosures

[bcr226]

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr136/efillc/Snakes/IMG_1263.jpg

[Terranaut]

It looks nice. You will find most people here don't like screen top aquariums for royals. Actually they are horrible for humidity control and dry your snake out. But it looks nice :)

[Corey209]

It looks nice. You will find most people here don't like screen top aquariums for royals. Actually they are horrible for humidity control and dry your snake out. But it looks nice :)

I never had a problem using glass tanks with my boas and they shed whole every time but when I used it for my ball python he had problems shedding.

@OP, You should see if you can get some sort of acrylic or glass made as a top. It'd work a whole lot better on humidity and even looks nicer.

[omega]

I never had a problem using glass tanks with my boas and they shed whole every time but when I used it for my ball python he had problems shedding.

@OP, You should see if you can get some sort of acrylic or glass made as a top. It'd work a whole lot better on humidity and even looks nicer.

so, a screen top for a ball is not good? if you use a glass or acrylic top, what about ventilation? i'm new to this so i appreciate your answers!!

[Corey209]

so, a screen top for a ball is not good? if you use a glass or acrylic top, what about ventilation? i'm new to this so i appreciate your answers!!

I covered 60% of my screen with a soaked towel and still couldn't get complete sheds. If you got a glass or acrylic/fiberglass top you would just drill some holes.

I found a DIY guide for aquariums, this might help
Building an Acrylic Aquarium (http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_acrylic_aquarium.php)

[Lankyrob]

If you can keep the humidity and temps right with a screen top then there are no issues. What are you keeping him at?

[Terranaut]

Is the light your only heat source?
How do you measure humidity?
If you have a uth then I would start by scrapping the light.
Covering even just most of the lid will up the humidity a lot.
They are not impossible to use but the humidity can fluctuate a lot more than some of the other styles of caging such as tubs or front opening cages.

[mykee]

Yup; looks nice.

[bcr226]

Wow, lots of questions. LOL

Okay, we have the whole room humidity at around 75%. We monitor the humidity with both analog and digital gauges. We also have humidifiers around the BP enclosures to give an extra boost.

All of our tanks have under tank heaters. We use those and the lights to keep the tanks at appropriate temperatures. Without the lights, the tanks are just a bit on the cold side.

Now, with that all being said, we're looking at a cabinet design for all of our snakes. It'll be custom made to take one wall. This will be built hopefully by late spring.

We're looking at DIY or buying a Critter Condo set up.

[Loucifer]

Do you know why I like screen tops? Because they support my 1/8" acrylic sheet. Home Depot sells the size I use for 10-12$. I cut it to size and sections. That way, I don't need to drill ventilation holes, just adjust the pieces as need be. Cover one side with HVAC tape for more insulation and privacy. Pics eventually. Oh, and adhesive backed 1/8" sponge neoprene for glass insulation on back n' sides. With a little imagination and a couple extra dollars, you can have a "fish tank" (I hate that term) that is practically as fool-proof as a tub and looks better! Multiple collection, then I can see going with tubs/rack. I have only 1 snake, and his home is pretty bad-azz...:cool:

[Terranaut]

Do you know why I like screen tops? Because they support my 1/8" acrylic sheet. Home Depot sells the size I use for 10-12$. I cut it to size and sections. That way, I don't need to drill ventilation holes, just adjust the pieces as need be. Cover one side with HVAC tape for more insulation and privacy. Pics eventually. Oh, and adhesive backed 1/8" sponge neoprene for glass insulation on back n' sides. With a little imagination and a couple extra dollars, you can have a "fish tank" (I hate that term) that is practically as fool-proof as a tub and looks better! Multiple collection, then I can see going with tubs/rack. I have only 1 snake, and his home is pretty bad-azz...:cool:

By the time you spend the cash and modify the "fish tank" you could have bought a snake tank.
I have critter keepers, a couple zoo med cages and a couple home made cages but my weapon of choice so far are these
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-680.jpg

[DeesBalls]

^^ lol sorry, have to disagree, those cages are expensive! very nice looking, but last i checked they are around 300$ or so...

all you need to do is:
get yourself a peice of plexiglass cut to fit under neath the screen. The lip on the top of the tank is what the plexiglass will sit on, have it cover 2/3 of the tank and when you mist the tank, it will hold in the humidity....

OR-

cut the plexi to fit the WHOLE top of the tank, if you do it this way, you will need to drill wholes in the plexiglass for ventalation-
I used this for over a year with BP, Boa, and a BRB and they all worked out GREAT!!

a piece of plexi glass should only be like $10, and usually the store will cut to size for free for you.

[Terranaut]

Mine were less than $200 each. I would assume they would be cheaper in the US. It might cost a little more but well worth it.

[DeesBalls]

even at 200, still a piece of plexi glass is a lot cheaper to finish off his nice enclosure he already has... last i looked they were around $300 or so, but that has been a while since I looked. And yes- I do agree, if he only has the 1 BP it would be worth it, but at some point nice tanks/cages just are not practical anymore.

[Terranaut]

Next expo I plan on getting 3 more. Love them.

[DeesBalls]

Next expo I plan on getting 3 more. Love them.

nice. I'm not saying they are a waste of money-- I am just pointing out the fact that the OP can fix his nice tank he has now, buy a simple fix, instead of spending 100's of dollars on a nice new tank. personally, i would love to have them, but with 20 snakes, and limited room, racks are the way for me to...

was just helping out the OP buy a ismple, cheap fix for a problem he may, or may not even have.

[Loucifer]

By the time you spend the cash and modify the "fish tank" you could have bought a snake tank.
I have critter keepers, a couple zoo med cages and a couple home made cages but my weapon of choice so far are these
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-680.jpg

Tell me, where can I buy a snake tank for the $38 I spent on upgrades?

[omega]

thank you!

[Terranaut]

Sorry. I just don't think spending $200 is a lot of $$. A piece of pkexiglass big enough to cover most of the screen on a critter keeper is over $40 here. I also figure if it's for a single royal when you consider the fact that these tanks need misting once a week it's money spent wisely. Good enclosures are cheaper than vet bills. So many people on this site have had snakes with RI and huge vet bill due to the fact they have cheaped out on the setup. So here where I live a screen top critter keeper is about $90 and the plastic is about $40 so $190 for a enclosure is not much more. I would just expect all of it to be cheaper in the US seeing as most everything is. Snake cages are also more energy efficient. So IMHO when you consider how much better they are and the $60 difference the choice is clear. Not saying you can't keep one in the fixed up aquarium but why not get whats best for the snake instead of making due? I also have a 5x2x20" "fixed" aquarium for my boas. Only reason is that they do not make a pvc enclosure to match what I have in that size. Even with what I have done to it the humidity still fluctuates more than my pvc enclosures.
Yes it's on it's side.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1944.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1771.jpg