DIY Viv stack - how suitable is this plan? - Page 2

Gungirl · 11-26-12, 11:13 AM

Make sure that once you are done using the adhesive you allow it to fully cure and properly air out before placing your snakes in the new viv. Also make sure the hole you cut between the 2 levels is large enough for your snake to fit through with food in its stomach... If you feed it and then it decides to move up or down a level you don't want it getting stuck.

Looking good other wise.

jovamabob · 11-29-12, 01:58 PM

Stuck the vents on today and sealed it up. I was gonna use clear stuff but the gaps between the back of the shelves and the backing was bigger than expected so my dad advised me to use some acrylic sealant and just paint it to blend in later on - the bottom of the shelves won't be seen because of the flooring anyway. The vents were stuck on pretty wonky - i entrusted this to my boyfriend because im banned from using any kind of contact adhesive (glued my hands together once - long story).

jovamabob · 12-06-12, 09:36 AM

Finally got all the stuff together to finish this today and i have a quick question. Laid out the heat cable to see where im gonna route it and i have 2 options:

Option 1: Heat both tiers as if they were separate enclosures and heat them both as normal.

Option 2: Heat just the middle tier and have a entirely heated section and an entirely cool section.

The second option is probably easier to route since i dont need to make as many holes in the back, but i'll do whatevers best. I was thinking that since he got an RI with using aspen, i'll switch to the reptibark and have half of the heated section bedded, and half of the cool section bedded. The non bedded sections are gonna have slate/ceramic tiles and all the temperature sections will have hides that are filled with shredded kitchen roll instead of the bark.

I played around with some of the tiles today and thought i'd show you.

Let Sebby explore a little - he's in shed but still had a nosy round

He seems to fit in it very well, even with his recent major growth spurt

Lankyrob · 12-06-12, 10:04 AM

Looking good, personally i sould heat both areas

jovamabob · 12-06-12, 10:25 AM

Ace

I was thinking if i heat both areas, i can separate off one tier while i introduce him to the enclosure and gets used to it - he gets terribly stressed whenever i move him somewhere new.
I always forget - do i heat half of the enclosure or 1/3?

Thanks

Lankyrob · 12-06-12, 12:21 PM

Never used heat tape myself but i know when you use a heatmat you aim for a third, i would ASSUME its the same but cant guarantee it

Philmul · 12-07-12, 05:48 AM

Heating both shelves would be better IMO as you get a more accurate ambient temp. I would do a third looks good.

jovamabob · 12-07-12, 03:50 PM

The heat cable isn't really getting hot enough so i was wondering about other heating methods. Has anyone used ceramic heat bulbs with corn snakes before or is it just heat-mats/cable thats best?

Lankyrob · 12-07-12, 03:51 PM

I use CHE's for all my snakes, love them and have zero complaints about them.

jovamabob · 12-07-12, 04:16 PM

Cool

The problem i have is that the heat guards take up a lot of space height wise that i don't have. I placed them as if i was to put one sideways against the back wall and they took up half of the height of the viv. Would that be a problem?

Gungirl · 12-07-12, 04:21 PM

How are you measuring the temps of the heat rope and Do you have the heat rope on a thermostat?

also tape in a viv is a huge no no... Even covered with the rug the snake could still get to it and get stuck.

jovamabob · 12-07-12, 04:24 PM

Im not thermostatting it as i intended to heat it and let it all air out for 24hrs. At the moment i dont have any spare thermometer/thermostat stuff - its all in the current viv he's using, but it isnt even warm to the touch at the moment. The wire itself is, but it wont heat the repticarpet above it.

Philmul · 12-08-12, 05:50 AM

I would think a small heat mat on each level would be great but you would need a thermostat in there.

jovamabob · 12-08-12, 06:10 AM

Ok, so i currently have 2 options. Money is an issue so im trying to reuse what i can.
I could heat it with a CHE on the top level and have an entirely heated level and a cool level below. I already have a 25w and a 50w ceramic bulb as well as a ceramic ballast kit and heat guard. I'll be transfering over his current thermostat to control it. The down side is it would have to be fitted sideways due to the height.
My other option is to buy a heat mat to heat one entire layer - i can't afford a 2nd thermostat so it'd have to be just the one layer heated. This would cost me at least £15-£20 though, which i don't really have.

Im leaning towards the first option because i already have everything i need for it. He's never had a heat-lamp before and i hate how the heat mats get cold spots - the bulbs would be much easier to replace.

jovamabob · 12-30-12, 05:54 PM

I finally finished this

Had some heating issues but was kindly given a heatmat that just fit the middle shelf nicely - Seb has access to the middle and top shelf and this suits him nicely. No ones in the bottom shelf yet but i may give him access to the bottom tier too later on.He's already been around and i've seen him thermoregulate. He's settling in nicely

Whether it is escape proof or not we’ll find out. He seems to like it, albeit a little stressed over the change. I also decided its about time i removed the too small coconut hide he’s had since he was a baby and he is a bit annoyed that there is a new log instead - determinedly avoiding it. My favourite part is the bat door wedges.