new enclosures under construction

Jeff Hathaway · 02-05-04, 10:02 PM

(Edit: Wow, that pic didn't work. By the time I got it down to 25k it was unrecognizable. Any advice on attaching pics is appreciated! Note: Thanks, Bartman, for posting the pic below!)

Here is a pic of 3 new enclosures we're working on, the first of our permanent ones. From left to right- future iguana (6'x8'x6'), burmese python (8'x8'x6') and boa constrictor (5'x8'x6'). They are seen from what will eventually be a public walkway; the openings visible will be the viewing windows. Walk-in doors are located on the back wall for maintenance purposes. Each will have a small pond with waterfall, and various other furnishings such as climbing branches, etc. I'm starting on the electrical wiring tomorrow, and could use any suggestions anybody's got as far as things to include. I'm planning, for each cage: fluorescent lighting (timer controlled), basking lights (timer + thermostatically controlled), heated basking platform (concrete with heat rope contained within 1/2" flex copper tube, thermostatically controlled), wall mounted fan-style heaters (obviously thermostatically controlled), misting nozzles (humidistat controlled, fed by RO water) to maintain humidity. I'm still debating ventilation; whether to have a fan blowing air into vs. out of the cage, or installing ducting with a remote fan that could be reversed. Any thoughts on which way to go (or anything else) would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

JeffT · 02-05-04, 10:38 PM

wow that looks like a good project. Glad to see your really making sure they get the space they need.

Bartman · 02-05-04, 10:42 PM

Holy, if i had my own place, id do that exact same thing...dedicate the basement to herps..thats what ya did right? Looking good so far, now thats a fun project!!!

for the pics upload them to your gallary like you did and then right click on the image go to properties and copy and paste the url in between the tags (img) URL (/img) but replace the )( brackets with ][ brackets. Good luck!
ill do this one for you

Bartman · 02-05-04, 10:44 PM

as for the vents, why do you need a fan? Just put up vents up against the back wall and hide them behind like leaves or something if you dont wanna see them

K1LOS · 02-05-04, 10:59 PM

looks great, wish it was mine! I'm afraid i can't be much help though. ducts with a reversible fan sounds good to me though. Then you can go either way.

Geoff

Jeff Hathaway · 02-06-04, 07:52 AM

Bartman,

Thanks for the tip! I thought the pic had to be in the gallery, but then when I created the topic, the attachement line browsed my hard drive instead.

I was think about fans to be able to substantially increase the ventilation beyond that of a passive vent if desired. Since these are beyond anything I've built before, I'm not entirely sure how they'll perform, so I'm trying to allow for maximum flexibility.

This project is only a small part of what we're doing- it is way more than just devoting the basement to herps! Check out www.scisnake.com/scales.htm for the most recent info (up to just before these enclosures). In the end, we'll end up living in ~3200 sq. ft. of the building, and ~4000 sq. ft. will be the public facility. Behind these enclosures is a service hallway, a rodent/bug/food prep room, secondary quarantine room, a small workshop, mechanical room, and storage space. The left side of the basement (as seen in the pic) will have the lab/cleaning area, off display holding cages, hibernation room (in use already), and primary quarantine.

You can see why we need so much help on our volunteer weekends. Actually, the cage framing was done over 3 days by Rick of RAH Construction (also known as 'Hangar Rick' to those who were here for the Oct. volunteer weekend) and his friend Kevin, on their days 'off'! BJ and Peter came up for the weekend as well and helped out, mostly working on the extensive plumbing modifications that the basement layout required. Thanks, guys!

Anyone else have input on additions/modifcations before I start on the electrical? I should have mentioned as well, each cage will have R10 fibreglass or roxul between the studs, vapour barrier, cement board, and epoxy finishing the inside.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

MouseKilla · 02-06-04, 03:28 PM

Holy crap!

Seven thousand plus square feet and more than half of it is set aside for herps. Very nice, a man with simillar priorities to my own.

Lisa · 02-06-04, 11:39 PM

I would have ducting with the fan sucking the air out of the enclosure, the reason being is you don't want anything blowing into the enclosure.

Lisa · 02-06-04, 11:41 PM

Oh and i would also put cameras and run cable so that you can have remote monitoring of enviromentals (humidity/temp).

Edwin · 02-07-04, 09:01 AM

Sound like an awesome project, Jeff. Have you also considered plumbing for the enclosures as well? Like a drain and a hose to aid in cleaning?

Keep posting pics to keep us updated!

Jeff Hathaway · 02-07-04, 02:16 PM

Edwin,

Plumbing is definitely included. The water supply copper for the ponds is in place. The cages will have 'floor drains' as well as the drains from the ponds. The outer cages will have this completed first but it won't be operational until I cut the concrete floor and install a floor drain for all of it to feed into.

Lisa, I am planning for future remote monitoring, not sure the purpose of the cameras??? Also, I have decided on exhausting air from the cages; better to prevent moisture transmission into the framing, etc.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

CharlieBloomer · 02-09-04, 08:00 AM

hi i am looking for a 2nd cage for my corn snake for about £40 or lower. it is for an adults corn snake so about 5ft long. any idears?

Bartman · 02-09-04, 07:59 PM

wow...4000 sq. feet for herps, most of our dreams

charliebloomer, you should try posting a new thread on the cornsnake forum and not in someone elses thread..if you need some help on that you can private message me.

Lisa · 02-09-04, 09:45 PM

When we had a high speed connection we used to have various animals auto posted to the web. It also helps with theft deterent and heck, means you can do your rounds more often. like say you're expecting eggs or have a sick animal, and have to do other work elsewhere, having cameras updating to a webserver make checking on them from a wireless connection such as a laptop or handheld a snap. heck you don't even have to put them on the web, you can surf to them on an internal server that the outside world can't touch

Another use for cameras is watching a shy feeder eat. We have a few snakes that won't eat when we're in the room.

Jeff Hathaway · 02-10-04, 10:07 AM

Hey Lisa,

Interesting suggestions... There will be security cameras for the building, but not specifically related to these cages. From a theft point of view, besides the building locks/security system, for a person to access these they would need to break the glass (which will be exceptionally difficult) or get through a locked door into the service area, and then a locked door to each cage. I can't see cage cams being any additional deterrent, and besides, we're talking about igs, boa constrictors, and burms- I'm not that worried about theft!

These cages are pretty centrally located in the building, so checking on them is pretty easy. I can't imagine any scenario where I'd want to check them via camera.

I am thinking about a webcam broadcasting pics of the eventual turtle ponds, or something more interesting that these particular cages, but that will be next year!

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!