custom snake enclosure

sean12wilk · 09-22-14, 07:28 PM

So I plan on making a 4 ft long by 2 foot deep by 2 foot high enclosure out of melamine. I want to then put a divider in the middle to make it two 2x2x2 enclosures. I hope to house my ball python in one and get a corn snake for the other. Would this be okay? I think it would, and I would obviously have to make sure that there is no way one can get into the other's enclosure. Another question I have is how to make the doors. I want to get glass doors on hinges, but another option is separate sliding glass doors for both enclosures. Which one would work best? Thanks for the help!

Lankyrob · 09-23-14, 05:07 AM

Two foot isn't a big enough viv for either snake IMO. I would want the corn to have at least three feet and the ball python four feet.

kwhitlock · 09-23-14, 05:54 AM

I would agree with Rob. Instead of making a cage then splitting it in half, keep it one cage and when you can make another. 4x2x2 would be great for both your corn and ball

eminart · 09-23-14, 06:10 AM

Make it 4' high and divide it horizontally to have two 4x2x2.

Brett943 · 09-23-14, 08:05 AM

Am I the only one here who thinks that a 2ft high enclosure for both corns and balls is unnecessary? Corns are slender enough that a 1ft high enclosure can still support branches for climbing if desired and ball pythons aren't exactly arboreal either... why not give each snake 4x2x1 or 4x2x16 and save some space for other things/snakes? Also with regards to doors I cut a piece of plexiglass to size and drilled holes to bolt the hinges and latches to. Good luck and do whatever you want, these are just suggestions.
Here is a pic of the 36"x18"x18" melamine enclosure I built and my 4x2x1pvc showing how you can still make climbing space. (A 4.5ft carpet python is in the bottom pvc)

Brett943 · 09-23-14, 08:13 AM

I also forgot to mention that I am no carpenter but while the melamine is ok it doesn't look anywhere near as good as the pvc...sure it was cheaper but it was more work and WAY heavier. I would not do it again. Others may disagree with me. Using a heat pad or heat tape in a melamine enclosure also requires more thought and engineering so as to not have the snake directly exposed to it.

eminart · 09-23-14, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett943

Am I the only one here who thinks that a 2ft high enclosure for both corns and balls is unnecessary?

Nah, I almost suggested 18" as the height. But, personally, I like naturalistic enclosures. I'm not a fan of the low and long ones for that purpose. But, functionally, shorter than 2' would be perfectly fine.