Wooden vivarium with glass

[Razaiel]

Hi All

Our BP is 22 weeks old, about 22 inch long (hard to measure properly LOL), eating well and has just had a beautiful shed (just waiting for head and tail tip now).

I was just reading the previous post called "Urgent" and noticed that many of you feel that the plastic vivs are better for keeping the BPs in - at first we were going to keep ours in the little (almost 2 ft) plastic one until a bit longer but have been experiencing problems with keeping the heat temps constant with the heat mat (we live in the UK and I think the weird weather we're having here doesn't help - first it's hot as hell then it's cold again). Therefore we went out yesterday and bought a 3 ft wooden viv with sliding glass doors - it's exactly the same as the one we have successfully keep our Beardie in for the last 4 years (except hers is 4 ft) - and we never have had any problems with heat temps (or anything else) in there.

Therefore - I'm wondering if others out there have wooden vivs and what (if anything) else they put in there apart from a ceramic heater and water and a humid hide. Are there any particular problems I should look out for with a wooden viv?

Also the people who sold us the viv tried to sell us a 2.0 UVB tube setup saying it would be good for the snake - but I don't think they need the UVB at all from what I've read do they? I like the idea of maybe having one of those red or green or blue bulbs to add a little color to have on during the evening - unless of course it would stress our BP out. She doesn't tend to stress easily though and is very calm.

Sue and Emily the BP

[Shrap]

They do not need UV light. They were just trying to squeeze more money out of you.

There is nothing wrong with wooden enclosures. My first ball was in one for almsot 15 years. As with all enclosures, you just need find the right way to accomplish the proper temps and humidity levels for your particular enclosure. That is all that really matters.

Warm and cool hides, good substrate and a water is all that is needed on top of getting your temps and humidity worked out.

[Razaiel]

They do not need UV light. They were just trying to squeeze more money out of you.

.

Thanks for you reply! Just what I thought - they do try though - glad I read up on my things before going ahead.

What do you think about the low-light (red/green or blue) bulbs? I know they don't do anything for the snakes, I think I read in this forum somewhere they can't even see those colors - so am guessing that they are just something us humans like

Sue

[kurgan]

My experience is probably not relevant to you but it just terrified me.
I've had my snake for around 24 hours so I'm trying to leave him in total peace. My vivarium is wooden with sliding glass doors.
I just went to change the water before going to bed and to my horror the inner sliding fell inwards and shattered! He was underneath his shleter at the other side of the tank at the time but it could have been very nasty. I then had to quickly move him, vaccum teh viv, change the newspaper and cuct tape the glass door back together (thankfully it broke into large chunks and all sharp areas/cracks are smothered in duct tape) then fight with the tank to get it back into place, it is far from ieal but it is now safe and secure. Argh! Tomorrow I call the shop and see if I can get a new glass door sent over.

Poor littel guy was terridfied by all this but he seems to be over it now, he's exploring his tank for means of escape again!

[Razaiel]

My experience is probably not relevant to you but it just terrified me.
I've had my snake for around 24 hours so I'm trying to leave him in total peace. My vivarium is wooden with sliding glass doors.
I just went to change the water before going to bed and to my horror the inner sliding fell inwards and shattered! He was underneath his shleter at the other side of the tank at the time but it could have been very nasty. I then had to quickly move him, vaccum teh viv, change the newspaper and cuct tape the glass door back together (thankfully it broke into large chunks and all sharp areas/cracks are smothered in duct tape) then fight with the tank to get it back into place, it is far from ieal but it is now safe and secure. Argh! Tomorrow I call the shop and see if I can get a new glass door sent over.

Poor littel guy was terridfied by all this but he seems to be over it now, he's exploring his tank for means of escape again!

Geez - that was bad Most vivs I've ever had (I currently have one for my BD) that doesn't happen. It's a good quality one though - I could get cheaper elsewhere but in my experience (usually) you get what you pay for. The glass in our viv is on runners and I can't see how it could possibly fall inwards ...

Hope your little guy (or gal) is OK ...

Sue

[pumba]

Greetings, As far as the glass break thing, ,dang, hope everything works out for ya.

As for the bulbs, I use the I.R. lamp in my tank to help with the temps and humidity. I don't know if green, or blue will work as well. I do know that the snake is not bothered by the I.R. and from what I understand he can't see it. BUt the only other light that I know they can't see is a black light. Back to the red, blue, green lights, I am not sure if they can't see regular red light or if it has to be I.R. and I have no idea about green or blue. That is an interesting question though, If it is the same as the black light or I.R. the diferent colors would make cool decoration.

ANYONE<<<<<<< how about regular red, blue, and green lights. Good or no good?

Cheers
Ray

[frankykeno]

We were fed the same line by our pet store (fell for it too along with the heat rock needlessly purchased). All that light ever did was mess with our humidity and result in a crudy shed. Out went the light, fiddled with temps and humidity and all is fine now. The heat rock btw was never used (after reading up on it here) and now makes a lovely tub decoration after removal of the cord...what a waste of cash that was LOL.


~~Joanna~~

[kurgan]

Geez - that was bad Most vivs I've ever had (I currently have one for my BD) that doesn't happen. It's a good quality one though - I could get cheaper elsewhere but in my experience (usually) you get what you pay for. The glass in our viv is on runners and I can't see how it could possibly fall inwards ...

Hope your little guy (or gal) is OK ...

Sue

Thanks for the kind thoughts.
Apologies for the atrocious typing in my original message it was sent in a very anxious frame of mind.
It is not an especially expensive viv. but it is far from the cheapest, the plan was to keep it for a year or two untill he outgrew it and then replace it with a really nice permanent one. The door came off the runners when I was closing it but it only fell inwards and broke during my cack handed attempt to put it back in (it was very hard to do so, i have no idea how it came out!). I'm a bit miffed that my new viv looks ugly but but it doesn't bother the snake and I am in no hurry to replace it just yet (it is securely wrapped in thick black duct tape) as I will need to move him and I want to let him properly settle down. I need to find a glazers and get a new door made up (tempered glass and with the! sharp eges sanded down!). At the same time I will redrill some holes to better position thermometers and thermostat sensor which I drilled in the wrong place.

This kind of leads onto my next question which is what is a good, snake safe and quick way to plug holes drilled in a tank? On a similar note is blue-tak safe to secure heat probes (in this case underneath the newspaper)?

[frankykeno]

Please be extremely careful using duct tape in a snake's enclosure. I've unfortunately read more than one thread about snake's managing to undo some of it and get tangled up. Trying to remove them safely from that stuff is apparently very difficult and in some cases the snake just didn't make it. Maybe for now an alternative until you find a glazier is getting a piece of heavy pegboard (like some handymen use to store tools on walls with). If it was cut to fit very snugly it might have enough "bend" in it to pop it right into the runners from the glass door. It isn't pretty but it might do and it does have small holes that would allow air circulation....just a thought as I'm not sure if that might be an interm solution.

~~Joanna~~

[kurgan]

I'll bear that in mind but I don't think (perhaps foolishly) it will be an issue. The tape is flush with the glass and wrapped tightly, there isn't anything for him to get a hold of. The peg board idea is a good one but for me it will be as much work as getting a replacement panel cut. What I will try to do is get one cut sooner than I was planning, ideally this weekend, I'll see if i can even order one over the net. I don't want to seem irresponsible I just think it is the best of a bunch of bad alternatives right now. Certainly the duct tape was a 2am emergency solution to a big problem.