Another encloser question.

[Aric]

I was at my grandparents the other day and my grandma was showing me some things I can use for enclosers and one thing she showed me was an old locker, It came from University of TN in the 70's. Its made out of plywood and each locker measures 34" 1/2 long, 21" deep and 8"1/2 tall and it has 9 lockers on it. I was thinking about removeing the doors and cutting a window in each door and putting a piece of plexi-glass into the window. My questions are does anyone think this would work and how should it be heated? Its going into a heated room if that helps and would this be good for balls?

[elevatethis]

Some pics might help...

34 long and 20 deep is plenty of room for ball python. For a custom setup like that, I'd look into using radiant heat panels in the enclosure, they heat consistently and from what I understand (i've never used them personally) they don't get hot enough should you snake come into contact with them.

As far as the wooden structure goes, you'd want to be able to seal the wood inside the cage to prevent mold, bacteria, mites, etc from getting into the wood, and also, no one realizes how much these snakes actually pee, like in liquid form, so you'd want the base to be completely waterproof.

sounds like it could be a lot of work, but if you are up to it, you couldn't probably pull it off.

[Aric]

yeah ill get some pics soon, I think it is already sealed but it might be time for another coat. Where can I get the heat panels and do they need a thermostat? I was eather thinking of making the window in the door or just replaceing the door with the plexi-glass but I dont know which would be better.

[kavmon]

pro products makes good heat panels. i know alot of chondro guys and they swear by them. i would always use a thermostat with a heating device plus they make life easier!

vaughn

[Aric]

ok, I have never used a heat panel before and didnt know if a thermostat is neccessary. One more question, I would probably be houseing females in there and breed them, how hard would you think it would be to get the eggs from the female inside the encloser. I know that getting them from the top would be so much easier but what about from the front?

[elevatethis]

I've never pulled a mom off her eggs...but like everything else, I'm guessing it all depends on the individual. We digress....

I'm sure someone who has used heat panels will jump in and recommend a good manfacturer/thermostat combo to use for them.