Getting ready to do a build, need advice.

Hello, BP.net!

So, I got into keeping Ball Pythons a few years ago and dove in a little too deep. Ended up with 6 animals that I wasn't really equipped to care for so I cut down to one, my female Albino, Amy. I had her in a tub for a bit, but decided that was no way to live and snagged a 3' Exo-Terra terrarium during Black Friday a few years ago.

Time passed, and now I've got a 4 month old son. I'm not really comfortable with having a large snake in a house with a toddler, but there's no way in hell I'm getting rid of Amy. That leaves me with one option: A new enclosure that locks. I mean padlock locks. I don't have the money to buy one premade, so I'm going to have to build it. Fortunately my father is an able carpenter and recently retired, so all I need to do is work up a design and we can build it.

I've been doing a bunch of reading and I think I'm in information overload. I could really use some advice on design. I'm looking at wood, 4x2x2, matching stand, and at least the front should be see-through. Also, as I said, padlocked.

So here's where I'm having issues making up my mind:

Type of wood. (Melamine? I'd like to go a little more solid than that, build something that'll last.)

3 Solid wood sides, or just the back?

Type of door/access

Ventilation?

Tiled floor?

Finally, the one that's got me the most confused, heating. I live in Georgia so it doesn't get too cold, but the house can get into the mid 60s in winter. I have a Herpstat 1 Tstat, and I'd really love not having to buy a second thermostat to regulate air temp.

Sigh. It's looking like I'm in deep. Where should I start?

You can't use a glue to attach a locking latch to the glass doors?

You can't use a glue to attach a locking latch to the doors?

Otherwise, maybe build a plywood enclosure around the Exo-Terra, and put a lock on that. The LAST thing I would bother with is a new enclosure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by distaff

You can't use a glue to attach a locking latch to the glass doors?

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You just blew my mind. I honestly never thought about trying to attach a latch to my current tank. That's not going to do permanently, but it'll make me feel better until I finish this enclosure and remove the sense of urgency.

Thank you!


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by distaff

You can't use a glue to attach a locking latch to the doors?

Otherwise, maybe build a plywood enclosure around the Exo-Terra, and put a lock on that. The LAST thing I would bother with is a new enclosure.

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I'm definitely going to want to do the new enclosure eventually. Any deserves a better home, and I want to build something that'll last.


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You are welcome.:)
BP's are not usually kept in huge enclosures. They don't use the space much. Exo-Terras are usually very nice - is it the 18W X 36L? I don't yet keep a BP, but it sounds like that would be plenty of room, depending on the snake.

Even if you change enclosures, the Herp-stat should work for the new one. The only issue for wood and melamine enclosures are that the heat pad needs to be put inside the enclosure, since those materials insulate too much.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by distaff

You are welcome.:)
BP's are not usually kept in huge enclosures. They don't use the space much. Exo-Terras are usually very nice - is it the 18W X 36L? I don't yet keep a BP, but it sounds like that would be plenty of room, depending on the snake.

Even if you change enclosures, the Herp-stat should work for the new one. The only issue for wood and melamine enclosures are that the heat pad needs to be put inside the enclosure, since those materials insulate too much.

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You've definitely got me second guessing the whole project. It is a nice, solid enclosure, and since I can just epoxy a locking hasp to the door (ain't Google great???) I see no reason to replace it now. This'll get me off my butt to replace the rusting mesh screen top with see acrylic pieces, and maybe make some of those DIY hides that are posted in the DIY sub...

My friend, you have saved me a bunch of money and energy. I'm very grateful.


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Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to secure my current tank. I completely forgot that the lid opens as well, and there's really no reasonable way to lock it. So I'm back to designing a new one.

Advice, please?


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Is this sub dead?

Take a look at the Animal Plastics T8: http://www.apcages.com/home/terrestrial/T8/T8.htm

For around $200 it comes with everything you want including locks. To build a similar nice cage out of sturdy materials is going to cost close to the same amount let alone time spent building it. You could do something cheaper that wouldn't look as nice, but a simple PVC cage would be quick and easy.