laying tank on side

So I searched and only found one thread with little to no info on the subject.

Anyways, I have (2) 20gal L tanks set up on this wire shelf thing, one on top of the other. I have to have a good 8-10 inches between the bottom and top tanks to open the bottom one.

What I was wondering, is if it would work to turn the tanks on their side, so the mesh top (soon to be plexi glass or something clear with vent holes) would now be the front of the tank. They are locking lids, so I figured out a way to have them still slide in and lock, so escaping isn't a problem.

This would let me have the shelves closer together, kinda like a rack system, and eventually fit more tanks/tubs/whatever-at-the-time onto the same shelf.

Has anyone ever done or heard of doing this? Suggestions?

that is how we house our scorpions and it works quite well. the only reason we tried it in the first place was to give them more floor space in a 20 gal. tall tank. its definatly worth a shot.

you may not want to usse any over head lighting though because its like leaving the tank in a window.. the temps get too high and they are really hard to regulate.

I plan on ditching the light and using just flexwatt on the bottom and the back with insulation (to help with ambient temps).

I'm not familiar with your little critters, how do you heat the enclosure for them?

I've got an odd size tank I have been wanting to do this with. Can I see pics of how you secure your 'front'?

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Originally Posted by grammie

I've got an odd size tank I have been wanting to do this with. Can I see pics of how you secure your 'front'?

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I haven't done it yet, but here's the idea

Its one of those slide and lock kind. So instead of having it slide all the way out, i'm going to cut pieces of the slider rail part so that it only has to slide maybe an inch or two and i can just lift it off.


Here's what the 2 slider rails look like now. 2 solid rails that slide against each other.
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Here's what they will look like after. Parts are cut out so you can place the lid "on top", slide only an inch or so, and it locks like normal.
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Do I sound crazy?

Why not just have it slide DOWN onto the rails? That way, you'd only have to pull it out an inch or so to open it, and it's still just as secure?

I've been toying with the idea of doing this with my tanks and installing a sliding door track on the ones that don't have lock lids. Not sure, though, as I'm working now on building display cages that stack for them. :) It's still a good idea though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by greenex

I'm not familiar with your little critters, how do you heat the enclosure for them?

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we just use a UTH, keeps everything just right :)

we had to make a custom locking lid for them though because our son is severly illergic to bee stings and with him only being 2 years old he cant be trusted not to go "snooping around in there"

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Why not just have it slide DOWN onto the rails? That way, you'd only have to pull it out an inch or so to open it, and it's still just as secure?

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thats the idea. You'd be able to put the "top" (now the front) on, slide it down an inch, and lock!

What i'm most curious about is (1) if the glass is strong enough to support itself and (2) air vent options. I was thinking if I use plexi glass or some kind of clear plastic, i could drill maybe 3 columns of 10 holes on each side, so a total of 60 holes. Anybody think it would be enough?



updated illustration

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The top dashed line and bottom underline part are the sliders on the lid. The middle line is the slider on the tank. The (space) is part cut out so you can lift the lid off.

bobbi, I'd love to see a pic of your lid and maybe a short how-to!!!

Here is a pic of the cages that we use(d) on our hatchlings to sub-adults. These are 10 gallon tanks. Use the flexi-watt underneath and up the side to the next tank (5 high), rubber feet on the tanks to create a larger gap, and the rope decorative lighting behind them all to light them up!

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../pinny_009.jpg