can I use glass for my exo terra top?

I have a 36x18x18 and was wondering if I can use a solid piece of glass for the top. I use heat lights so would the heat penetrate? Thanks!!

I have the same cage. I wouldn't use a super heavy 17"x35" piece of glass which would probably stress your tank's structural integrity. Instead you could have some pieces of plexiglass cut at your local Lowe's or Home depot. Have them cut to the size of the spaces between the plastic frame. You could cover 3 of the 4 spaces and leave the 4th for your heat source. It would also allow for adequate air exchange. I think putting glass on top would be a dangerous mistake. That and I wouldn't want to modify such an expensive cage just because.

what light fixtures do u have? I have 8.5 domes n dont want to burn up the plastic on the exo terra top...

I'm actually not using mine. Bought it last year on the black Friday sale and haven't had a use for it yet. Exo Terra makes a lamp that fits in that plastic frame on top. It's only 7" across and made specially for these cages. You can fit 2 of them in each part of the frame if you needed to. This fixture holds up to 150w just like your 8.5". The catch us that this fixture is 29.99$ at PETsMART. It's actually on sale right now for 23.99$. I know because I'm a PETsMART employee.

I cant seem to find it..do u have webpsge of this lamp canopy? Since you know wat ur looking for. Thanks a. ton

Here's a couple links

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/light_dome.php

sweetness!! yea too bad they are $24. Closest petsmart is like 45miles away also...I use a 100watt blue daylight and a 100 watt black night light...cheaper would be awesome lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

I know because I'm a PETsMART employee.

---

Psst... You're a PetSmart employee. Hasn't been PETsMART since 2005. :)

Yea I know it's not written that way anymore. That's how my phone auto spells it.

do i need to have a waterfall or water movement for a naturalistic terrarium??

A waterfall is not necessary for a ball python. It would certainly help with maintaining humidity, but the cost outweighs the payoff. You would have to:

1. Get cut glass/plexiglass
2. Silicone it into your enclosure(reducing the amount of floor space in your cage)
3. Fill it with water and hope it holds
4. Add some gravel for looks
5. Install an internal filter to keep the water clean and circulated.

Yes it would look really nice, but it's not really worth the work unless you have a 48" cage with floor space to spare. You could look up some custom jobs on YouTube and find some nice cages.

Here's a water bowl with a "natural" look that sits down in the substrate. The only problem in my opinion is that it doesn't come in a size big enough for an adult ball python to soak more than 1/4 of it's body in.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo

well i have gravel then a mixture of screens and right now just eco earth aboout an inch thick. FYI my ball is in another tank for now! Im working on building some styrofoam huts covered in concrete mix and planting live plants. I have been able to keep plants with my ball. She enjoys them n was pissed when i took them away for awhile. After i plant some plants im going to add some abg substrate so she dont tear up the roots. Since i heat with lamps(100watts) i didnt know if the bottom layer of substrate would stay damp enough for the plants with just regular misting or if a waterfall or some other type of movement would help the eco system. I am also trying to use only rainwater in my terrarium. Right now for a water dish im usiing a shallow plastic glad container. Was thinking of putting together a bowl out of marble rock. Just silicone rocks together just enough to hold them then fill gaps with concrete fill to fill gaps and make it waterproof!

Glass will heat under a CHE or heat lamp. Probably above safe levels to maintain adequate temp's inside(Glass transfers heat at a rate different than the steel wire of the screen top.
But, I've never tested that so cannot be sure. If you really want to do this monitor the glass temp to prevent snake burns.
Also, Exo-Terra's are designed to have an open top for ventilation.
I have cut and drilled ventilation holes in Lexan to cover some of the top to aid with moisture retention in the dry months. If that is why you want to do this.
If the original is just broken then, framing and making a screen isn't that hard at all.

i was looking to change the top because i didnt want my 8.5 dome lights to burn the plastic.
The Snake Guy has resolved this because i didnt know exo terra made lights that fit inside the plastic.
Thanks Snake Guy!!!

Now im looking at other things other then a waterfall that create some water movement(if necessary) for my eco system. Since a waterfall uses up floor space im looking into other things. The idea i had was creating a false bottom to hold water(1-2inches) then installing a pump n lines and making the actual waterfall out of 1" or 2' pvc pipe split in the middle(so my ball wouldnt destroy it). Then silicone some rocks/substrate to pvc to hide it.
Why an eco system u may ask...well my spoiled ball has had live plants in her cage since the day i brought her home. At first they were just in pots but i recently got the idea from some other vivs on planting them. She really enjoys the plants n doesn't destroy them. I often catch her just checking them out or she be on a branch with her head on a plant leaf. Also anyone else tired of cleaning their cage every so often? I was told a good eco system terrarium(as long as its spot cleaned) should last a year or two even longer!!

so lets rephrase this...im worried about standing water in my terrarium. Standing water may cause bacteria to grow. I have thought about putting pvc pipe in the back corners so the drainage layer canget air n dry out..I dont know wat to do here...

has anyone had this problem? I feel there shouldnt b alot of water sitting with just spray bottle misting n 100watt heat lamps but also dont want to put it together n then find out I have this problem shorlty afterward

Creating a waterfall like you are talking about is just going to be more trouble than its worth. It is not needed for a bp.

Just create a humid hide if you need a humidity boost. That's as easy as adding damp moss to the hides.

im not having trouble keeping humidity up. The live plants help with that. The trouble is if I have live plants planted in the substrate n I mist them everyday..where is that water going to go? Its going to sit in my drainage layer n cause bacteria to grow unless the heat lights suck it up. Like I said I just dont want this to b a problem after I get everything together