Tubs or Vivarium? How about both?

Hi everyone. I thought I'd share my plans for a snake enclosure that also has tubs. The enclosure will be 48"Lx18.5"Dx18.5"H. The floor of the enclosure will have 2 holes leading to tubs. One will act as the warm hide and the other will be the cool hide. I plan to build 3. I'll keep everyone updated as I progress.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d2d884c0cb.jpg

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1st of 3 almost done

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8c3e4d4679.jpg

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looking great!


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Cool! I need one. :)

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Originally Posted by piedlover79

Cool! I need one. :)

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Thank you. I can post a cut sheet for you if you want.

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Update. Holes in the floor, lighting installed. Back and sides done. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9c96e41519.jpg


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these are impressive! i'd love to read more about how you're going to fit everything together; wiring, heating and all that. guess i'll have to wait and see! i have got to learn to be handy with tools. 😀

Thank you. I will post more detailed photos describing how I wire the heat and everything when I get further along.

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Interesting. I like the look for a couple show off animals.

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Originally Posted by kevall1

Update. Holes in the floor, lighting installed. Back and sides done. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9c96e41519.jpg


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That's ingenious !


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Wow, that's really interesting!

A few pics of the light guardhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fd51c4cf7b.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b658052ad8.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c298382924.jpg


The retaining walls around the holes.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...6d4b8f1dc2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a876a31753.jpg

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Looking great!


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Man, I wish I had the skills to put something like that together. Looks great!

Ok. All I need now is the heat tape, put the veneer edging on and it's finished https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ae7434131a.jpg

Here is how I will keep them from sliding the tubs out on their own.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...41dfa0674f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...96e50b8dd2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...140c54495f.jpg

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A closer look at the light guard. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...904a6c6394.jpg

This also controls the ambient temperature. With the use of a ceramic heat emitter and a small computer fan, the air circulates creating an ambient temperature of 80° even on the ends with the hot spot directly under the heat emitter with a high of 91°. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...dae3158588.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...761e6022a0.jpg

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So close I can hardly wait. The heat tape should be here Thursday. Enclosure is in place and ready. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4cc38f8996.jpg



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Heat tape probe placement https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4e4878362d.jpg

Heat tape installed under the tub
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3948fefb65.jpg

Vinyl strips so the tub doesn't rub the heat tapehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7208ab8aa3.jpg

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Finished!!!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c324b46a74.jpg



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New home for my carpet!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...13236b1d65.jpg


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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2c847b7ccb.jpg



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Originally Posted by kevall1

Thank you. I can post a cut sheet for you if you want.

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Wow, looks great!!! I love the idea of the "hidden" hides being tubs.

I've been toying with the idea of building my own as well. I like a lot of your ideas and would love to see the cut sheet as a reference. I've been thing of very similar dimensions and thinking three 4x8 sheets should cover me for three enclosures.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Wow, looks great!!! I love the idea of the "hidden" hides being tubs.

I've been toying with the idea of building my own as well. I like a lot of your ideas and would love to see the cut sheet as a reference. I've been thing of very similar dimensions and thinking three 4x8 sheets should cover me for three enclosures.

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Thanks you!

Here is my cut sheet. The 5.125 is the center support for the floor. I cut the length to 19.25 not 46.5. All those vuts on the bottom were used to make the light guard.

Also, I bought cheap plywood (poplar) for $15 and added linoleum flooring for the back. It allowed me to cut down on weight. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...613e5b9cd5.jpg

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Cuts* not vuts

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Awesome, thank you!!

Does your carpet seem to be using both tubs as well as the display area of the enclosure?

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I just moved her in last night so she hasn't moved yet. She's about to shed too so after about a week I should have an idea. What do you have?

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i can't wait to hear how she likes it!!! it looks awesome!

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Originally Posted by kevall1

I just moved her in last night so she hasn't moved yet. She's about to shed too so after about a week I should have an idea. What do you have?

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Oh ok, sounds good.

I got back into the hobby fairly recently after taking years away. My collection is growing, but I probably won't be adding anything any time too soon. For reptiles I have an adult male California King, a juvenile male Vanilla het pied BP, a female Plasma corn snake, a male topaz motley corn snake and an African Fire Skink

Nice mix ya got there.

I don't have much of a collection yet. Despite wanting to buy everything I see I know its best to grow slow. I only have 4 snakes. My Irian Jaya carpet, a pastave ball, a mystic spider ball and a hypo corn snake. Gonna breed the balls in 2 years. I may breed carpets too but I'm not sure yet.



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Originally Posted by kevall1

Nice mix ya got there.

I don't have much of a collection yet. Despite wanting to buy everything I see I know its best to grow slow. I only have 4 snakes. My Irian Jaya carpet, a pastave ball, a mystic spider ball and a hypo corn snake. Gonna breed the balls in 2 years. I may breed carpets too but I'm not sure yet.



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Thanks. It's taking a ton of self-control not to add a few more now. I definitely want to add at least one more BP, probably something axanthic or pied. I'm thinking a Jungle Jag too. And I want to add a Mexican Black King at some point and eventually a GTP.
I'm also "snake-sitting" for a friend. She had a hognose that she couldn't get to eat. I've had him about a month and he is 3 for 3 eating since I've had him and due to eat tomorrow. Something tells me that she isn't going to want to take him back and I'll end up adopting him, but the plan was that she takes him back once he's eating regularly. We'll see...

I like your collection as well. I love the pastave morph!!

Nice! So any special trick to get the hognose to eat?

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Well, I started by fixing the husbandry and leaving him alone. She brought the whole set-up over. I made some adjustments to the heat and also moved him to a smaller tub (he's tiny, only 11 grams). Then I put him in a quiet part of the house and covered the tub with a towel and left him alone for a week, only opening to check in and freshen up his water dish. At this point the husbandry was better, he wasn't being handled and he (I assume) felt more secure.
I offered on tongs first, but only for a second, even though I was almost positive he wouldn't take it, just to entice him a bit. Then I left the pinkie and him alone with the towel back over the tub and an hour later it was gone.
So I've been sticking to this routine and he has eaten all 3 offerings. I was advised to wait a week after the first feeding since he hasn't eaten in so long, if ever. So I waited a week, then five days. I'm going to offer every five days for 3 more feedings and then try every three days for a little while to bulk him up. Apparently, my friend got him from a craigslist ad. The previous owner couldn't get him to eat either, so got rid of him. So in the 4+ months that these two people had him he never ate once. I think I got a little lucky, but I think they were handling him and didn't have the husbandry right too.

Oh I see. I think you may have saved a life there.

I had to do that with my mystic spider. After a few weeks of that she started taking prey from tongs. I'm currently having trouble getting my carpet to take rats. She devours mice but I'd much rather have her on rats. I'm in no hurry though because a jumbo mouse is perfect sized prey for her. I've heard scenting with chicken broth is helpful but haven't tried it yet.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Awesome, thank you!!

Does your carpet seem to be using both tubs as well as the display area of the enclosure?

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She loves her branches as you can see however I have seen evidence that she cruises her enclosure at night. Her shed was in the warm hide and she has knocked over her thermometer several times. Also she didn't hesitate to eat when I fed her Monday so I'd say she's acclimating well. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...6053d1acc3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...aa834b27ec.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by kevall1

She loves her branches as you can see however I have seen evidence that she cruises her enclosure at night. Her shed was in the warm hide and she has knocked over her thermometer several times. Also she didn't hesitate to eat when I fed her Monday so I'd say she's acclimating well.

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Awesome!! Thanks for the update!!

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Originally Posted by kevall1

Oh I see. I think you may have saved a life there.

I had to do that with my mystic spider. After a few weeks of that she started taking prey from tongs. I'm currently having trouble getting my carpet to take rats. She devours mice but I'd much rather have her on rats. I'm in no hurry though because a jumbo mouse is perfect sized prey for her. I've heard scenting with chicken broth is helpful but haven't tried it yet.

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I'm sure I've seen tips in this forum for converting from mice to rats including putting a similar sized rat and one of your mice in a little bag so they get the same smell or even rubbing a mouse all over a similar sized rat or feeding a mouse as usual and just when it's disappearing down the throat feed in a small rat so he just continues eating . These all presume you're feeding thawed of course . I'm sure there are loads more ideas .


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Yes, please post more about lighting and heating. My wife and I are trying to build something similar over the next few weeks and your idea is perfect. I just want my humidity and heat to be perfect, as we have had issues with shedding lately due to our BPs being in a 40 gal tank. I prefer a rack set up and she wants a tank for display. Your idea is the perfect hybrid to it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Originally Posted by YouSnakeMeCrazy

Yes, please post more about lighting and heating. My wife and I are trying to build something similar over the next few weeks and your idea is perfect. I just want my humidity and heat to be perfect, as we have had issues with shedding lately due to our BPs being in a 40 gal tank. I prefer a rack set up and she wants a tank for display. Your idea is the perfect hybrid to it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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How many bps do you have? If you've only got one or two I'd go for some PVC tanks.

Oh that is really neat! Glad this got bumped back up, I'd love to hear some updates on the snake's usage of the cave hides.

That is really nice! I love the background!

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Oh that is really neat! Glad this got bumped back up, I'd love to hear some updates on the snake's usage of the cave hides.

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Thank you AbsoluteApril. She has become very comfortable in this enclosure. I mostly find her in her warm hide or hanging in her branches but occasionally she'll be in the cool hide or just lounging around on the floor of the enclosure. I keep her water dish inside the cool hide. It's about 74-75 in there. Warm hide is about 90. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9750721b0d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...17cc0b70e1.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by YouSnakeMeCrazy

Yes, please post more about lighting and heating. My wife and I are trying to build something similar over the next few weeks and your idea is perfect. I just want my humidity and heat to be perfect, as we have had issues with shedding lately due to our BPs being in a 40 gal tank. I prefer a rack set up and she wants a tank for display. Your idea is the perfect hybrid to it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Thank you. I'll get back to you soon if it's not too late. If I was going to use this for BPs I'd do a couple of things differently.

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