Prepping for a BCI - time to build a Bio Active Enclosure ...

The vivarium will have a few things that I haven't seen that often. From a small ish waterfall running into the 'waterbowl', heated pump and drainage system, custom background, bio active all the way to automatic ventilation to regulate humidity and so on. I say 'will have a few things'.

It really depends if it works out or not. Having a plan is one thing, execution a whole other. Maybe half way in running without a snake I find out the whole thing doesn't work lol - so we shall see.

One thing I noticed is that the cost is already a lot higher than expected ... But with just one snake I want to do it right. Yepp - one snake. I used to bread BPs but when I met my wife my hobby was put 'on hold' - now having my own office I am 'allowed' again lol

Anyway - few pics how it started. Might take a while to complete .. All about costs and time and whatnot but let's do it.

Started with the stand ..

https://i.ibb.co/xMcNHCX/SNAG-1056.png

And yes, woodfiller was messy lol ... I didn't appreciate the amount of dust when sanding ...

https://i.ibb.co/cb9SmSH/SNAG-1057.png

Cleaned up nicely though.

https://i.ibb.co/z5x9JZS/fsd.jpg

Now painted and started the actual viv

https://i.ibb.co/PhL9y97/Bigone.jpg

LOL ignore the socks - it's for me to run not into the clamps haha...

Your plans for this enclosure sound really ambitious, I like it! Never seen a completely custom bio active enclosure like that before. I'm intrigued to see how it turns out, good luck! :D (Secretly wishes I was that handy)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RickySRonin

Your plans for this enclosure sound really ambitious, I like it! Never seen a completely custom bio active enclosure like that before. I'm intrigued to see how it turns out, good luck! :D (Secretly wishes I was that handy)

---

Thankfully it is all just 'square' stuff .. But the problem with projects like that is always the amount of tools and stuff. First I ordered everything for the vivarium 'cut to size' - which I am sure costs a premium. Eventually ended up buying tools (garage looks like a DeWalt shop) but the lack of skills also means it is overkill.

The stand is built based on a YouTube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FDUfglurns

Nothing wrong with that - but because I used 2x3 for something that doesn't need to hold 300 gallons of water, it essentially weighs a tonne lol

Speaking of spending - now I found out I am two 50" clamps short - so there goes another 80 bucks (damn UK is expensive for tools).

Oh I didn't even mention - this tank is 8x2.5x2.5 ft ... that is pretty much as big as it gets in my home office ...

Rest of it is blocked by a desk. Desk is now against the other wall, but you can see with chair there isn't much wiggle room.

https://i.ibb.co/xMxZHFb/SNAG-1060.png

This does sound like an expensive endeavor, especially in today's time with Covid inflating alot of prices for raw materials. Thankfully you're only doing this for one snake lol You won't have much of an office left when you're done. :O

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RickySRonin

This does sound like an expensive endeavor, especially in today's time with Covid inflating alot of prices for raw materials. Thankfully you're only doing this for one snake lol You won't have much of an office left when you're done. :O

---

Yea office will be small, but I can leave, the boa can't lol - so (s)he deserves a good place to live a long life.

And yea - I don't know if it's a he or she. I am building the tank first before buying a snake, especially since it will to be run in for a while and I don't want to end up using a tub as temporary enclosure.

Anyway, vivarium itself is finished structure wise.

https://i.ibb.co/nM4yj0C/photo-2021-05-08-17-31-26.jpg

In the US most seem to use Pond Shield, but that costs a fortune here. I found this :

https://psealit.com/contents/en-uk/d...l-Coating.html

Anyway ... that's that for today - I am knackered.

So next is sanding, painting outside, sealing inside and then I can think about layout.

Oh actually I was lying ... I did put a deposit down on a 2018 Key West Sunglow Het Moonglow girl, but she won't be shipped until I am ready and who knows ... maybe I change my mind lol ...

So for NOW it is her ...

https://i.ibb.co/VNMbfSW/SNAG-1068.png

Jibba!

This is an amazing project you're accomplishing! The boa that lives in there is going to be one lucky snake.
I am also undergoing an extremely similar project for my ancient ball python. I must say, I feel you on the 'omg; this is costing a ton'. I thought I could whip together one of these grand enclosures for perhaps a few hundred dollars... That used to be a nice thought haha.

A few tips about your bioactive endeavor:
-no matter what the haters say, stay confident that you can establish optimal ecology within your enclosure!
-Don't bother using fake climbing logs, just utilize real tree limbs for that. Saves money, is more natural, and depending on your wood will last many years.
-It may take several months for the fungus gnat populations to reach a point where they are environmentally out-competed by your springtails, but rest-assured, the springtails will prevail (provided your substrate is optimal).
-Do your absolute best to ensure stringent biosecurity controls, meaning sterilize the heck out of your enclosure components so other unwanted insects do not develop populations in your enclosure. Microwave wet leaves, bake the wood, bake substrates as best you can, and wash all the soil off of your plant roots. I have staphylinidae populations which have crept up in a few of my enclosures (likely from stow-away eggs in substrate component I had not sterilized), and its been a hassle.
-Don't worry about fungal blooms or slime molds! Most fungal activity is benevolent, however, if you see an excess of black mold developing within any of the hides, do what you can to cleanse it, then modify the hide so there is more airflow into the hide.

Creating a large and successful bioactive environment is a load of work and biological research, but once its' there; it will be incredibly optimal for your animal and beyond rewarding for the both of you.
Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you for the valuable information. Much appreciated. The biggest challenge will be large wood. I think the only way I can attempt to sterilise is is to use a steamer.

I hope I can run it in for as long as possible but building it took already longer than expected. But yea. Generally I don’t care what haters think. Each to their own.

Either it works or it doesn’t. Worth trying though.

Background stuff sorted

https://i.ibb.co/yqtc7sL/72-F6-C5-BD...216-E57-BB.jpg

Found some large hides. That was unexpected. I thought I need to build my own 'Boa friendly sized' hide.

I even considered Pond Filter Covers like that : https://www.pond-planet.co.uk/pond-c...ver-small-p850

But they are constantly sold out and not cheap.

And then oh ... Exo Terra ACTUALLY released 'new' stuff .. so I found .... a Tortoise cave lol

They are actually perfect as they are relatively flat on the top as well so it will be a good basking spot ...

And yea - they are large ... They are 15.7" x 11.4" x 8.6"

Oh and reasonable priced - 40 bucks or so each (bought two)

https://i.ibb.co/fX6Cgsm/SNAG-1090.png

https://i.ibb.co/ZTwWpns/SNAG-1089.png


Enclosure is sanded ... painting and sealing this week(end) and then the start in actually kitting it out. Still waiting for my ECHs, fittings and thermostats but apart from that I got everything (finally) - well apart from the filter for the 'pond' - but that I can get within 24hrs.

All painted up. Haven't fitted doors yet, but that's not important right now. Paint isn't QUITE dry on those yet.

But fitted glass runners and ordered glass

https://i.ibb.co/fSC3h0J/dfsa.jpg

Next up, sealing inside with resin. Using two different colours, white first, then black - simply so I can see where I laid it down already.
Struggled before with clear resin.

Once that is done it is time to kit out the vivarium.

First I will just mount the ceramic heaters, I am struggling with drying out the soil for the background - in total I need that stuff for 12ftx3ft so there's a lot needed. So once those are fitted, I gonna dry the stuff inside the viv with doors open and heaters on.

https://i.ibb.co/6Wy9CMC/SNAG-1115.png

In terms of background creation - I cannot really put the viv on its side for the expanding foam so I decided to use 3/16" foam boards so I create the background in segments in the garage and when done just silicone them to the viv.

https://i.ibb.co/C8FTbqJ/SNAG-1116.png

More resin done and doors done. Looks all a bit weird, but heh - it's my first time - gimme a break lol :p

https://i.ibb.co/9qcLh0h/bvcbc.jpg

Ambitious & very impressive project! :gj: Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Ambitious & very impressive project! :gj: Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

---

Haha thanks - since I only ever will have one - may as well make sure she will have the best life possible.

Last night I woke up thinking - Mmm... the background .. now I have individual panels I will create but how to fix them - I thought I just silicone them in, but WHAT IF something goes wrong and they need to go or replaced or repaired.

So needed to find a way to fix them non(sort of) permanent.

https://i.ibb.co/vhmfSqw/1.jpg

Found a solution - screws ..

So used some threaded nuts

https://i.ibb.co/0M81kfy/SNAG-1146.png

The result:

https://i.ibb.co/CnYZtdQ/2.jpg

The gaps on top and sides will be closed with foam as well. One bead of foam in a vertical position is easy enough but trying to do a whole background like that - no thanks.

The screws will obviously be covered in foam but at you can cut them free at least. In fact, I will be covering the head in playdo or something similar so you don't sit there hours trying to dig out the screw driver bit.

First time in creating some backgrounds ... As mentioned before, instead of foaming the background in one go I am doing 2ft panels - so I got 5 to do in total.

Started today and OMG did I underestimate how much I need lol - I bought five gun cans and I literally need one per panel ... anyway .. first two done. You cannot really see it but each got three flower pots as well.

https://i.ibb.co/bFGhC4b/Background2.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/qJRnVhw/Background1.jpg

I've never used that foam for anything...might have to try it one of these days- looks like fun, creatively-speaking. :gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I've never used that foam for anything...might have to try it one of these days- looks like fun, creatively-speaking. :gj:

---

It is pond landscaping foam. Doesn’t expand as much as industrial insulating foam etc., which I prefer. The worst part is to come. Cutting the shiny bits off but I will try a wire brush for the drill instead. And once the darn coco coir is dry I can start siliconing the lot.

This is an awesome project. Thanks for sharing!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The hardest bit is to dry the bloomin' substrate for the background .. It's been drying for three weeks now. Thankfully the weather picked up so the top layer dries within minutes. Even so, for two days I keep mixing it and it never seem to dry properly .. We shall see.

https://i.ibb.co/2h9JCDQ/photo-2021-06-01-12-53-57.jpg

First out of five boards done prepping for silicone. Decided to pick it off by hand - a lot easier and not messy. And it gives it a bit of randomness :)

https://i.ibb.co/Rh5Q6WC/lklk.jpg

The good thing is that the viv is not yet in use so I put the substrate for the background into the viv and will silicone / substrate the boards inside it - leaves the mess out of the rest of the house.

https://i.ibb.co/2sVhKPk/dsadasdsa.jpg

First one covered ... holy bleep does that require a lot of silicone ... One panel = three tubs .... Glad I bought 24 or so but still .... somewhat unexpected ... and I still got gaps on this one

https://i.ibb.co/PhmxtJ5/fdsfdsfdsfdsf.jpg

Looking great though! :gj:

https://i.ibb.co/GMBR9R3/vbc.jpg

I think 98% of spots covered - pretty proud of my very first background if I am honest.

Oh and the sides are not covered on purpose. Once the panels are mounted in the viv I will close the gaps with foam and effectively connect the panels and viv itself in addition to the screws (and cover said screws of course).

The good thing is that I know where the screws are (in fact I will make a picture once hung up and pre-coverage) so I can take a knife to if boards need to come off.

Mock up time. As mentioned I want a pool area lol - maybe waterfall ... anyway ... mocked the basin up (40x50x15cm or 15.7x19.6x6")

https://i.ibb.co/1qcFTKg/k.jpg

That's 30 litres or 6.6 UK / 8 UK gallons :)

It will have a drain and pump with filter - assuming I go with waterfall - not 100% yet ... I got all the material but need to mock that also up to decide.

PS: That isn't the substrate for the snake - that's background soil as I am using the viv to build those.

Background panels done. Now time to connect them

https://i.ibb.co/WPFJVMD/photo-2021-06-11-14-38-21.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JibbaJabba

Mock up time. As mentioned I want a pool area lol - maybe waterfall ... anyway ... mocked the basin up (40x50x15cm or 15.7x19.6x6")

https://i.ibb.co/1qcFTKg/k.jpg

That's 30 litres or 6.6 UK / 8 UK gallons :)

It will have a drain and pump with filter - assuming I go with waterfall - not 100% yet ... I got all the material but need to mock that also up to decide.

PS: That isn't the substrate for the snake - that's background soil as I am using the viv to build those.

---

Acrylic for waterbowl arrived. Hole for drain a bit too small so need to widen it but apart from that - looking good.

https://i.ibb.co/HF24ywV/photo-2021-06-11-17-33-23.jpg

First time I created a background with foam. Or any background for that matter.
And at the same time potentially one of the larger ones ...

The whole thing including sides is 12' long and 2.5' high.

Took 10 Foam Gun Cans of foam and 20 ! silicone tubes.

Surprisingly took very little substrate ...

Left side:
https://i.ibb.co/7bJ79qV/right.jpg

Middle part:
https://i.ibb.co/KFJjnc0/middle.jpg

Right side:
https://i.ibb.co/gMvbXqH/left.jpg

Finally some light. I put in three Arcadia Full Spectrum LED lights, two 22W and one 51W which are mounted in a U Shape

https://i.ibb.co/vLcTHWx/photo-2021-06-16-15-03-20.jpg

I still got a few 6% T5s, a couple of 24W and a 54W but not sure they fit once the heat panels are in .. will need to see. But full spectrum already is better than nothing. Ideally I get one of the T5 in for the boa but yea - will need to see what it looks like with the heating in.

TBC

This is a really nice build. Thanks for taking the time to show all the steps and progress. You are getting pretty close to being able to start putting the cleanup critters in :D

Can't wait to see when it's fully done!

Now I have the problem those LEDs chucking out too much heat .. So much so that the cold side is already at 86F and that is without doors ...

1 step forward ... 2 step back ...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JibbaJabba

Now I have the problem those LEDs chucking out too much heat .. So much so that the cold side is already at 86F and that is without doors ...

---

I had a similar issue when I put my 18" JungleDawn LED bar in my 4'x2'x2' with an RHP and a 24" UV light. Those Arcadia LEDs are no joke -- they're great for plant growth, but they put out almost as much heat as their UV lights. In my opinion, they are so powerful (read: hot) that they should be externally mounted on anything 2' high or under. I ended up taking mine out and setting it aside for houseplants.

Good luck finding a solution!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WrongPython

I had a similar issue when I put my 18" JungleDawn LED bar in my 4'x2'x2' with an RHP and a 24" UV light. Those Arcadia LEDs are no joke -- they're great for plant growth, but they put out almost as much heat as their UV lights. In my opinion, they are so powerful (read: hot) that they should be externally mounted on anything 2' high or under. I ended up taking mine out and setting it aside for houseplants.

Good luck finding a solution!

---

@WrongPython What did you end up doing ? I fear the only solution is normal LED lights and use artificial plants instead.

Long story short, I ended up not going the planted route. Building planted/bioactive enclosures for heavy-bodied reptiles is hard -- exponentially harder than doing so for dart frogs, small lizards, and small snakes -- and there's a good chance you'll wind up spending more time on the garden more than the reptile should you pursue one. I decided it was more than I could chew as a novice keeper. I'd highly recommend reading Bio-Activity and the Theory of Wild Re-Creation (one of the Arcadia Reptile books) if you haven't already. It lays out the important considerations one should make when designing planted/bioactive enclosures very well, and should be mandatory reading for anyone pursuing a bioactive project (IMO).

In your case, you may be better off using artificial plants in the areas your boa will heavily traffic (ie. the floor, their perches) and only planting your live plants on the walls. They're much less likely to be trampled there. You may be able to circumvent the LED heat issue if you find a way to install screens in the ceiling of your enclosure and externally mount them. That way, the heat from the LEDs can dissipate into the room instead of the enclosure. It would also bring the added benefit of protecting your boa from burning themselves on the lights and increasing ventilation.

Good luck! Even if you wind up using more artificial plants versus real ones, I think you have a very cool looking naturalistic enclosure in the works here. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WrongPython

Long story short, I ended up not going the planted route. Building planted/bioactive enclosures for heavy-bodied reptiles is hard -- exponentially harder than doing so for dart frogs, small lizards, and small snakes -- and there's a good chance you'll wind up spending more time on the garden more than the reptile should you pursue one. I decided it was more than I could chew as a novice keeper. I'd highly recommend reading Bio-Activity and the Theory of Wild Re-Creation (one of the Arcadia Reptile books) if you haven't already. It lays out the important considerations one should make when designing planted/bioactive enclosures very well, and should be mandatory reading for anyone pursuing a bioactive project (IMO).

In your case, you may be better off using artificial plants in the areas your boa will heavily traffic (ie. the floor, their perches) and only planting your live plants on the walls. They're much less likely to be trampled there. You may be able to circumvent the LED heat issue if you find a way to install screens in the ceiling of your enclosure and externally mount them. That way, the heat from the LEDs can dissipate into the room instead of the enclosure. It would also bring the added benefit of protecting your boa from burning themselves on the lights and increasing ventilation.

Good luck! Even if you wind up using more artificial plants versus real ones, I think you have a very cool looking naturalistic enclosure in the works here. :D

---

Thanks. Yea I wasn't so worried about the fact the boa is a big one ... I used to do bio actives before and with the right 'fencing' you can protect them. But what IS new for me is the fact I am using a foam background. And not just the back itself but the sides too.

What I have now found is the fact the background is a really good insulator. And that is the main issue here I think. For example, without waterbowl or anything I have an approx. humidity of 60% .. almost spot on. If I spray the whole background lightly - it shoots up to 90 and won't go down for hours. Even a day after I sprayed it was still at 85% lol ...

Another option I considered, as you suggested, was using a screen or at the very least ventilation above the lights. BUT ... I changed my mind entirely ... and that is where your other suggestion comes in.

For me it is more important to keep the right temps and humidity so I will indeed use fake plants. I will still use proper supstrate and leaflitter and the sorts, but plants will be fake (damn they are expensive here). That way I don't have to worry about full spectrum lighting and have LED strips on order.

Those won't be good enough to grow plants, hence the fake plants. Maybe in the future I go down the screen route and real plants when the thing needs an overhaul, but for now it is going on for too long and I need to pickup the snake from the rescue center soon.

So this'll do.

I received my heating panels today and I am waiting for a new 'waterbowl'. The one I built pretty much exploded when I tested it lol ... the water pressure on the sides is just too high to rely on glued acrylic so I just got a storage box on order and once that and the substrate is here I will test drive the thing for a couple of weeks before picking up the lady :)

Right. Done. Here some pictures. Just running in temps etc., making sure it is all good before picking up the noodle from the rescue center. One thing I noticed though - which is the reason for using fake plants at the moment.

The backgrounds I created are almost too thick for their own good. They are a perfect insulator. Which means any plant lamp will heat up the enclosure too quickly and the insulation causes it to stay that hot for too long, causing the cold side to get up to hot side temps eventually, especially once the wood, hides etc. have been heated through.

So maybe one day if / when I got enough of the backgrounds I rip em out again (or until I care enough to put more ventilation in), I will put plant lamps in, until then - fake plants will do.

In the middle you can just about see the waterbowl ... In this thread you noticed (maybe) that I build one out of arcylic .. That eventually exploded during testing despite using proper acrylic cement. So I went with a storage box again.

The original hides I wanted to use (tortouise caves) they are too short for the adult lady to fit. So 'Giant' plastic hides will do.

So whilst it didn't turn out the way I envisioned (no waterfall) - I think it came out nicely anyway. And yes, the branches will be strong enough for the adult boa. My 6yr sat on the branches so it will hold a boa. Branches are foamed in. Tried to sort of rip them out for testing, but they are solid.

Left Side
https://i.ibb.co/YLSrDST/left.jpg

Middle
https://i.ibb.co/2gpTDQ7/middle.jpg

Right Side
https://i.ibb.co/CPR7JB8/rigth.jpg

This is an awesome build. I can’t wait to see her in all her glory in her new mansion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Run out of time and had to pickup the rescue snake. As it turns out they don't really know her age, only that her name is Ruby and they guess it is about 8-10-12yrs old. She was due a feed the day I picked her up so they obviously didn't. Will let her settle in her home for a week before feeding.

One thing I noticed is that she seems a perma-hider ... Rescue center told me she is always in her hide 24/7 so I hope she gets used to a larger enclosure now (center had her what I believe was a 4ft enclosure).

Temps / humidity are perfect and she sits in the cold hide right now.

As I say - I do hope she 'warms' up - figuratively and literally and shoes her beautiful face. She is a puppy to handle. Once she is out (didn't handle her apart from taking out of cage at rescue center and putting into her new cage at home) she is very interested what's going on and even seems to 'cuddle up' with you - as in, chills on you without being head shy.

The only other adult boa I ever had was very active, but this one ... not so much ... I guess that is another risk with rescue snakes, you never know what you're getting. Plus she has been in that tiny viv since August 2020 and based on the thermostat had a 26C enclosure ... I seriously hope that was the cold side - poor thing. But as I say - I leave her alone for a while and probably cover the glass of the viv to give her some privacy ...

Anyway - here she is - I would GUESS about 8-10ft. - below is a 64L rub for size comparison.

https://i.ibb.co/yQb64TC/8c381637-61...0c6ca41048.jpg

Ruby is beautiful and welcome home!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. Just a shame that she seem more shy than any of my previous ball pythons lol ... All that real estate and she literally won't move her hide - not even nights ...

Hope she will settle a bit more and starts to venture out more.