My DIY bookcase/ enclosure Project

[Firemaniv]

For sometime now I have wanted to upgrade the enclosure that I house my BP in for a number or reasons. I finally have been able to start the project after paying off some bills and having some money to do it.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...15#post2212315 Here is a link to my current. I was able to set it up to maintain humidity/ heat well for a converted aquarium but the light hood that provides light and heat is a pain to maintain because it is getting harder to find the bulbs that it takes. They are also expensive. That and my BP has grown are the two main reasons to get something new. I also wanted to build my own so I have been on here, YouTube, and the internet researching the info I needed to build the new enclosure.

The new setup will be a modular bookcase/ enclosure. I made it modular due to weight and size. I can also add to it or change it around. My internal measurements are 5'x2'x18". The 3 sections are made of out 4, 8'x4' sheets of melamine. Home depot cut them for me. I would suggest if you get the sheets of melamine, cut it yourself. Home Depot got one section right and the other 2 are shorter by the saw blade width.

My enclosure will be regulated by a herpstat 2 that will control a UTH and a Pro Product heat panel. I have a led light bar for daytime lighting. I have sliding plexiglass doors that I can remove to make it easier when cleaning the enclosure.

Here is a picture of the completed base modular section.


Second section almost completed.


Enclosure section under construction:



I have also been filming a video of the construction. I finished the enclosure section last night and have the sections all stacked together but I did not get a picture of it all yet. All that I have left is to prep and paint because the wife and I don't want a melamine white piece of furniture in the living room. I am also planning on a base section so that the bottom shelf is not directly sitting on the floor.

So far it has been a fun project to work on.

[Firemaniv]

All the sections stacked.

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[Firemaniv]

I have built the base. The pins to hold the sections in place are installed and so is the led light system that will be the night lights. Besides a few minor thinvs, painting it is all that is left before the tenant can move in.


Blue

Red

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[Firemaniv]

Well it's done. I had to hurry up and get it done because my last night heat bulb went out. It has for the most part tuned out like I hoped it would. I also uploaded the video about building it.
DIY Bookcase/ Reptile enclosure:
http://youtu.be/oMPXtw0vO1Q



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[Firemaniv]

The penthouse is now complete with 3 bedrooms. My reptile basics hides finally made it.


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[Tarzan152]

Wow! You rock.. that looks great.. congrats..

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[Twitchy]

Wow!! thats awesome! about how much did it cost to build?

[lilnash0]

Did you waterproof the melamine somehow? The urine would cause mold to grow?

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[Firemaniv]

I sealed the joints and any exposed part with silicone. I used 100% silicone that does not contain any of the anti midew chemicals. It is the kind that you would also use for an aquarium.

The melamine is water resistant/ proof. I would think you would not want standing water on it for a long period of time though. The wood part that makes up the core is not and swells if it get wet. So you want to seal any exposed edges.

I used a good layer of substrate as well but i have seen in youtube videos of people with large snakes only having newspaper in a diy melamine enclosure. Both are preferance and also how much of a mess your snake makes such as if it spills it water bowl, etc.

Let me know if this helps answer your question.

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[Firemaniv]

I have recieved many questions how exactly i made my tracks and sliding doors on the enclosure so i make a new video just about the doors.
DIY sliding doors and track for reptile enclosure.: http://youtu.be/nhelAeKaulY

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