Aquarium Solution

[Brstin2flames]

This is a great idea!! I have a tank that I was given for free that is 36Lx12wx18h and I've been thinking it would be nice be be able to basically switch the width and heigh measurements. The tank just feels a little skinny as my BP continues to grow and doesnt need to be so tall. This may work great for me!

Are you using any type of heat lamp on the top? Would the heat transfer through the glass? I have to use a heat lamp in the winter because my house it to cold, so I'm wondering if that would work with this setup, or if not having a screen top would maybe fix my heating issue. Any thoughts?

[PitOnTheProwl]

[kitedemon]

Brstin2flames

Thoughts the size of your tank is certainly a a good one 36x18x12 That would be a good size for a large juvenile or adult perhaps a bit big for a small one. Lucy is quite small and this is only a 15 g I think about 24x16x12 I don't remember exactly at the moment it is a bit large but I tried to fill it as much as I could so she would feel secure.

The heat issue is complex, Glass doesn't transfer heat well. My place is quite cold too the room is about 66º or so where this enclosure is. The first part is to make sure (100% SURE) that you are not exposing it to a direct draft. Balls have one large lung and a small not so functional one. The Right lung (big one) runs 2/3 of the body cold drafts (cold air) will quickly drop the snakes core temp and that can lead to all kinds of problems (RI...+++) So that is very important in cold rooms (old house in my case)

The problem is one of heat and air circulation. No I do not thing a CHE or lamp would do much on the glass. I use two UTHs (flexwatt) with two proportional T-stat controls. I know that is expensive and out of reach for some. So failing that a single UTH will work but you need to increase the ambient temps. The first idea would be to drop the top line of vent holes down a bit that will hold some of the warm air from the UTH. The second idea is to increase the ambient temps some with a light inside the enclosure. A FLUORESCENT light. They get warm (more than you would think) but not super hot. I found about 100ºF at the hottest place. Make sure the snake has no way to contact the light for a long time so no pedestals or anything near it. A touch isn't going to burn the snake as long as it is not able to lay against it. That will heat the enclosure a lot. Perhaps it would on the outside too but a heat lamp on glass is just asking for trouble. Large area gentle heat is the way to go. The temps will drop at night as you will need to turn it off. A bit of rock like slate or dark marble fairly large and heavy will warm up during the day (partially over UTH area) and radiate that during the night will help as well. Perhaps a UTH an inch away from the glass might work as well on a rheostat, It will shift with the room temps but cooler at night isn't necessarily bad.
VPI has published a lot of ides on that. More reading...
http://www.vpi.com/publications/the_...hon_care_sheet

It means you have to be diligent on keeping the warn area maintained.

Also insulating the top back and sides can help as well, Photos double sides taped to 'blue' ridged insulation or white pilled insulation work well. (photos look better than just insulation but then I have a 24 inch printer beside me so... It isn't expensive)

That is my current thoughts anyway. Hell a plastic container that is tall narrow and long filled with water and a cheap aquarium heater on the cool side against the glass would likely work too. Just thinking here.
Alex

[Brstin2flames]

Thanks so much for all the info!! My BP is about a year and a half old, still small and has plenty of room in my tank, but at some point when I need to upgrade to larger hides I'm afraid my tank is too skinny, there wont be any space left at all! This is a nice option. Thanks again!

[Maverick67]

Excellent. This could be very usefull and it solve another issue I have. The tank is slate bottomed and there are no approved uth's I could find for slate (mainly lack of testing) this will allow me to attach it to the glass instead of the slate. I think I have all the parts I need lying around anyway. I may make adjustments to you design I will let uou know how it works. Thanks again.

[Kymberli]

This is great! I just got a 40-45g long tank for my +/-30" BP to grow into (I hate the temp/humidity issues with tanks but this one was free), so I plan on starting this project this weekend!

[kitedemon]

I hope it goes well for you!
Alex

[Munizfire]

this is great! Haven't you considered selling it online?
If the price is right, I'd buy it, if not, in time i'll build my own

[wolfy-hound]

Should be a sticky!

[Munizfire]

Should be a sticky!

this too