stereo cabinet converted into terrarium

[iampmat]

Hello there,

first of all I am a beginner with ball python and I love DIY using cheap everyday object (sort of hacking ikea stuff) so please anything I did wrong or that can be improved please let me know constructively (i.e.: "this is wrong because blah blah blah and that's what you have to do" and not just "this is wrong and your snake will die/escape/eat you/harass your woman"... sorry for the rant, bad experience with snotty users elsewhere).

I decided to make my own vivarium and share the whole process with you also hoping to get some advises, so here it goes... (gallery of each steps found in here http://imgur.com/a/cReU1) I purchased a 2nd hand wooden stereo cabinet (£5 at british heart foundation) 45cmX40cmx90cm, it a oak veneer. It has 2 compartment (plus the vinyl player on top with a lifting flap) and in the back has a section opened for the stereo cables and a magnetic catch latches as a lock. (PICTURE) First things I did is to make an opening to lit the top compartment which will be the hot area. (PICTURE) With a mesh colander (£1 at local pound shop) I made the protection for the lamp. The lamp is a common £2 (£3.5 in wilko) peg lamp with a £1 spot bulb (60W), THIS IS JUST TEMPORARY soon I will get the ceramic bulb since I know the light is not needed for a ball python being nocturnal.(PICTURE).I covered the upper lid with a foil sheet for radiator to decrease the heat losses. I added a RCD safety plug (£9) for the electrical system (PICTURE). Some mesh I used to make a window in the bottom compartment. (PICTURE) I taped the 7W 6"x11" heat mat (£15 at pets at home but you can find it online for £10 just I didn't want to leave my snake cold waiting a late xmas delivery) on the floor of the top compartment with some clear tape and passed the electrical wire through the back panel (PICTURE). On the bottom compartment I placed a 11" X 11" heat mat attached to the thermostat. Both thermostat are protected with an adhesive plastic foam stripe. The back opening has been closed with a foamy car door protection strip (£3 from lidl http://bit.ly/UUP9CV) and stapled to the back panel. (PICTURE) I then added fake plants on the top compartment and bottom compartment (£6 total at "now bargain" shop or any other bargain shop I guess) securing them with telephone cable clips (£0.79 in wilko). (PICTURE) I placed thermometers to the cold and hot compartment (£1.79 each) and a hygrometer (£5 at pets at home) in the warm compartment. (PICTURE). I made a cut on the upper floor to allow the snake to change compartment even though I know the ball python can be clumsy. There is a hide made of coconut shell in each compartment as well as a hide made of cork bark (PICTURE). Plus there is some logs I got from my garden (which I soaked in water and bleach and cooked in oven). I bought a STC 1000 thermostat did the wiring and placed the light bulb as heating source and the heat mat in the lower compartment as "cooling source". Plus the heat mat at the upper compartment is directly attached. I figured out in this way the upper compartment never gets too cold and won't suck too much electricity through the bulb and when the upper compartment is not heating the lower compartment is.. JOB DONE! At the moment there is a corn snake in it but as soon as I will buy a male baby python it will accommodated there (only after have cleaned the whole terrarium and changed the beech chips) for the QT. What you think? What can be changed and/or improved? Please be nice and regards Paolo

[mercerasian]

You shouldn't have your UTH on top like that. You snake should not be able to come in contact with it in case of it getting wet from urination or spilt water.

[iampmat]

even if it is covered by the adhesive grey foamy mat? should I place it underneath the floor (hence on the ceiling of the bottom compartment)?

[MrLang]

first of all I am a beginner with ball python and I love DIY using cheap everyday object (sort of hacking ikea stuff) so please anything I did wrong or that can be improved please let me know constructively (i.e.: "this is wrong because blah blah blah and that's what you have to do" and not just "this is wrong and your snake will die/escape/eat you/harass your woman"... sorry for the rant, bad experience with snotty users elsewhere).


Please be nice and regards


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We have our fair share of snotty users here too. Sometimes I can be one of them. I can't see the pics, but the UTH should be under the shelf if you can get the heat to transfer through the bottom that way without having to run the UTH excessively hot.

Maybe you can put some kind of waterproof laminate over the UTH to protect it from moisture? I'm sure someone with more DIY experience will chime in. GL

[iampmat]

here is the pic of the mat covered with foamy adhesive plastic stripe (http://imgur.com/470or) the part that is sticking outside the mat is covered with waterproof tape (that one for outdoor use)

[tlich]

There shouldn't be any tape anywhere inside the snakes enclosure. It can get stuck to your snake and damage scales when you try to get it off.

[carlson]

You can put heat tape under tile I've been told but I don't think a foam mat is enough of a barrier. And tape is a no no ya haha just on off chance problems come about.

[mercerasian]

You can find/cut a piece of plexiglass to sit on top of that entire thing, basically sandwich the UTH between the wood and the plexiglass. You'd have to make it a perfect fit though so that the snake can't get under.