Exo-Terra Terrarium advice and other general starting questions

[itzazoo]

I wouldn't suggest an Exo Terra for a Ball unless your willing to spend a little extra money to make proper modifications to it.

If you do use an exo terra one thing you will need to do it either replace the screen with a piece of PVC or HDPE board and use a radiant heat panel instead of CHE's, uth's or lights. This way you could keep a better hold on humidity and temperature.

I'm in the process of setting up a new exo terra 18x18x24 right now. I will post pictures once its completed. Gonna take me about another two weeks to complete since I'm making my own background out of spray foam.

As for a stand I just went to Walmart and bought a basic square black end table.

[Madscrills]

If you do use an exo terra one thing you will need to do it either replace the screen with a piece of PVC or HDPE board and use a radiant heat panel instead of CHE's, uth's or lights. This way you could keep a better hold on humidity and temperature.

I'm in the process of setting up a new exo terra 18x18x24 right now. I will post pictures once its completed. Gonna take me about another two weeks to complete since I'm making my own background out of spray foam.

As for a stand I just went to Walmart and bought a basic square black end table.

This is all very interesting. I can see why replacing the screen would help with retaining humidity and temps better but do you mind elaborating on the direct advantage of using a radiant heat panel instead of a UTH? I'm not even sure what CHE stands for but I wouldn't dream of using a heat lamp ever for a snake since they require belly heat for digestion.

I'd absolutely love to see your process of making your background from spray foam. Is it necessary? I would imagine it would help further with retaining temps since it's an insulator. Where would you suggest getting an HDPE and how easy is it to get the right size for my tank? Will I more than likely need to cut it to size? This all helps a lot.

[salt]

I've had two of the front-opening ExoTerras. While they're nice for retaining heat and humidity if you keep the top covered, the glass in the bottom of both of mine cracked in under two years.

Could water have gotten on the glass over the heat mat? I've had my big one for five years and through a move with no cracks, then again I may just be lucky. CHE is an acronym for ceramic heat emitter, some people use them in conjunction with an under tank heater, the CHE helps keep up ambient temp in the cage if your house isn't naturally eighty degrees year round.

It's not fancy by any means but I tape plastic wrap over each mesh panel on top I want covered. On the opposite side from the UTH I've left one panel open and I have a CHE over it. It's cheap and so far has worked well for me.

[bcr229]

Could water have gotten on the glass over the heat mat?

Easily, I had fairly small colubrids in mine so they got two water bowls, one over the UTH and one on the cool side, so their humidity would be fine and I wouldn't have to mist them. Pressure from the t-stat probe may also have done it.

[calmolly1]

I have the large wide Exo-terra and really like a lot if things about it considering it is a glass tank. I've done A LOT of modifications however. I have used sheets of insulation around the sides and bottom and I took out the foam background and glued it to the back, outside of the tank. I had it inside and it took Precioucess about 30 seconds to get behind it. I covered the top with the same insulation sheets wrapped in tin foil. The temp and humidity stay pretty constant once I got everything adjusted right. Because Prec is a juvenile I have lots of "stuff" in there to make her feel more secure. I DONT like the lock on the doors on the front where it meets the lid. It came with a flimsy plastic clip but at the moment I make sure I have a weight to stop her possibly pushing the top up and escaping. A better clip is on this weeks shopping list.

Here is a picture:






Molly & Steve
0.1 Normal BP. PRECIOUCESS
0.1 Normal Columbian BCI. LUNA