Display tanks that open from the top, like a tub?

[Morjean]

I know this topic is essentially over, but for anyone who might stumble upon this thread with the same question:

What I did was I bought one like this one here for 90euros [Source]


They're essentially build-yourself, meaning you get the individual parts and can then happily play IKEA (its fairly easy tho, just a lot of screws).
The top is supposed to be securely screwn on, and it has two front glass doors.
What I did instead is i added a piano hinge and two trunk locks, so now I can still open it at the top! (Note: To provide belly heat with an UTH this specific tank still required modification, such as drilling a few other holes and adding a second glass bottom on wooden rails in order to put the UTH in there)

Personally I disliked the look of OBS wood, so I completely covered the inside walls with cork plates and a coconut mat, and am still planning to paint/cover up the outside. It holds heat and humidity wonderfully! I barely ever even have to spray it down.

(That at the bottom are the wooden rails meant to hold the 4mm glass floor, just not put in in those pics)

It was bout three days worth of building this thing, but the end product is a very nice viewing tank without having to sell your kidneys! Sorry about hijacking this with a long post, but for future reference and anyone finding this over google, that would be my solution to open-at-the-top...

[enginee837]

Cake (albino male) is getting this one! I've been wanting to find proper display setups for awhile. I was waiting for all them to reach adult size/mostly stop growing before buying the permanent ones... now the time is nigh... They've been in tub setups, which honestly just looks completely DIY (which it is) and pretty ugly.

The display tank is going in the dining room, which means I'll finally have a big extra spot in the animal room for a new addition.

ETA: Funnily, they don't even open from the top exactly, even though that's my thread topic... Kind of opens at upper-side. :s I think that would work quite well too.

Awesome! Being that I have a few bp's that were moved from tubs to glass, here are some pointers. If you already know this stuff I apologize, I am sure someone will come along that will appreciate it.

1.Visibility - None of the BP's we had that were moved from tubs to glass were used to being able to see out of their enclosure. If they are in a busy room be sure to cover the sides so they are not afraid to come out of their hides. You can start with 3 sides and slowly expose the rest as they adjust.

2. Humidity - We are in az, humidity is usually in the 37-40% range. Glass tanks get a bad rap for humidity but it is not the glass that is to blame it is the screen top. Get some Plexiglas cut at your local hardware store and cover the majority of the screen. Our typically have just enough space for the ceramic heat emitter to fit on the screen. It also helps to put the water dish on the warm side.

3. Temp - Glass conducts heat well so it will have a much wider temperature range across the enclosure than you are used to with tubs. I highly recommend getting the enclosure set up and give it about 4 hours for the thermal gradient to set in then check the hot and cold spots with a thermal gun. Once you have it all dialed in it should be great. We keep our house at 74 deg all year and all day and night so we have pretty consistent temps once the cage is dialed in. If you have a wide temp range in your house you may need to keep a closer eye on it.

In the end, glass is a little more challenging but you cannot deny the benefit of being able to see your little critters!

Hope this helps!

[redshepherd]

I know this topic is essentially over, but for anyone who might stumble upon this thread with the same question:

What I did was I bought one like this one here for 90euros [Source]

Do you have a picture of the full setup, including the outside? That looks great! I wish I were handy at all...

Awesome! Being that I have a few bp's that were moved from tubs to glass, here are some pointers. If you already know this stuff I apologize, I am sure someone will come along that will appreciate it.
--

Hope this helps!

Thanks! It's useful info nevertheless. Yeah, I picked plastic tubs setup before I even got my first snake due to all of these reasons. And then it's been a little too much of friends coming over to see them, all unimpressed and doubtful as they look at the tubs, and here we are. LOL

[Morjean]

Do you have a picture of the full setup, including the outside? That looks great! I wish I were handy at all...

Sure! The photos I posted there are old and outdated, but here goes!

Due to being on my desk and partially tucked behind a wall, ya cant see the whole tank sadly...


It's 1.20m x 60cm x 60cm, which makes it a .... 115 gallons if I remember correctly! The open at the top isn't show here, but it's easy to imagine
Tank itself was 90 euros, plus roughly 50 euros in modification, I think I got off pretty cheap for a viewing tank there haha

EDIT: mhm, tapatalk insists on rotating the photos, sorry about that! Can't seem to fix it

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

[distaff]

Redshephard, I expect you are going to like the results. Nothing shows off a snake better than a big glass display. Lots of plants, fake or real, will make the animal feel secure. Heat will be more of an issue in the winter. I use both a UTH, and an RHP. My corn may be outgrowing his 36" Exo-Terra. I've never seen anything offered in a 48". The next viv will have to be custom made.

Because they are nice displays, we always show off the snakes to our guests. (That is, if the guests want to see them.)

[Ax01]

i've seen a few PVC enclosures that include openings or vents from the top. PMherps have PVC cages that have screen top vents that open and and close like Exo-Terra's. Animal Plastics offers (screen) cage top options that the will cut for u, so does NPI Cages. bot sure if they open tho. i remember seeing other black PVC cages for sale on Fauna that that open hinged tops but i don't remember the brand.

anyway have fun setting up the viv and don't forget to post pix.