Homemade double-viv build

This thread is going to be a work-in-progress for me. It's basically going to be a place where I can flesh out all of my ideas and work through kinks, etc. Any suggestions and advice along the way will be appreciated!

I recently purchased this and put it together (sans the metal rod and two extra shelves):


Now, what I'm thinking about doing is turning this sucker on it's side, so that there is one smallish, tall cubby and two large, long cubbys. Something like this:
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I hope that little illustration helps, lol.

The smaller, tall cubby will be lined with small shelves wired with heat to hold shoe-box-sized tubs that will slide in and out for hatchlings.

I'm going to be leaving out the flimsy backing they provided me and using a peg board as the backing instead:


Next I'll be installing 2" dams in order to keep the substrate in on the two larger cubbies. Then I'll lay down either some thin ceramic tile or some plexiglas, sealed with silicone, to cover the flex-watt heat mats for the two large cubbies.

After the initial building is complete, I'm going to be using polycoat on the entire inside of both of the large areas (to protect the plywood from moisture).

Next comes the decoration. I'm still debating weather to screw in some dowels or to create some free-standing trees in there for them to climb on. I'm definitely considering this for hides as well:
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72890

After the decorating has been complete I'll be attaching plexiglas doors with molding, three hinges each and a lock for each door.

Suggestions and advice welcome .

Updates to come as I proceed.

I've often looked at wardrobes like that and wondered how to transform it for snake use. Look forward to seeing this project progress. Good luck.

I will be looking forward to seeing the pictures from this. I have been thinking about something similar.

The only thing I might do is a double floor for ease of access for you to the heat tape if needed. basically a thin piece of plexiglass, seal that, then the heat tape with another piece over it. I see a lot of the abs type vivs come with double flooring and it seems like a good idea.

Stormy said:

The only thing I might do is a double floor for ease of access for you to the heat tape if needed. basically a thin piece of plexiglass, seal that, then the heat tape with another piece over it. I see a lot of the abs type vivs come with double flooring and it seems like a good idea.

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That's seems interesting . I'm trying to visualize what you're saying. Would the both pieces of plexiglas cover the entire bottom of the viv?

They could but they dont have to. Maybe make one that covers just the heat and add a hinge so you can easily lift it up to have access to the heat if needed but the hinges will also help hold it down to keep critters from crawling under.