Ideas for a lid?

[GRNDPNDR]

Ok, so my snake tank came with a crappy screen cover, it lets all the heat out and really just sucks.

So I purchased a sheet of 1/4" plexiglass-like material called makrolon. It works very much like a good solid hard wood, and is crystal clear and STRONG.

Anyway what I have right now is a flat sheet of plastic.

I can do pretty much anything I want with this within reason, so I would like to drill some vent holes, and add an access door.

I would also like to add a small basking light if it would help give the snake an option of where to get warmth from.

Anyway, as for the basic construction of this lid I have a few questions.

1.) Is there a suggested amount of ventilation hole surface area? I don't want to vent too much, but I don't want to under vent either.

2) What kind of access door would be best? If I don't want to take the lid off all the time for stuff, what would be the best location/size/type of opening?
a sliding panel, or a hinged lid in some location?

 

[susang]

Vivs come with screen lids and are not bad for the snake, they need the air circulation. If you want to cover the screen with a lid that would work but you need holes and if the snake can get its nose through it will keep pushing.
Corn snakes don't need nor should have a basking light. It is more important to give the gradient temp. Keep in mind in winter they brumate in 60* temps, but are not fed during that time.
I kept my first snake a male much to hot as I was worried about it getting cold.

 

[GRNDPNDR]

ah, ok, so no need for a basking light. I like that, less to do and spend

With this screen lid on it now, the ambient temps in the tank are too cold. If I cover it the tank stays at right around 80.

I know it'll need good ventilation, I will drill a series of small holes in the lid. But what I'm wondering if there is a minimum area of " hole space" to be covered.

 

[xStaticSnow]

Alternative?

I had a similar problem with my tank. The screen was letting out all the heat so while the floor on the warm side was staying about 81 the rest of the tank was dropping down to 65-68 and I was worried my snake was too cold. However, if I set a plank on top of the screen the temps went up a little too high (lowest temp was about 78 or 79) So I decided to simply cover the cool half of the screen with a damp towel. This kept in some of the heat, but not all of it. It also should help keeping a little more humidity in the tank as the climate here in western Montana is very very dry.

 

[Riyeko]

Yeah what ive learned is that corn snakes do not need the actual "light warmth" that lizards n whatnot need.
They just need the heat. Thats why a lot of corn snake owners have under tank heaters, little things you stick on the bottom of the tank that warms the whole thing up inside 5-7 degrees or whatever.

I think that you should probably leave some of the top of the tank open for fresh air ventilation, like, 1/3 of it or something, and enclose the rest of it. Take the "open" (of course put some thing like screen on it or whatever), and use that as your access thing.

You can get all kinds of hinges and locks from hardware stores such as Orschlens and Sutherlands, as well as local stores.
Also you can probably get things that you can cut your "glass" with that way you can make good clean cuts and be able to install as much cool things on that lid as you want.

Gluck!

 

[GRNDPNDR]

I've made the lid, it does need more holes but has 54 x 1/4" holes.

It's a good thing I made this lid, my 10Lb cat decided to jump up and sit on it to explore the tank the other day. She would have burst through the screen.


Using a router has resulted in an almost perfect lid, measurements are spot on perfection, but the holes for my locks are off by just a smidge. Enough to bother me and only me lol.