My First Enclosure! thanks to Raynefyre

[Dougefresh]

Well its been 2weeks in the making and many trip Lowes but its just about finished so here it is! I searched for enclosures but quickly found out that they are very expensive so I never figured I would have to One I really wanted until I came across Raynefyre's post heres the link incase anybodies interested I followed these directions but changed the dimensions a little

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95547[/URL


I am now collecting habitat furniture and driftwood to finish it off! There will be another Tile over the flex watt I left it out so you could see whats underneath I just need to hook up the cord and cover it up and then seal the tiles edges and add substrate

I used a 16x16 floor tile for the floor bottom to separate the flex watt and help retain the heat it will also has 2 thermostats 1 for the UTH in the floor and 1 for the ceramic heat emitter( winter only) and a timer for the lights

3 ceramic light sockets 2 for lights 1 for heater (only 2 visible) I leave the heater out unless its going to get real cold you never know!

I still need to button up a few things like cut the handle screws and I have also ran a border across the top to block the lights shining outward and more downward it helped your eyes from the glare

Hope you like

 

[Haarstad]

Oh man that looks nice good job

 

[Jessicat]

Awesome start!!!

I don't know if you already have plans for this or what, but are you going to cover the light bulbs? I'd hate to think about a snake curling around one for heat and getting burned.

Also, Corns don't really need lights like those, but I can definitely see why you'd want some for display in a nice set up like that!

Are you going to put a corn in there, or something else? I can't wait to see how it progresses further!

Great job so far!

 

[Dougefresh]

LOL already in the process but thats why I had to go with the flourescent bulbs because they dont give off much heat at all I first put a pair of incandesnt bulbs thats what I thought I was going to use for it and the temps went from 80deg on coolside to 91deg when the incandescent bulbs were put in (thank god I could figure this out before I put anything in it) that was way too hot, and when I put the flourescent bulb in no temp change it stayed right at 80deg so thats why they are used:cheers:

Ill definitely post pics when fully furnished and ya a corn is going in there

 

[Jessicat]

LOL already in the process but thats why I had to go with the flourescent bulbs because they dont give off much heat at all I first put a pair of incandesnt bulbs thats what I thought I was going to use for it and the temps went from 80deg on coolside to 91deg when the incandescent bulbs were put in (thank god I could figure this out before I put anything in it) that was way too hot, and when I put the flourescent bulb in no temp change it stayed right at 80deg so thats why they are used:cheers:

Ill definitely post pics when fully furnished and ya a corn is going in there

Nice! Glad to hear you're already working on it. Can't wait to see it when it's done!! I love picking out wood pieces and decorations for display tanks! :cheers:

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I was also concerned about the light bulbs being exposed. I would still probably cover them up so the snake can't come directly in contact with them. You could make a wire cage or something. Better safe than sorry IMO.

But other than that it looks great!! That's going to be one lucky snake living it up in there!

 

[Outcast]

I hope this isn't too straight forward, but how much did this set you back. You could probably start building these for a profit if you can find the right people to sell them to.

 

[Dougefresh]

I hope this isn't too straight forward, but how much did this set you back. You could probably start building these for a profit if you can find the right people to sell them to.

Well if you had all the little stuff already like the screws and stain and brushes and sandpaper etc.etc.(Thats what really killed me:twoguns The actual materials really arent that much you can build the whole box for right around $80.00 minus the flex watt I already had that

I made 2 costly mistakes while making this 1 was if you put 3 16x16 tiles down you get 48 inches or 4 ft but I wanted to make the box 49inches to make extra room on one side for the flex watt clips and wire but I was 1inch short of making the top piece and had to buy another whole sheet of birch to make the top at $35.00 a piece

2. I went with thicker plexiglass too because my table saw blade was the same width and didnt want to buy another smaller blade and you have to buy the whole sheet to get your pieces you want but it came out real nice much stiffer than the thinner stuff but the whole sheet cost 50.00

good thing about all this though is now I have enough to build another smaller one and only have to get a few things to finish it off and with the reptile show coming next month I think it will be perfect timimng for another snake :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

[Dougefresh]

Heres the finshed enclosure fully furnished, I built a inside canopy to protect the lights!

 

[Dougefresh]

here it is

 

[OkeeteeMom]

That's a very attractive set-up. Maybe you should consider a 2nd career in selling these?