airholes?

[xerxes]

so a while back i made a post saying that i was going to make a new wooden viv for xerxes in shop class. well its mostly done but i just realized that i haven't put any air holes yet. how important are air holes in a snakes viv?

 

[sbourget]

That depends on what your door is going to be made of. If you're using a mesh then you shouldn't need more ventilation, if you're using glass or lexan doors, then you should have ventilation of some sort.
I just finished building a melamine enclosure and all I did was purchase some vents which had a mesh back, and cut the holes for them in the ends of the viv.

 

[patm1313]

so a while back i made a post saying that i was going to make a new wooden viv for xerxes in shop class. well its mostly done but i just realized that i haven't put any air holes yet. how important are air holes in a snakes viv?

It depends what type of viv you are making. I wouldn't even make one out of wood, but I can't really stop you now....

Anyhow, they are important for the following reasons:

1. Greenhouse effect: A greenhouse effect is where heat builds up inside of a viv, just like a greenhouse. Basically, light comes in, and warms the inside, bu the heat can't get out. This is very dangerous. The obvious solution is to not keep the viv in the sun, but with no air holes, the tank will be even more susceptable to overheating.

2. Airflow:Ever heard of the myth that a guy died in bed because he passed too much gas and was in a small room that was sealed up? Well think about a tank with no air holes like that sealed room. Of course, corns don't really fart (they sort of do, but that's another topic ), but they do poo. I don't see as build up of those shemicals coming out of that poo as being positive...

3. Humidity: Without airholes, humidity from the water bowl will build up. This isn't a good idea...

4. Heat: Like the greenhouse effect, heat from your heat scource (UTH, heat lamp, etc.) will build up.

That's pretty much it. I would put a whole bunch of air whole, or even better, screen the top of the tank. Also, I would suggest lining the inside of the viv ith plexiglass or something. Wood can absorb a lot of things, and is definetly not the perfect surface for a corn.

 

[xerxes]

well i had heard of other people having wooden vivs so i thought it would be okay. i'm planning on putting a glass tray on the bottom of the viv so nothing soaks into the wood. i'll be sure to put some airholes in the back of the viv sometime.

 

[Nanci]

Maybe you could put in vents like these. (Sorry- this is the only picture I have of the back of these cages at work).

 

[TWGarland]

xerxes
well i had heard of other people having wooden vivs so i thought it would be okay. i'm planning on putting a glass tray on the bottom of the viv so nothing soaks into the wood. i'll be sure to put some airholes in the back of the viv sometime.

As long as you treat the wood on the inside of the vivarium then its absolutely fine to be using wood, although that glass layer idea would be awesome for ease of cleaning etc.

 

[bitsy]

Wood can be sealed with clear varnish. It's not completely waterproof, but 2 or 3 coats of a floor varnish will make it water-resistant for a while. You'll need to do it weeks in advance of installing your snake though, and ventilate it thoroughly before use.

An added sheet of glass will be extra protection, but I wouldn't recommend that with a floor-based heating method like a UTH, in case of overheating and cracks.

Ventilation is a must-have. Humidity build-up will be your biggest problem without it, and this would encourage mould growth and respiratory infections. Try to install vents on either side of the viv, so you get a good airflow across the widest part of it. When I've had them built to my spec, I've had a vent near the floor on the right hand wall and another near the top on the left hand wall.

 

[strawberry_bunny]

boat varnish, know people that have used it as its waterproof

 

[patm1313]

boat varnish, know people that have used it as its waterproof

Is it safe? It seems that something so powerful as that could be somewhat dangerous.

 

[strawberry_bunny]

as i heard as long as you allow it to dry completely and air the fumes out. However ive not used it, i just know of people that have

 

[xerxes]

i'm putting two or three layers of clear coat so it should be fine, and with the glass tray, if i could cut a hole in the side to fit a plug through. would it be safe to put a heat mat in between the glass tray and the wood?

 

[patm1313]

i'm putting two or three layers of clear coat so it should be fine, and with the glass tray, if i could cut a hole in the side to fit a plug through. would it be safe to put a heat mat in between the glass tray and the wood?

You're pushing it if you sandwhich it right between glass and wood. It can warp or crack the wood, or in the event of a malfunction, even be a fire hazard. I would consider try to raise the glass tray with those extremeley cheap plastic/rubber bumper thingies that you can buy, and then put a heat mat under.

 

[xerxes]

I would consider try to raise the glass tray with those extremeley cheap plastic/rubber bumper thingies that you can buy, and then put a heat mat under.

okay, thanks. so prettymuch i need to drill air holes, and a place to fit a plug in through, can anyone else think of anything else i will need?

 

[patm1313]

okay, thanks. so prettymuch i need to drill air holes, and a place to fit a plug in through, can anyone else think of anything else i will need?

If you're going to use a probe thermometer, and don't plan to put the probe wire through the same hole that you are going to use for the heat mat, then you need to put an additional hole(s) for the probe(s).