Modified 10gal hatchling quarters

[jaxom1957]

My two hatchlings arrived this morning, and I realized after they were here that I HATED the shoebox quarters I had readied for them. I didn't want to house them together in the 10gal aquarium, so I subdivided it. I still need to add some branches for them to play on, as well as a couple of pieces of 1" pvc pipe for additional hides.

I made both the top, which is held by standard clips, and the 10" x 113/4" divider. They are standard aluminum screen with aluminum frame. I would have preferred fiberglass, but I already had the aluminum screen on hand. Oh, yeah, and I'm cheap (c: I made the divider as tight as I possibly could, both front to back and top to bottom. There is less than 1/8" gap at the top of the divider, between it and the top screen. There are no gaps at either the bottom, front or back.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could improve the design? I am thinking of doing something similar with a 20gal when they begin to outgrow this. Can someone advise me on how soon they might become too big for these quarters?

 

[broken_20_2]

The only suggestion that I can make is to black out the screen dividing the two sides. The snakes, being non-social creatures, might get stressed out from seeing (and possibly smelling) the snake on the other side. Fiberglass really is your best option. Taking out the gap, even though it's only 1/8" would be wise. You would be suprised how small of a hole a hatching can get through. Other than that, it looks awesome!

 

[Plissken]

I would imagine they would outgrow that quite soon. As for the 20 gallon divider, why not just get two twenty gallons? You will need larger tanks for them - half a 20 gallon is not enough for an adult corn - so personally I always prefer to be full prepared from the word go.

 

[jaxom1957]

Taking out the gap, even though it's only 1/8" would be wise. You would be suprised how small of a hole a hatching can get through.

I went to check on them last night, only to find that the anery had, indeed, squeezed through the gap and joined the snow. The gap is unavoidable, as it is caused by the lip of the aquarium trim and the flexibility of the screen in the top. If the top were expanded metal or pierced metal, I don't think she could have squeezed through. After I put the hatchling back in her own room and severely chastised her (I think she was listening, hard to tell), I put a handtowel over the divider. It filled the gap, and shielded the view as well. I guess it worked; they were each in their own half when I got up this morning.

I may try making a divider out of opaque plexiglass. With it, I could leave a center section of the top raised the width of the tank trim, eliminating the gap altogether.

 

[ScottyK]

I had a similar problem when I first divided a 55 gallon for two hatchlings. Add a thick bead of aquarium cement to the top of the divider to fill in the gap. Let it dry with the screen off. Then use the same cement to glue a flat metal or plastic strip on top of the screen so it won't flex upward. If you do a good job, it'll be hatchling proof.

In case you're unfamiliar with using aquarium cement, plan on having the snakes out of the tank for about 48 hours until it cures...

Good luck with it.

Scott

 

[ratsncorns]

This is what I did: I divided my 20L with cardboard. Its a very easy and cheap way of dividing the tanks. You cut slits on the side so it goes over the lip and I made it a little higher than the top of the tank. My screen top on it made it very secure. With the clips on the side, there was no way they could sneak in with eachother. Cardboard is nice because they cant see eachother, and if you mess up, you can just do it again. Here is a pic of what I did. I used silicone to seal the sides. You can get clear stuff, but they were out so white had to do.

Sorry I dont have pics of the actual cardboard, but this gives you kind of an idea.

 

[jaxom1957]

I had a similar problem when I first divided a 55 gallon for two hatchlings. Add a thick bead of aquarium cement to the top of the divider to fill in the gap. Let it dry with the screen off. Then use the same cement to glue a flat metal or plastic strip on top of the screen so it won't flex upward. If you do a good job, it'll be hatchling proof.

Good idea for the top. I have silicone caulk that will do the same thing. I'll have to put the hatchlings into sweater boxes for a couple of days, but that shouldn't be a problem. I'll leave them in there when I feed next and use the time to caulk the top of the divider. The bottem doesn't need it. The frame on the screen is ridgid aluminum; there is no way they are budging it at their size.

This is what I did: I divided my 20L with cardboard. Its a very easy and cheap way of dividing the tanks. You cut slits on the side so it goes over the lip and I made it a little higher than the top of the tank. My screen top on it made it very secure. With the clips on the side, there was no way they could sneak in with eachother. Cardboard is nice because they cant see eachother, and if you mess up, you can just do it again. Here is a pic of what I did. I used silicone to seal the sides. You can get clear stuff, but they were out so white had to do.

That looks good. I may try making a cardboard template (like you said, easy to redo if you mess up), and then cut a piece of opaque Plexiglas with the pattern. Plexi should last for years, and I can use it out or in, depending on what I need to house at the time. Good suggestions from both of you, thanks.