New custom Viv..thoughts?

[Blue Apple Herps]

I wanted to build a nice viv for my snakes so this is the 1st one. What do you think? I know its sort of bland right now, but its a work in progress. I'm going to nix the shoebox hide for something more decorative and then put some branches and vines/plant decorations in there. Right now only the bottom one is inhabited; Roxanne and Oscar (both are girls despite the name) live in there (let's not turn this into a housing two corns debate; I've done it for 9 years now with them trouble free).

Let me know what you think and any further advice you might have and if you have any questions about how I built it or something feel free to ask.

Hatchlings on the top; grown ups on the bottom

Close up of Roxanne

Oscar and Roxanne

 

[ultimuttone]

It looks nice!
What are you using for a heat source?
And is the wood a problem keeping clean? I only had one enclosure with a wood base(snake was too large for a normal glass viv) and it was really hard to clean both the wood and metal parts.

 

[JAG 32]

Looks very nice. the same question as traci, is it going to be easy to clean the wood base(if it is one)?

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

The flooring is melamine so that's easy to clean. The wood is sealed up pretty good and is silky smooth. So it's easy to wipe down.

As for heating, I don't use any. I'm down in Texas and between the A/C and the natural fluxations in temp from the outside it works out to perfect temps for the corns inside. Been doing it just like this for 12 years without a hitch.

 

[JAG 32]

sounds great! yeah in texas you probly dont need to add heat. different story up here in michigan! good idea with the melamine, i didnt build a wood enclose because of the cleaning issue. instead i built a rack.

 

[Lennycorn]

Looks like you drill through thr pleixglass to install the hinges.

so any problens with that and did you round the edges of it. how did you cut to size??

It looks loke a good job.

 

[Lennycorn]

Looks like you drill through the Plexiglas to install the hinges.

so any problens with that and did you round the edges of it. how did you cut to size??

It looks like a good job.

 

[graffixcs]

Looks like a nice set up to me.

One question tho, is there any screen over the vents? I have similar vents on my "refrigerator incubator" and used the nylon type insect mesh. (to stop bugs getting in more than snakes getting out)

I am not debating the corns housed together thing, quite the opposite in one case here. I understand that it can work. Against my better judgement I also have 2 adults that stress badly when separated and both become aggressive, when together they are fine and docile again, go figure. Damn things don't know there are "rules" ! lol, jk.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

Looks like you drill through the Plexiglas to install the hinges.

so any problens with that and did you round the edges of it. how did you cut to size??

It looks like a good job.

I did have to drill the plexiglass but no problems. I just marked and drilled everything before removing the protective covering. Just make sure that your bit doesn't get too hot or else you can melt the plastic. If it does get hot just spray it with some water to cool it off. I left the edges square for a better fit. As for cutting it I ordered it from www.interstateplastics.com already cut to size. This was cheaper than buying it locally and cutting it down as the sheets I needed were so big.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

Looks like a nice set up to me.

Thanks.

One question tho, is there any screen over the vents? I have similar vents on my "refrigerator incubator" and used the nylon type insect mesh. (to stop bugs getting in more than snakes getting out)

I am not debating the corns housed together thing, quite the opposite in one case here. I understand that it can work. Against my better judgement I also have 2 adults that stress badly when separated and both become aggressive, when together they are fine and docile again, go figure. Damn things don't know there are "rules" ! lol, jk.

The vents came screened with a screen mesh already in place. I accidently stumbled upon them at Lowe's one day and realized they'd be perfect.

These are the only two I house together. After reading about all the risks none of my others live together, but these two have lived together since they were hatchlings for the past 9 years trouble free. Perfect sheds every time, never a regurge, and have bred for me whenever there was a willing male. I guess I got lucky with them and they're the exception to all the rules.

 

[Rorryy]

What was the total cost and approximate building time? My b/f just finished designing a double viv for boas and another one to hold 16 corns with auto cad. We haven't got the materials yet. Looks nice.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

What was the total cost and approximate building time? My b/f just finished designing a double viv for boas and another one to hold 16 corns with auto cad. We haven't got the materials yet. Looks nice.

I spent ~$250 to build two of these. This one has 2 vivs and the other has 3. The most expensive part was the acrylic. I also bought the more expensive birch plywood and used birch wood for the trim wich is more expensive.

I spent a sat afternoon cutting everything down and then spent sunday sealing it. I waited a month for the sealant to cure as I wanted it to off gas as much as possible. Then spent another saturday assembling everything.

 

[JAG 32]

i used birch plywood to build my rack. I love the way it looks. I went to home depot and it was like $40 a sheet!!!! i know i got a good deal, my dad's cousin owns a storage place and he knows a builder who sells him plywood for $10 a sheet so he sold some birch to me for $10, i was glad i didnt have to buy it at home depot because i would owe my dad more than i do now. john

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I wish I had a sweet hook up like that. I had to get it @ home depot, it was ~$27 for a 4x8' sheet. But it was worth the extra cost for sure. I also saw your rack on another thread...very nice looking. Something like that probably would have been cheaper and easier. Oh well.

 

[JAG 32]

Yeah, i was pretty lucky, at home depot here it's 39.99 for an 4' by 8' 3/4 sheet of birch. I was pretty easy to build, it only took one day to build, 4 days to sand and stain. I had a lot of help, i got really nice plans (my uncle (in chicago) is a carpenter) and my dad built most of it. Pretty good job considering hes a plumber and doesnt woodwork a lot. And on my $400 dollars worth of corn detassling money i couldnt afford much, (of course i had to buy 2 more corns and 3 20 gallon low profiles).