• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Reinforcing Screen Lids?

R

rusti_knight

New member
Does anyone have any tips for reinforcing the screens on the vivs that have the sliding tops?

I just lost my snakling to the cat. Not initially, but she likes to stand on the screen above the tank, no matter how much trouble she gets in for it, and look down into the contents. However, the rubber piping that sits in a groove and holds the screen in will not support her 12 pound fanny and it collapses.

She did this while I was not home, and Spaghetti took the opportunity to split. I turned the house upside down yesterday, and disturbed him into coming out, but after I had gone to bed. The cat found him first, and I found him this morning in about three pieces.

I would like to try to reinforce the screen on the viv somehow before resorting to buying a new viv, which she still might be able to do the same thing to. Any thoughts?
 
rusti_knight said:
Does anyone have any tips for reinforcing the screens on the vivs that have the sliding tops?

I just lost my snakling to the cat. Not initially, but she likes to stand on the screen above the tank, no matter how much trouble she gets in for it, and look down into the contents. However, the rubber piping that sits in a groove and holds the screen in will not support her 12 pound fanny and it collapses.

She did this while I was not home, and Spaghetti took the opportunity to split. I turned the house upside down yesterday, and disturbed him into coming out, but after I had gone to bed. The cat found him first, and I found him this morning in about three pieces.

I would like to try to reinforce the screen on the viv somehow before resorting to buying a new viv, which she still might be able to do the same thing to. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Lose the cat :idea:
 
I have the same fear with my cat. I use those coated wire rubbermaid shelves, cut to the right length, to set on top of all my screen-wire topped vivariums. You can even set a heat lamp on top without harm to the wire shelving.

poppycorn
 
mbdorfer said:
Lose the cat :idea:
Click to expand...

Heh, unfortunately, that's not an option. She is my mama kitty, and takes care of all the other animals in the household (save for the snake, which she tried to eat...). It's rather ironic that she'll kill the snake, but hasn't a clue in the world as to what to do with a mouse...
 
Sorry, I'm not really a cat hater. I was just in a smart a** mood!! The coated wire shelving idea is good, or you can cut a piece of pegboard to fit over the top :cheers:
 
Actually, I prefer that my cat not sit on top of the vivs at all, so as not to stress the snakes & (& bearded dragon, who is of great interest to her). Especially in the winter, the cat is attracted to the nice warm spot, even if the herps are hiding. I fixed that problem by cutting a bundle of branches off my Washington Thorn tree last winter, which has abundant 2 inch thorns on it. I arrange the branches so they overhang at least 6 inches on the side of the tank the cat is most likely to jump up onto.

My condolances on the loss of your snake. My little yearling amel cornsnake (tigerlily) figured out how to slide off the lid of her tank and escaped a couple weeks ago, and I figured she was a goner between the cat and the fallout from my kid having just emptied her room by transferring all the debris into the living room. Immediatly locked the cat out of the house, and found the snake the next day on the kitchen counter. Not sure how she managed that trick. Now I duct tape the lid to keep it from sliding, but I would like ideas on something better looking.

Condolances on the loss of you snake.

Poppycorn
 
Isn't there a latch and clip on the back side to keep the lid from sliding?
I've got some adults in tanks like that that can't get out :shrugs:
 
Won't pegboard cut off some air circulation? I'll do some Wally World cruising and see what I can find.

The thorn trees sound like a good idea, and I even have a grove of them at my parents' place I can harvest a few branches from. I'd just like to get this problem resolved before I invest in a second snake...though I'll avoid naming it after a food item this time.
 
No, it just slides into grooves on 3 sides from the front. I have screwed velcro on some of my other vivs with tiny screws, but I'm not sure I can do that on this one because there is no gap between the top frame fits too snugly on the glass and I can't drill into the glass without cracking it. Might have to try to pre-gummed velcro, although I usually don't trust it long term.

Yes, the white latex coated kind. You will need a hacksaw or better a jigsaw with a metal blade to cut them to length. They are really hard wire. I have had Home Depot cut them to length also, but they leave the jagged ends which snag and scratch.

Poppycorn
 
poppycorn said:
No, it just slides into grooves on 3 sides from the front. I have screwed velcro on some of my other vivs with tiny screws, but I'm not sure I can do that on this one because there is no gap between the top frame fits too snugly on the glass and I can't drill into the glass without cracking it. Might have to try to pre-gummed velcro, although I usually don't trust it long term.

Yes, the white latex coated kind. You will need a hacksaw or better a jigsaw with a metal blade to cut them to length. They are really hard wire. I have had Home Depot cut them to length also, but they leave the jagged ends which snag and scratch.

Poppycorn
Click to expand...

My tank actually has a little hole through the sliding top and the lip it fits under where I can insert a pin to hold it in place. It's actually pretty secure. Save for the resident felid.
 
rusti_knight said:
Won't pegboard cut off some air circulation? I'll do some Wally World cruising and see what I can find.

The thorn trees sound like a good idea, and I even have a grove of them at my parents' place I can harvest a few branches from. I'd just like to get this problem resolved before I invest in a second snake...though I'll avoid naming it after a food item this time.
Click to expand...
No, in fact it is probabaly better for maintaining humidity.
What was your snake's name?
 
rusti_knight said:
My tank actually has a little hole through the sliding top and the lip it fits under where I can insert a pin to hold it in place. It's actually pretty secure. Save for the resident felid.
Click to expand...


Yes! That would work great! I will drill a little hole and plop in a pin. Thanks!

poppycorn
 
You can change the sliding top for a clip on one, which will give you more options. ESU Reptile, and I believe some others, make heavy duty screen tops
that have 1/16 x 1/16 steel mesh instead of screen. Attached is a pic of one of mine that has a hinged top. The steel bar for the hinges further strengthens it, and a whole family of cats could sit on it all day without doing any damage.
 
Whoops- Forgot to hit the upload buttn on my previous post :rolleyes:
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1611.JPG
    IMG_1611.JPG
    253.5 KB · Views: 35
By sheer coincidence, I happen to have a 20L with a sliding top, and one with an ESU hinged screen so I was able to test it for you. The ESU top fits perfectly.
 
ScottyK said:
By sheer coincidence, I happen to have a 20L with a sliding top, and one with an ESU hinged screen so I was able to test it for you. The ESU top fits perfectly.
Click to expand...

Wow, you're a peach, thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top