New habitat

[brain]

I’m building a new habitat with three ten gallon tanks laidon their front side and stacked. Heattape under the glass, etc…
Here is what I have so far and need some input from thecrowd. Accessing the habitat?
1. Top access seems to frighten the snake, normalso we move the top very slowly and move in cautiously.
2. Front access to me makes a whole lot more senseand from the pics some of us have shared, less stress on the snake. However, escapes can and have happened.
Question - TYPE of door for the habitat - sliding orhinged. Now hinged can be right to left,dropped down, or even lifted up. Slidingyou have the escape route in between the sliders.
Commentswelcome. ;)

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http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//740/medium/20110930_3.JPG

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[katach]

Very Cool! Can't wait to see the final product!

[brain]

Very Cool! Can't wait to see the final product!

And how do you access your habitat?

[katach]

We have top screens. They were skitterish at first, but they got used to it and come up to us whenever we open it.

[RedSidedSPR]

My snakes all have top sliders, and have ZERO problems with it. Actually, they DO react, but only by looking up expectantly!

[brain]

My snakes all have top sliders, and have ZERO problems with it. Actually, they DO react, but only by looking up expectantly!

I bought a glass 50 lowboy with a sliding top for the Womas and they don't seem a jumpy, but they do know that when that slide sounds they come out for a looky lue.

I have Exo Terra with front opening doors and everyone seems calm. But my Pueblan Milksnakes and Granites are jumpy and I belive that due to the lift off top.

This is why I am making new habitats but can't decide on the doors. Hence the questions.

[katach]

On a construction note, be sure the caulking doesn't have any weak spots. I found Blade trying to get through the caulking in the corner of our 20 long. She wasn't hurt, but I was a little irritated at the poor construction of the tank.

[RedSidedSPR]

I would go with whatever is most convenient.

I open my cages 100 times each day, so they get used to it....

I don't know. I've never had a front-opening cage, only top sliders, but those have been fine.

It's looking AWESOME though!!

[brain]

On a construction note, be sure the caulking doesn't have any weak spots. I found Blade trying to get through the caulking in the corner of out 20 long. She wasn't hurt, but I was a little irritated at the poor construction of the tank.

Right I remember you had a porblem with the caulk section. These ten gallon tanks have been used by various snakes in the past so the are safe in that regard.

The door construction is my main concern at present.

If you noted the last pic you can see I made a raiesd section off the face frame to allow the tank to fit snuggly in.

To hold the tanks in place I willl have a backing which will be screwed into the side face frames. This will allow the tanks to be removed if the need arises.

But I only have a 3/4" face frame and sliding doors might need reconfiguried if get feed back. I have heard some here speak to the drop dors as aposible mass escape when feeding. You know the old "Hey he has Food lets bum rust the dued and steal the worms."

[katach]

Well our snakes love to try to escape with top slider. Feeding time for us is a 2 person job, one to feed and one to keep them from escaping. :D

[brain]

:D:D

[guidofatherof5]

Slides are great but you have to be careful as the snakes like to lay in the tracks.
Securing between the glass can be done with a piece of thinner glass or plastic attatched to the closed end of the glass.
I seen people use a piece of felt glued to the end so that when the glass is closed it fills in the gap.
I prefer front lower hinges but you must install a hinge cover to protect the snakes from being injured when the door is closed.
Read this:
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/7616-tragic-preventable-death.html

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Brain , those pics are really cool. I cant wait to see the tanks when they are done.

[Stefan-A]

Looks fragile.

[brain]

Looksfragile.

Moreover, rightfully so in its present condition. I have built numerous cabinets in this fashion as a cabinetmaker.

There is a ¾” top of Maple, ¼” bottom panel under the supports of the bottom tank and 3 - 1” x 2”oak stretchers across the back yet to be added.

I am testing the waters for inputs concerning the safety of the a door system for the snakes.

Any thoughts?

[brain]

Slides are great but you have to be careful as the snakes like to lay in the tracks.
Securing between the glass can be done with a piece of thinner glass or plastic attatched to the closed end of the glass.
I seen people use a piece of felt glued to the end so that when the glass is closed it fills in the gap.
I prefer front lower hinges but you must install a hinge cover to protect the snakes from being injured when the door is closed.
Read this:
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/7616-tragic-preventable-death.html

Steve not to be mean or dredge up bad memories.

How is the retro fix working? Looking closely at the fix I can see stress point on the screws, with the added rubber. Not much distance bewteen the hinge itself when closed for anything placed in between the halves.

Do you think maybe hinge the door on the top could worksafer? Either way the hinges are applied there is a large opening created when opened for escapes, right?

The sliders would need to be of a screen design for ventalation so I can see an issue with area between the sliders as suggested.

[guidofatherof5]

They are working great. Not sure what you mean by stress points.
The rubber is stapled down in a way so it doesn't interfear with the hinges.
My only problems is the snakes love to lay on the rubber and use it as a toilet.
Hinges on top would greatly reduce any snake being injured. One problem would be how do you keep the door open while your working with the snakes?
Yes, when the door is open they can escape. Unless you tell them not to.:D

[brain]

They are working great. Not sure what you mean by stress points.
The rubber is stapled down in a way so it doesn't interfear with the hinges.
My only problems is the snakes love to lay on the rubber and use it as a toilet.
Hinges on top would greatly reduce any snake being injured. One problem would be how do you keep the door open while your working with the snakes?
Yes, when the door is open they can escape. Unless you tell them not to.:D

With butt hinges there is little to no space between the twohalves when closed this is the reason for the recessed flat head screw. Placing the rubber between the haves causesthe hinge to not close properly and this is when you put stress on the screw and/orthe door when tiring to close. A fix I couldsee imagine you have done is to trim the rubber away from between the hinges itselfand staple the loose section down to the face frame.
Does your door pop out a bit as you close it?

[guidofatherof5]

I have no idea what a butt hinge is.
I'm a very basic builder.

[RedSidedSPR]

I'm wanting to do some shelving system and this is awesome! I don't know if I, even with help, have the ability!:D