Richard's new enclosure project

[ConcinusMan]

if i understand u right u wont be using space in the enclosements
but rather u would add a "room" to your enclosures?
sounds very nice but hard to do....

No, not exactly what I mean. I do not wish to make compartments or rooms in the 55 gallon. I want a small portion of one end, with a fiberglass/poleyester resin feature to contain water and hide the pump. Sort of like a little waterfall you see for use in the home. Natural or natural-looking, but self contained and removable. AND I want a cork bark background or something similar. Think of it this way:

A fountain of sorts with it's own water supply contained and circulating in one unit on the very end of the 55 long tank. Perhaps some tropical plants and/or air plants near that end. The rest of the tank will be a traditional dry substrate such as reptibark, wood, and a large basking area, plastic plants. Plenty of hides/basking spots of varying temperatures. I think I can accomplish that much with the space I have in this one tank. Perhaps only 4 adult concinnus in there. That will leave a separate 20 gal long tank for a couple adult ordinioides and another 20 gallon long for concinnus/ordinoides babies later this year.

Amy will remain in her 10 gallon, and receive a future mate to stay with her. That should hold me over for about another year. No matter how it works out, I cannot afford to keep more, and I don't have the space for more tanks. All these tanks will fit in my humble bedroom. I like to sleep in the same room with my snakes. The sound of them moving around early in the morning or after dark, soothes me. Besides that, I will be alerted to any foul odors that are an inevitable occurrence, so I can deal with them immediately. I, like my garter snakes, seem to sleep better and have a more active day if the temperature in the room drops to a low in the 60's (F) in the early morning hours.

As you can see, one 20 gallon tank can sit on top of my new 55 gallon project and still leave plenty of open top space for air/lights. The florescent light fixture on the right end can hold 3 X 18 inch bulbs. Lighting will be flexible and I will adjust as the project progresses. I might end up using full spectrum basking spot lights on the warm end, florescent on the waterfall/plant end. We'll see. I am flexible.




I plan to manufacture a way to lift that 20 gallon an inch or two,
so air can circulate under it too, even while it's on top of the 55 gallon. the left end will be the hotspot/basking area. the entire top of the enclosure will be sturdy heat/corrosion resistant metal screen top with hinged doors where I need them. Already ordered it. you'll see. It's a brilliant plan if I do say so myself.