Hello

I have decided to build my own vivarium for my male BCI.

I have an old wardrobe that as approx 72"x36"x24"

Its from mfi, so its just flimsy backing so I'll need to get a backing board for it.
I see that vivbuilder.co.uk sell glass runners and they are nice and cheap (are they a reliable source?)

So here is the things I need to know:

1. What is the best product to use to seal the joints? Would normal silicone be ok? Also will I need to treat this wood in any way? (It is like melamine mdf)

My current vivarium is glass, and so heat mats go underneath it.
As I understand it, the heat mats will have to go inside my new vivarium.
2. How do I wire them in there? Just drill a hole next to where they will be?

3. What is the best way to cover them?
Obviously they'll be covered with substrate but should I put some sort of semi permanent fixture over them to ensure my snake doesn't come into direct contact with them? If so what is best to use?

4. Where should I put vents?
Along the length of the viv, just at each end, just at one end (hot or cold end?). If they go the length of the vivarium, would it be possible to just make a linear one running the length of the viv?

5. What is the best way to securely attach the cage for the bulb so that my snake can't knock it off but I can still get at the bulb to change it?

6. Do hinged doors have any advantage over sliding doors?


I think that is all

Thanks!
Gayle

I see that vivbuilder.co.uk sell glass runners and they are nice and cheap (are they a reliable source?)

Markandwend or Lotus nut (usernames on here) will sell them you a lot cheaper.




1. What is the best product to use to seal the joints? Would normal silicone be ok?
as long as you leave it long enough to dry out or you can use aquarium sealent.

Also will I need to treat this wood in any way?
with it being melamine usually not but i'm not sure how much humidity a BCI in a 6ft viv needs.

My current vivarium is glass, and so heat mats go underneath it.
As I understand it, the heat mats will have to go inside my new vivarium.
2. How do I wire them in there? Just drill a hole next to where they will be?
yep, drill a hole and make sure the snake can't sit directly on top of them. Although in a viv that size i dunno if heat mats would do the job. Probably need a 250w ceramic or a AHS heater.

3. What is the best way to cover them?
you can use floor tiles or lino etc


4. Where should I put vents?
Along the length of the viv, just at each end, just at one end (hot or cold end?). If they go the length of the vivarium, would it be possible to just make a linear one running the length of the viv?

hot end and cool end or along the length of the viv would be ok.

5. What is the best way to securely attach the cage for the bulb so that my snake can't knock it off but I can still get at the bulb to change it?
screw it on and put a cage around it

6. Do hinged doors have any advantage over sliding doors?

personal choice as long as he can't escape.



as i answered as i went along there's a couple where i mentioned something and then you mentioned it later. I just couldn't be bothered editing

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Thanks!

I did actually order the whole shebang but was let down
The heating/lighting I was priced for was this:
Would I require the 250w ceramic bulb as well as the mats or instead of?

errrrrr dunno.. all depends really.

I've got a royal in a 39x24x18 and a 100watt ceramic isn't hot enough so i'm running heat mats as well till i can do some re-arranging so the ceramic does its job. Although if i'm running 2 mats in the same viv and next to each other i just wire them into one plug and run off one stat.

Not sure why they were selling you UV lighting though, i'm no expert on snakes but i think there's only a very few that require UV and personally wouldn't say a BCI was one of them. I can't remember them coming up in the very short list i've seen of snakes that do.

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Meko has addressed all your qustions and would suggest you have 4mm toughened glass for that size of viv or 6mm.

I stock runners and vents but max length that can be sent by royal mail is 1.5 meters longer lenghts have to be sent by courrior.

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|Vivariums built to order|

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ooO Ooo
Runners - vents - fittings supplied

im also considering making my own viv


would thick perspex be ok for the front?

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www.myspace.com/jakkosaurous add me if you like =]
1.0.0 BCI 07
0.0.1 royal python 07
0.1.0 working cocker spaniel
2.0.0 cats

Yeah,

what rep/amphib is it for?

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bci

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www.myspace.com/jakkosaurous add me if you like =]
1.0.0 BCI 07
0.0.1 royal python 07
0.1.0 working cocker spaniel
2.0.0 cats

I would not use perspex for bci, best to use 4mm toughened glass

__________________

\\|//

(O O)

+---oOO--(_)----------+

|Vivariums built to order|

+---------------oOO---+

|__|__|

| | |

ooO Ooo
Runners - vents - fittings supplied

hiya, as regards to heating, the heatmats would no way cover it... i have a 6x3x3ft viv for my bcc and have a 36(ish) x 12 heatmat, a 100w basking infra red and a 150w infra red to get temps up and that does struggle sometimes when the heating has been off for a while.... so either got for bubls or ceramics, loooking back on it i would have gone for a 500w AHS or similar

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1 Female BCC