61"x13.5"x15" Corn Snake Enclosure

froggsong · #1 06-01-2010, 01:34 PM

Ok, so I've had this glass for a LONG time, and now I'm finally doing something with it!

It used to be an old curio case, I got it for free off of craigslist. It came with the glass I'm using (which is tempered), and three glass shelves (which are not). the top and bottom (which will be the sides) are made of what I thought was pressboard, but after surviving months in the rain with no ill effect, I have no idea what they are made of, lol... Suffice it to say I think I would be comfortable using whatever it is to build an aquarium! lol...

I picked up some epoxy to glue the glass into the channels cut into the wood pieces so I don't have to figure out some way to bolt it together (lost the hardware for the original pieces that held it together), and I'm going to put it together today and perhaps begin foaming for the BG and hides.

This will be for my corn snake, as the title suggests. It's a palace for him, and I can't wait to get him into it. He loves slithering around his 20G long, and I don't think it's anywhere near big enough for him. This, on the other hand, will be the pinnacle of perfection for him to slither his little coldblooded heart out in.

I've already taken a few pics, mostly of the glass and how it goes together. I'll get them posted this evening when I update the thread with all I've gotten done on it today. I'm supposed to be doing chores, so I'll have to sprinkle in a few throughout the day, but I'm confident I can get quite a bit done.

Stay tuned for updates!

froggsong · #2 06-01-2010, 07:18 PM

::growls:: stupid forum... lost my whole post...

Ok, here's pics. I'm too irritated to try and rewrite the post...

(finger in above pic is for scale on the gap under the glass door)

The top glass bows, and I'm mad at myself for forgetting to install the braces before I finished putting it together. It will be more difficult now, and I'll have to buy more epoxy, which sucks.

beckdg · #3 06-01-2010, 09:38 PM

why epoxy instead of silicone?

i must say this is definitely an interesting project. i'll be looking forward to updates on this one for sure.

froggsong · #4 06-02-2010, 02:07 PM

Because I despise silicone? lol... The cure time is a big part of it. It's not as much of an issue in this build, but I did like th ease of the epoxy, even though it smells like ass... lol

I went with the epoxy to attach the wood to the glass because I didn't have room in the track for glass and silicone. The epoxy was really thin, so all I had to do was put some in there and then put the glass on top of it. The quick set up was good too, I needed to be able to hold it in place myself because I didn't have any way to clamp it or strap it.

It really sucks that I forgot about the braces though, I had enough epoxy to do them as well, I just forgot about them so I used it in the track instead.

You know, I probably should have thought of this before, but I don't know what I'm going to do for ventilation... I guess I could cut vents in the ends (don't really want to do that), or install a fan...

Anyway, here's a new pic of the day's progress. I have to wait a while before I spray anymore foam. So I might not work on it anymore today.

froggsong · #5 06-12-2010, 11:36 AM

I'm sure you guys want updates, but I don'th ave any yet, lol... Other than the way the GS expanded. I'm hoping to get more work done on it today, in between cleaning the house and get some late spring cleaning done (got to get rid of some of this CLUTTER!). I'm still not 100% on how I want the tank to look, so I'm taking my time with it.

froggsong · #6 06-13-2010, 01:14 AM

I HATE my internet, I HATE it, I HATE it, I HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!! URGH! I would love to shove this piece of crap modem so far... well, you get the point.

I spent a good 10 minutes typing up this nice long post about the update, and I'm just too irritated to do it again.

Here are pics:

I'm thinking about painting the BG< but if I decide to make the warm side hide (the pink foam on the left is the beginning of that hide, see pic in previous post) look like a rock outcropping, which I'm really leaning towards, I might cover the BG with the binder method. I've not used crete yet, so doing a rock outcrop will be good practice for the BG for the beardie.

Anywho, comments, advice, ideas, are all welcome, appreciated, and wanted! I'll be back on every two minutes or so to see if anyone has posted anything.

froggsong · #7 06-13-2010, 03:12 AM

Poo on you guys! Sleeping is NO excuse not to comment... hehehe...

boabab95 · #8 06-13-2010, 11:21 AM

looking good froggsong!!!

now, comment on mine!!

froggsong · #9 06-13-2010, 01:26 PM

lol...

Certainly!

So, I was thinking a bit ago about a way to support the top pane of glass without having to rely on metal brackets attached to the door. I might see about making a foam support, maybe reinforced somehow, that looks like a tree branch. I was also thinking about making the little climbing ledge in the back look more like a root by adding a piece that goes up towards the top of the tank a bit. oooooo.... You know, this might be the perfect time to get a piece of PVC and try the branch making technique that was posted a while ago...

To HD I go! lol

I can't wait to go swap out that defective can of foam so I can get the foaming done. I did find another can last night, so I'll probably work on it again in a little bit.

Ozymandias · #10 06-13-2010, 01:41 PM

man that looks good, i think for ventilation you are going to have to cut into the sides i don't see any other way you could do it unless you redid the door some how. is the bowl area going to be a water area?