Some questions about customizing a cage!

[tylociraptor]

So here's the deal. I built a cage out of oak and plexi for my two snakes, but it ended up taller than it needed to be.

So, I split the boa's portion in half... or at least, I AM doing this. 4' is suddenly 2' and I wanted to put something in my bottom portion. Initially I planned on adding a Varanus acanthurus to my home, but it turned out that it just wasn't going to be appropriate for a monitor... There wasn't enough room for substrate, and I was concerned about how sitting moisture would affect the tile and structure, So I chose to get go with something else... after much deliberation, I decided that one of my original three choices- the blue tongued skink! (Quite obviously, or else why would I be posting to bluetongueskinks.net!?)

Anyway, the cage I have built is this:



The changes I want to make are as follows...



As you can see, there will be a snake sitting on his head... no. Wait, that's wrong. As you can see, it will be cut in half, and I will be adding a small, wide-ish shelf with a ramp wide enough for a skink to walk up, and that is gradual enough that is easy for a skink to walk up. The reason for this is to allow him a closer spot to bask. I want to add either slate tile or just some slate rock (there is a lot around here) for him or her to bask on.

I also am adding a small ledge so that I am able to add substrate (I'm planning on aspen) to the cage.

My main problem is lighting and heating.

I could screw something like this in, but would that allow for me to add a thermostat, and would it allow for a heat light / ceramic heater? And as for UV, I've read that the florescent tube style lights are not as good... so should I use something similar as the socket holder linked above (if that will work for both) and use a bulb?

I intend on a simple on/off timer, that will allow me to set my skink's habitat to a night/day cycle. I live in New Brunswick, Canada, and nights can get quite cool here, so I likely will want to have heat on him at all times (unless otherwise suggested by fellow Canadian keepers who know the climate and have an opinion). I have never worked with lights or ceramic heaters before (except RHPs if you count those) so I am not sure that they can be controlled to be at a certain temp at all times, or not!

Anyway, any assistance and/or advice with setting up the lighting in his cage would be great! I'm happy that this is something I'll be able to set up right away.

[Katrina]

What are the floor dimensions? 2 feet isn't enough for a varanid or a BTS. I'd look to put something smaller in that...

[Richard.C]

should be fine to do,if light fixtures connected to roof in bottom cage it will heat floor of cage above,u can double floor it if it gets to warm,or place basking rock over it,it will absorb heat but not get as hot

flouro ligjt golders get warm so in warm weather could make top cage to hot,warming large area of floor, but being in canada heat might not be an issue,but test it out,you can always make it work in your favour with some tweaking

main concern for me is 2 cage high doors,are they flexabe enoigh in the middle for a snake to squeeze through,other than thar i think yout plans will be fine

think cage was 4 high by 4 long,splitting in half to make 2 four by two size cages

[Katrina]

think cage was 4 high by 4 long,splitting in half to make 2 four by two size cages

You might be right, that would be good floor space. It looked like 4 high but the floor about 2' x 2' to me, hopefully I'm wrong!

[tylociraptor]

@katrina yes, it is 4 feet wide by two feet deep. :3 I am adding a shelf to make two 2' high cages.

@richard you have a good point with the fixtures. I will either lower the heat of the rhp for the boas portion to compensate or find some way to insulate. I could drop the ceiling on the lizards potion to add insulation material between.

The doors latch onto a wooden divider, built with the snake In mind. We are also adding a lock, so he will be nice and secure! I wish I had known about the height before building. Although... I COULD, in theory, remove the doors as they are, and put them horizontally! they ARE the right size!!!

Edit: also the wood is solid oak and the glass is thick, unbending plexi. there is no give or bend to the doors.