Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 50 gallon breeder tank I plan to use for my Kingsnake when and which ecer I deside to buy. I understand this may be too big for a hatchling so i an thinking of just using a devider and seporating the tank in half until he/she grows into the larger tank. I can use the other half as a feeding center until needed for a full sized enclosure. I am taking my time with this meve i am going to get the tank and setup right befour i ever get the snake and that with my disability may take a few monthe to assemble(first I have to find a proper place for the tank in my home and have somebody move it and its stand from the basement, I also want to put a wood back and bottom on the stand as it was constructed with out them) I need to know the best and least expensive place to but quality items than I currently need. Like an escape proof top for the tank the divider preferable in black but I can color it myself(is paint toxic to reptiles? I never had reason to know befour, if so what kind is or isnt) I currently have 3 King snake books on the way but they won't be here until sometime in the next two weeks. I am trying to gwt my dicks in a row befour buying the snake so I can do this right so I would appricate any help I can get. thanks greg for the e-mail an information. It was very helpful. Any help anybody else can offer is greatly appricated. While I am a beginner with King Snakes I am not a beginner with reptiles but am currently VERY rusty and fins a lot of my previous knowledge out of date(things like using heatrocks - they were standard equipment back when I was keeping in the early 90's) Thank You.
Sincerely
Jim L
PS I still want to know about the egiptian spiny mouse never heard of the critter. thanks
JL

Reference Materal?
1)Calf Kings - Keeping and breeding
2)General care and maintence of common King Snakes
3)Grey Banded King Snakes, ID, Care,and Breeding
4) King snakes & Milk snakes Everything about care (etc). by R Markel
I could'nt anything specific on the Thayeri Kings so if anybody knows of a book on them i would like to know some details on its information and purchace.
I would also like to know if anybody has any other books they recommend that cover stuff not covered in these.
As always any help is appricated.
Jim L