the cage plan i have it to use a false celing to keep my bci from coming incontact with the heat bulbs. my problem is that i am worried i will lose too much heat and humidity due to too much ventilation. i planned to have the back wall of the cage 16" tall, leaving a 8" space for lights between the top of the cage and the false celing. this means that there will be an opening 8" x 4' on the back of the cage, which i feel is way too much ventilation. the only solution i can come up with is to make a door on the back of the cage opeing, either hinged or bypass doors to allow for regulation of ventilation, although i think a solid door will be best.
please let me know if you think im on the right path or if you have any other suggestions.
just for reference, the cage will be 4'x2'x2', 1/2" plywood, 1/3" top, and have 1/4" plexiglass bypass doors.
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opinion needed with cage design
Replies (2)
>>this means that there will be an opening 8" x 4' on the back of the cage, which i feel is way too much ventilation.
Why? It's perfectly acceptable to make the entire top of the cage enclosed. You just need some way to move or remove either the drop ceiling or the top so you can get to the lights.
You could make sliding bypass panels for the ceiling that are mounted in grooves, then put a lock on the panels so the snake can't push them aside.
Or if you don't plan to set anything on the top, bolt it into some threaded inserts mounted in the cage walls. When you need to change the bulbs, unscrew the top and remove it. When you're done, bolt it back on.
Lots of other possibilities, too...
I design cages with the same type of top sections. I use a pop.out panel. I use the cupboard door clips you know the kind that you push in and they just hold on. Sometimes when I build one for someone who has money to burn I use the magnetic catches like on entertainment centers. I am assuming the top section is divided from the cage section by a screen and that the animal is seperated from the lights at least that is what I gathered from your thread. Rockler.com has tons of trick stuff to look at for this purpose. This style makes it super easy to trade out lights and such.
chris
