Carolina Custom Cages

[MCHRKiller]

I had considered a plastic enclosure for my quickly growing girl...mainly because I want front doors. The cost and fact most of them are low...makes it not look like a great option for me. Thus I found out that Carolina Dragons has a division of cage builders and I can get a 48Lx18Wx24H cage which is easy assembly and has sliding front doors.

Does anyone use this size/make of enclosure? I feel like she will finally have enough room to do her; that 40B aquarium keeps looking smaller and smaller now that shes 14-15".

 

[CooperDragon]

That's a decent length and height. The 18'' width will do but I'd get 24'' if you can. I'd rather have the shorter side be at width than height given the choice and 18'' is the same as your 40B. I use a 36x18x18 exo terra and feel it's too small as well. I suspend the lights well above the tank and leave the top off as a result. As I mentioned in your other post, I'd see if they can put a 24'' T5 fixture next to the basking light rather than a T8 on the middle or far side of the tank. You may want to check out what is available from K&M Dragons too. They have been mentioned on the forum over the years as well.

 

[MCHRKiller]

Unfortunately I cant fit a 24" wide 4ft enclosure...this one was also about half the price of comparable plastic terrariums so I had to grab it off Amazon for $250 :lol:

I am planning to do a 36" HOT5 10.0 UVB mounted on the underside of the screen using a sunblaster growlight with reflector. I figure Ill need t5 to get to the floor of a 24" deep tank.

I have a mini deep dome light on a 40B with a 100watt basking lamp...I know that wont really be adequate for heat and basking. Do you think a 150watt in a regular deep dome would be enough or should I do 2 of the 100watt lamps in mini deep domes? I am going to try to create a basking platform for her so she can be more comfy while she suns.

 

[CooperDragon]

It only needs to be about 12'' above the main basking area rather than the floor. It's OK to have lower UVB away from the basking area and you actually want to provide that gradient so there are plenty of options. It's just good to have a nice intense UVB (3-6UVI or so) over the basking area so it's available.

I use a 90w PAR38 halogen flood light that is suspended about 25'' above the floor of my tank and it works well. I could probably get away with a 70w but it's on a dimming thermostat and just cuts power when needed. The halogen bulbs handle dimming pretty well which is nice, especially if you have a fixed roof.

 

[MCHRKiller]

My roof is pretty fixed...I have barely enough for the 2ft tall enclosure and a Deep Dome mini sitting on the screen. I am thinking about having 2 basking areas of different temps/heights so she can pick what she wants. ill probably add a 2nd Deep Dome mini with a 100watt bulb but have one basking spot be closer to one of the fixtures...and the other spot be further away. The T5HO fixture Im looking at will be mounted on the underside of the screen and is only a 3ft lamp in a 4ft enclosure so I think she will have areas of higher and lower UV. Since this enclosure is much taller than her 40B Im planning to make her sort of a jungle gym out of grapewood, a platform, and some hammocks.

In her current tank she doesnt spend much time on the cool end probably because it is a little darker and has a gradiant between 90*F floor of the hot end and 75ish*F on the cool end. Her basking is currently about 105*F. Id like to have the new tank more brightly lit and give her more choices for basking and hanging out areas.