If you are interested in owning a reptile such as a snake for a pet, the first thing you'll need is an enclosure to house the animal. You can purchase an enclosure from a pet store, or you can build your own at home.
You'll need some basic building skills and supplies, most of which can be purchased at your local hardware store. By creating the right environment for your snake, you'll be doing your part to help it live a long and happy life.
Planning Your Enclosure
Gather your materials. You'll want to make sure you have everything you need before you begin. In addition to the actual building materials, you'll also need several tools, including a power drill, a router, measuring tape, screws, hinges, and one or two hook-and-eye latches for the enclosure's opening.
Wood is the primary structural material. You'll be using it to assemble most of the enclosure.
High-pressure particleboard with a laminate coating, pre-built shelving, or high-quality plywood are all ideal types of wood for the enclosure.
Be sure you stain the wood before beginning.
You'll also need to choose between glass or thermoplastic for the panels of your enclosure. Glass and plastic both help retain heat inside the enclosure, though plastic may be more effective.
Plan the size of your enclosure. Before you measure and cut any pieces, you'll need to decide how large your enclosure should be. This will be determined by the size of your snake. If your snake is still growing, size your enclosure to its estimated adult size, which a breeder or snake expert at your local pet store should be able to tell you.
Generally speaking, most snakes need at least enough space to stretch out across the cage.
Smaller sized snakes like garter and grass snakes can be kept in smaller enclosures, so long as they have enough room.
Medium- to large-sized snakes, including king snakes, rat snakes, milk snakes, and gopher snakes, require larger enclosures.
Be aware that climbing snakes will do better in a taller enclosure, while burrowing snakes will do better in a longer enclosure.
Determine where to place the opening. Generally speaking, if your snake is venomous or is capable of moving particularly fast, it's best to put the opening on top of the enclosure.
This will help prevent escape attempts while the enclosure is open for feeding or cleaning. If your snake is not venomous and does not move quickly, you can put the opening on the side of the enclosure.
Having a side-opening enclosure allows you to stack your snake's habitat between other enclosures (if you have more than one). You will not have this option if you put the opening on the top of the enclosure.
If your snake will need an artificial heat source, it may be easiest to put the opening on top of the enclosure. If you're using a glass panel, you may be able to simply place the heat lamp directly on the glass.
Source: www.wikihow.com
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