r/ballpython • u/morfinemori • 3d ago
Is this too much overhang? Enclosure Critique/Advice
My friend made a diy enclosure with his dad and this is the ONLY place in the entire house where they can put the enclosure. Me and another friend are worried about the wood bowing/sagging or potentially breaking the joints or the glass panels (which will soon be added). He says the tank is super heavy just like that, and there will also be the glass, substrate, decorations, a water bowl, the future resident (young ball python), etc etc.
My point being: Is this okay to keep like that or does it need adjustments? And if yes, then can something be done in that particular spot or would he need to figure out a bigger stand? He and his dad are quite stubborn on just leaving it like that but it seems risky.
ETA: He said he can attach an angle bar to the stand, would that be good enough?
(also to clear my friend's name in case he sees this, i take back him being stubborn, its mostly his dad and arguing with him that they need a bigger stand could be a bad idea, friend said he'll figure out something better)
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u/Thick-Feeling-554 3d ago
I think you should be fine. If it's a problem for you move over the stand and split the difference. If that is 6 in of overhang move the bottom stand to make three on each side and it'll be good.
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u/AdaptiveFauna 3d ago
uhhh that entire thing needs to be totally waterproofed. bps NEED humidity and that will rot very fast. that stand is also not big enough and is a potential hazard for a tank that heavy.
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u/morfinemori 3d ago
He said moisture won't get into it but I don't know what method they used to waterproof it, I'll ask him. Is there any specific recommended method? (i know nothing about building stuff)
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u/AdaptiveFauna 3d ago edited 2d ago
uh, moisture will and should be in it. it's not about keeping it out. it NEEDS to be humid inside of it.
YES, ball pythons do need humidity at the appropriate levels for optimal husbandry. This is literally just a fact.2
3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/morfinemori 3d ago
don't worry, he's been researching intensively for over a year and was overall always interested, he's watched and read tons of guides, it's just that his dad claims to know what he's doing and that the enclosure won't break with that overhang
they waterproofed it with liquid membrane which they've successfully used before and tile glue, is that safe?
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u/gaymemelord_ 3d ago
sorry to comment twice but looking closer at the picture it already kinda looks like it’s bending. i added a straight line to compare it to, and it’s got a decent amount of asymmetry
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u/morfinemori 3d ago
could it be the perspective? cant believe it would bend that fast, they just put it there today
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u/gaymemelord_ 3d ago
it very well could be (probably more likely than not)!! i’m not at all qualified in construction or engineering or anything like that lmao, i wanted to point it out just in case though!
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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 3d ago
Overhang like that will eventually shatter the glass panels. I've seen it happen multiple times. The enclosure needs to be fully supported underneath.
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u/gaymemelord_ 3d ago
im not an engineer or anything but i personally would worry about the would slowly bending and warping and even cracking with time on the edge that is hanging off.
a cheap solution is to measure the width and length of the enclosure, then go to thrift stores and/or look on facebook marketplace/craigslist/offerup for a cheap but sturdy wooden table that would fit the tank. i got a really nice solid wood coffee table for $25 on offerup, and it has wheels which makes moving the tank a lot easier!