Making a good Carpet/Bredli enclosure?

[Ryodraco]

In my quest to own a large reptile suitable for my lifestyle I recently acquired a used wood enclosure off of craigslist which I initially was planning to use for a bullsnake. Yet the more I think about it the more it seems suited to a carpet or bredli python. The enclosure itself was custom built for a boa constrictor by the previous owner.

I wanted to see what your thoughts are on what modifications may be needed to make it as good as it can be for such a snake, or indeed if it is suited for one at all. I've looked through a good seven pages of the forum and feel it would be best to get specific answers for this particular cage.

The enclosure's dimensions are 5 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet.

It has a radiant heat panel installed on top with a thermostat.

Please note that there shouldn't be any heat concerns from the window behind the cage. There is a building behind the window so the window is only exposed to the sun for a short period each day.

My main concerns are four things:

1. The door is scratched up so I am going to try to have a friend build a new one. What should I tell him to do? Simplest is best but I am concerned with ventiliation as currently a space between the current door and the enclosure is the only obvious source of ventiliation. The rest of the enclosure looks sealed tight.

2. In relation to the above question, should I drill some holes on top or on the sides to increase ventiliation, as high humidity is unnecessary for carpets? If so which side of the tank should I do so, the warm or the cool?

3. I have read repeatedly that while not required carpets do benefit from UVB light, their color improving etc. Thus it would seem best to provide one for a better day/night cycle and to make the inside of the cage more viewable. In my experience low wattage UV lights don't get very hot (I can put my fingers on one for a while before it gets uncomfortable), but still what would be the safest and easiest way to install a light in the enclosure? What type of fixture would be best? I only have experience with using lights on top of screen tops.

4. With the given dimensions of the tank should I refrain from considering coastal carpets due to their size? The usual thing I hear is that a good size for a snake enclosure is for half the perimeter to be as long as the snake itself, which would mean I can't consider any carpet that reaches more than seven feet. Yet I have also heard enclosure size rules don't necessarily apply the same way to pythons and boas.

In addition to answers to my questions, feel free to give any other advice you feel is pertinent.