Hello fellow reptile owners, I am hoping that some of you wouldn't mind helping me out with a project for my reptiles. It is also going towards my High School Credits in order to graduate with my diploma.

I need help/tips on how to make custom made tanks from scratch. They will both be the same size as they are going on the same shelf that I will also be building made out of 2x4's and 2x6's.

One tank is for a Corn Snake (about 4 1/2 long and I don't know the sex as I haven't taken it to a reptile person for it to be popped/etc. as I don't know how to do that so I just call it a him) and the other is for 2 female Leopard Gecko's.

The dimensions by when I say Height, Width, and Length so there is no misunderstanding are shown in this picture:parceldimensions_en.jpg

The tanks outer dimensions will be:
Length: 48" (Maximum 52") (Hopefully 48" will be long enough for my snake)
Width: 15.25" (Width of the MDF board found at Home Depot)
Height: 15.25"

Type of Wood:
I originally planned on using MDF board to make the enclosures, but I was told from a friend that building them from plywood would make a sturdier tank. I am open to opinions/suggestions on what type of wood/board to use. I also plan to drill small holes into the top and sides of the enclosure to ensure airflow.

Doors/Access to Enclosure:
I plan on having front sliding glass doors to access the tanks. It would be awesome if anyone could tell me the name of the metal pieces that are attached/screwed to the wood that hold the 2 panes of glass and allow them to slide left/right. I think they are called sliding glass casters, but I'm not 100% sure that is the name of them. It would also be awesome if you could tell me where to find some for a relatively cheap price (doesn't matter the color, but I prefer them to be a dark brown.)

Heating:
I don't know how exactly I'm going to heat the tanks yet, but I am open to suggestions. I was thinking the Corn Snake tank will have it's heat lamp on the outside of the cage as I don't want the snake burning himself or rubbing his nose raw if I encase it with mesh or something similar. I also thought about a heating pad, but that would have to be on the inside of the enclosure as it wouldn't be very effective if it has to go through the wood. If I were to go that way, I would need to find a way to seal it so it doesn't get wet from the water bowl and the moisture (I pour a little water into the substrate every now and then to keep the humidity at a good level so the snake can shed in one piece.) Possibly a piece of glass could go over it then be sealed by a non-toxic sealant. That reminds me, what are safe sealants that I can use with wood and possibly glass? Also, what are some safe wood stains in case I go with the plywood?

Looks/Accessories:
My corn snake has 2 hiding spots, one on the heated side and one on the non-heated side, and a water bowl in the middle to bath/drink in. He doesn't really do much and at times I think he is bored. What are some things I can put in the enclosure to give him some entertainment? (i.e. fake mold-able vines to climb on/etc.) I also want to know what I can do with my leopard gecko tank to make them do more stuff. I heard they were climbers, so maybe I can get some store bought reptile clay to make a sort of climbing wall with spots they can sun bathe in and sleep/etc.

Questions I Have Asked:
1) Are my tank dimensions acceptable/reasonable for the reptiles?
2) What type of wood/board should I use?
3) What is the name of the metal sliding door casters for the glass panes to go in so I can find them in a store? (Or if possible, reply with a link to the item on an online store)
4) What are reptile safe sealants?
5) What are reptile safe wood stains?
6) How would you heat the tanks I am building?
7) What is a safe way to heat my tanks? (Similar to question 5, but there is a difference of what I am asking)
8) What can I put in the snake enclosure to spice things up/give him some ways to entertain himself?
9) What can I put in the leopard gecko's enclosure to spice things up/give them some ways to entertain themselves?

I would love to hear suggestions, opinions, feedback, help, and tips on this project.

Thank you very much for reading my very long post and helping me out if possible,
Brent