Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i decided instead 2 build a 4 stack or melamine cages, they would all be 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 12 inches high the only thing is i now need cage plans 2 build them. does anyone have cage plans for them or have built melamine snake cages this size... pics would be great and plans even better thanks aaron

These are my Boa cages. Melamine with sliding fronts I don't have any plans but could talk you through the construction if needed.
Jeremy

-----
"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's -Coming Soon-
0.1 Albino RTB -Coming Soon-
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's -Coming Soon-
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

It couldn't be easier really. Just build a 4 sided box using whatever dimensions you want, put a back on it, trim the front like in bighurts pic, get some sliding glass track, put in glass panels.

You can either just drill a series of holes for ventilation, or put in a couple small plastic vents. Caulk all the interior corners.
And your basically done. Add heat or light as you wish.

here is a pic of mine, it uses the bottom of one level as the top to the next, uses less material that way and provides belly heat to the level above. It's a little more complicated and tougher to move. good luck,
Kirk

-----
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python (both gorgeous)
1.1 Ball Python (normals, he said proudly)
3.3 hatchling ball pythons (normals)
1.1 Ball Python (het for albino)(gonna make my own albino)
1.1 Corn Snake (Okeetee, Sunglow x Snow)
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake (Blairs)
1.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.1 Pueblan Milksnake (normal)(Apricot)
1.1 Andean Milksnake (Inca phase) (het)
1.0 Bullsnake (normal)(my garbage disposal snake)
1.1 Bullsnake (red bulls)
0.1 Black Pine Snake need '05 mate!
1.1 Southern Snow Pine (snow)(red phase snow)
1.1 Mexican Pine snake
1.2 Checkered garter snakes (albino pair & het female)
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)(hates the herps,and not real crazy about the dog)

Sorry, don't have any. But I wanted to reply and put the topic in the subject line so more people might see it and respond. I know I have seen good plans posted here before for melamine cages that size.

But I agree with Jeremy. Construction of such a cage is very straightforward. Just get a cut list from use, have a cabinet shop cut the melamine for you (don't use the junk melamine at Home Depot) and then assemble the cage yourself.

How tall of a litter dam do you want on the cage?

Are you talking about the 4x8 sheets of melamine at Home Depot?
I know their 4x8 sheets of the stuff is crap, but I but the smaller already cut pieces, and I like it. It is alot nicer than their big sheets. I have not tried a cabinet shop yet, but I guess I will have to, to see the difference. Derek

Derek,

Yes, you are right. That's not the first time I have forgotten about the precut shelving pieces. Those are a much higher grade particle board and the melamine coating is of MUCH higher quality.

The melamine sheets at Home Depot are fine for racks or if you're laminating something more durable over the interior anyways. That may actually be a pretty good idea of this is for Blood Pythons, which I'm assuming due to the picture of the tattoo.

But back to the point, I think the precut shelving is actually a pretty good way to build a cage. You can often make a complete cage with very few cuts.

Thanks for the reminder.

What are you keeping in your melamine cages? Those were made from the shelving, correct? How has it held up?

It has held up pretty good. I looked at the big sheets, and it doesn't seem to be as good of quality as the shelving stuff. They even have 48" X 24" X 3/4" precut. In those cages, I have .1 Knoblochi, 1.1 GBKs, 1.1 baby hog island boas, and 1.0 '03 DH Hybino Honduran. The cages are 36" X 16" X 16". When some of the snakes outgrow their cages, I will move them into bigger ones, especially the hogs. I have some great ideas for those. Derek