Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We just finished building a bunch of our new models of plastic cages. We made a 36x18x12 single door and a 48x24x12 double door out of the expanded PVC. I think they are a nice addition to our HDPE heavy duty cages. We came up with a pretty crafty way to make them, the top, face and bottom are one peice (heat bent)and the back and sides are one peice (heat bent) The 2 U shaped peices interlock in routed grooves.

3 and 4 ft cages in black and white

36x18x12 inch cages

A black 3ft cages on a 48x24x12inch cage

and the white versions of the same

Another pic from the dungeon..

What do you think?
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Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com

Whats your opinion on the tabs you are using? I always use heavy duty barrel locks but the tabs are small enough they look tempting, as long as they are sturdy enough.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

I'll look forward to hearing his response, but I have found the tabs to be pretty secure.

I stuck my 5 year old nephew in a cage and he could not push or kick the door open. I was testing the strength of the tabs.

Yeah...right...lol!

I was hoping they were that sturdy, that way it prevents my kids from escaping when I lock them up at night
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

All of my cages have the turn buttons, they work great. I have tryed to break them with no luck. They are lexan, and have a spine so they are not flat, the peice of plastic is so short you'd have to have a hammer and a chisle to break it.
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Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com

Thanks Ed. Sounds like I have been underestimating their strength and durability.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

Nice looking cages. I like that idea of the U shapes. Do you have a patent on it? Just kidding! LOL

No a patent is a waste of time on stuff like this someone else can change a "patented design" just slightly and be just fine making them.
I don't get your sarcasm.. Do you know someone else that makes a cage this way?
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Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com

i think he was talking about "borrowing" your idea.
i like your website. did you do it yourself? it took me a few months to get over the photoshop learning curve for mine. theres a link below, but its just a template for about another month. you ge tthe idea though
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scaledhabitats.com

Well he's welcome to give it a shot...LOL... Doing the bends on the 2 peices and getting them accurate to the point they will seat into routed groves is a challange to say the least. You have to have exact measurments, with the bend factor in there..
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Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com

Hey Thanks, I did it myself. It's been a long learning curve, and I don't know if it will ever be finished...LOL... Evertime I get close to it I have more things I want to add.. I have had a bit of help here and there from everyone.. peice of code here, and a peice of code there..
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Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com

did you use photoshop? i started out using coreldraw but i found i could do so much more in photoshop. i am still completely an ameteur, but it was fun learning. i just did searches for photoshop tutorials until i figured out the basics. i had so much fun i though about taking some web design classes.
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scaledhabitats.com

Sorry you mistook my humor for sarcasm it was not ment as sarcastic. I like the design. Great idea. I have not been in the cage building business that long (Nov.2005) but I don't think that would be extremely difficult to do ...If you have the knowledge and skill. ;P Measure twice, cut once! That's my motto. I enjoy seeing new designs and ideas. Keep up the good work. A trick I have learned as far as lightbulbs in shipping is take them out of the light. Encase them in styrofoam and tape them to the inside of the cage.

No problem, there is always somthing lost in type..

As far as the bulbs go, seems everyone has a specific need on them and it's cheaper for them just to pick one up rather than for us to and install them. but if we get enough requests we will have to see.
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Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com

Sounds like a neat design with the two pieces going together like that.

Just out of curiosity...

1) What brand of expanded PVC are you using?

2) How much does the PVC cage weigh (with front door attached)?

3) How much does the HDPE cage weigh (with front door attached)?
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Sounds like a neat design with the two pieces going together like that.

Just out of curiosity...

1) What brand of expanded PVC are you using?

2) How much does the PVC cage weigh (with front door attached)?

3) How much does the HDPE cage weigh (with front door attached)?

Thanks
1)we use sintra brand

2)The PVC 4ft cages weigh 23-24 pounds total

3)The HDPE cages weigh 35 pounds total
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Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com

>>36x18x12 inch cages
>>Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com

Ed,
That is the perfect size for BTS, and we sure could use these for shows as well. Got a couple of questions - what about lighting? Are there are any vents?

Morgana

Ed,
That is the perfect size for BTS, and we sure could use these for shows as well. Got a couple of questions - what about lighting? Are there are any vents?

Flourescent lighting can be installed pretty easily. We don't install it due to bulb breakage during shipping. The gap around the door doubles as ventalation.
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Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com