Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wanted to get some opinions or recomendations on what would be the best material for building an arboreal enclosure. I've already built one out of acrylic, but would like to build a 9 multi-unit with 24"X 24"X 24"...

You don't say what's going in the cage. If it's an arboreal monitor, for example, I would not recommend acrylic.

And "best" is a relative thing. An acrylic cage might show off the animals well but a cheaper cage might hold in temperatures well. What is it that you're trying to achieve?

A certain look? And if so, what?

Is it to save money?

Is it to build a light cage?

Regardless, some of the nicest and best functioning arboreal cages I have seen were made from nothing more than MDF, Contact Paper, select pine and glass. You should look up the cached cage building pages from the old FineGTPs.com to start. Here is one of his cage stacks.

A contact of mine borrowed a design of mine and built the following display from nine, 55 gallon storage totes.

Other choices would be plywood or expanded PVC or acrylic like you already mentioned.

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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

As I'm sure you already know, acrylic comes in black and other solid colors so you can use a combination of clear and solid colors.

My biggest concern with acrylic would be the issues they have with warping when exposed to heat differentials. If you use a high quality acrylic and use them in a heated room they will last much longer.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

Thank You Chris and I apologize for not being more specific... I have two newly aquired GTP's, one in a vision enclosure and the other is an acrylic enclosure I built.. I would like to build a multi unit set-up, that would be aesthetically pleasing, as well reasonably priced to build....

Sorry, I overlooked you saying that you had already built one from acrylic.

What do you like/dislike about the acrylic cage you built? What different features are you looking for with the new cages?

And lastly, do you have any pictures of cages you like?
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

I like the acrylic, but would something more along the lines of the pic I've submitted like Cool Critters PVC enclosures....I like building, but it seems it would be more economical to buy them already made...
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Pic of Cool Critters Enclosure we like....

Since you are building nine cages you probably can build them cheaper than you can buy them. But before you charge ahead really dig into your local market and see if you can find expanded PVC for a reasonable price. It can get very expensive but for nine cages I think you can justify a small order.

I assume you solvent welded your acrylic so you should have no trouble working with expanded PVC. Still, I would recommend getting 10 mm and reinforcing the joint with small screws or better yet aluminum rivets.

Celtec 550 is the lightest of the readily available expanded PVC products and is available in many geographic regions through Port Plastics. Find out their price including shipping and the seen if you can beat it locally.

>>I like the acrylic, but would something more along the lines of the pic I've submitted like Cool Critters PVC enclosures....I like building, but it seems it would be more economical to buy them already made...
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>>Image
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

Thank You Chris for your time and advice....