Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, Jermey and Chris, as always, would love to hear your input on this as well. OK here's my idea, since I'm leaning more towards using a radiant heat panel in my new enclosure, I was thinking of taking a solid piece of plexi/lexan/or similar product, putting a 4 inch high lip on all four sides, and use that as an insert or "tub" style liner for my cage. I can do it, I've done some interesting things with plastics and heat, I can pretty much get them to do what I want them to. But thoughts guys??

The problem with liners like you are looking to build is two things.

One to make it sealed from the rest of the cage would take caulking whcih in turn would make a removable liner very difficult to remove.

I assume you wan a removable liner, if not just make the bottom of the cage out of plastic.

The reason to seal the cage is that I find boas generally deficate where you don't want them to so inevatablly a boa will eventually deficate up the wall and this will run down and seap between the liner and the cage interior.

To over come this you could make the liner taller but then why not make the entire cage out of said liner material.

The other problem I mentioned is getting the removable liner in and out of the cage, assuming again this is ou intention. To fit snug it will require very close tolerances making removal difficult includeing the removal of animal front window and all cage decorations if any.

I think your intention is right but you may be over thinking the solution. Simply making the cage and lining it with a cheap vinyl will IMO be a better solution. But making a cheap replacable floor is another potential solution. No matter what it is made out of it will eventually need replacement.

Although I may have read your entire post incorrectly and if so I apologize but a tub liner IMO is not the best solution due to its complexity and difficulty in use.

Good Luck and don't turn off the idea machine.
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Jeremy

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

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

Well, ok, valid points there Jeremy, how high of a "poop guard" would you recommend using if I did decide to use the tub method?? I plan on having an inside height of around 30 inches or so, maybe less... so half way up?? I was thinking the height of my lower liter dam would be good enough ( 6 to 8 inches, still up in the air about that one ) My intension was ease of cleaning, no seams that have been caulked, just one continuos piece of material, but then again, going back to Chris and the vinyl god that he is... hmmm.. idea machine still functioning, however need to not overpower the idea machine, don't want to break it... Thanks Jeremy!!

Wait for it.....

Ahh Haaah!! I got it!! ok... instead of sliding front doors, make a chest style enclosure with a hidden hindge in the rear so you can pop the top open.... a) better viewing as it would be one continous piece of glass(safety) or lexan ( exspensive yet non color/space distorting and light weight ) up front, and easy top loading access for everyone envolved, snakes and humans alike... and the tub could slide straight down, instead of having to jimmy it out a front sliding door... I am a genius!! lol not to get too full of myself!! lol

how high of a "poop guard" would you recommend using if I did decide to use the tub method??

I have had large boa's deposit fecal material about 8" up the wall, she is a rather large boa, but than again I can't remember what you keep.

Ahh Haaah!! I got it!! ok... instead of sliding front doors, make a chest style enclosure with a hidden hindge in the rear so you can pop the top open.... a) better viewing as it would be one continous piece of glass(safety) or lexan ( exspensive yet non color/space distorting and light weight ) up front, and easy top loading access for everyone envolved, snakes and humans alike... and the tub could slide straight down, instead of having to jimmy it out a front sliding door... I am a genius!! lol not to get too full of myself!! lol

If that is what you like than go for it, personally I hate top opening cages for two reasons. One, you can't stack cages, what a waste of space IMO. Two coming in from above an animal is similar to how a predator attacks its prey. I don't want to be on the defense for a misinterpreted offense, and the animal doesn't need the additional stress IMO.

Again I think melamine or sealed wood cages lined with vinyl is the easiest most economical route. Personal preferance.

Good Luck

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Jeremy

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

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

I'm not a big fan of any of the designs you mentioned. In each case to make a removable tray of sorts leaves an area for moisture to get trapped. Instead I like the idea of having a durable material on the floor and up part of the walls of the cage.

How high you go depends on many factors. The species you keep, the substrate and substrate depth you use as well as the interior look you want.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)