Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can people who have built large cages that are really two cages bolted together post some pictures of the joining bolts and area?

Also, does anyone have information regarding the use of UV lighting for snakes to control bacteria? I have read about this somewhere but can't seem to find it again.

No pictures of the bolt-together cages, sorry.

Regarding UV lights to control pathogens, these are not the type of lights you would put in a cage, if that's what you're asking. They are very dangerous lights that produce large amounts of radiation in the UVC or germicidal range.

The do make germicidal filters that keep the lights entirely enclosed and air is drawn in over the lamps, therby killing a large percentage of airborne pathogens.

Here are some good key words and acronyms to try in google.

UVC

germicidal

UVGI

ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

I haven't built any bolt-together cages however I can answer your UV question. It sounds like you may be thinking of UV air sterilizers. I think Bean Farm might sell some, but they're essentially a powerful fan in a box with a UV germicidal light inside the box. The fan sucks in ambient air and supposedly the UV light kills airborne microbes. I'm not sure just how useful these things are. The ones I've seen are about the size of a small toaster oven so I can't imagine they're that effective, even in small enclosed spaces. Any of the regular UV lights that you would buy for herps do not put out UV from within the germicidal wavelength, only the wavelength necessary for D3 conversion. On top of that, you wouldn't want germicidal lights shining on your herps anyway. The germidical lights are typically of a wavelength that is harmful so you wouldn't want ANY exposure - that's why they're usually concealed inside something as is the case with the air purifiers or UV sterilizers used in aquaria.
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

Thank you. I must have only allowed my small brain to remember half the story. It does make much more sense now. Perhaps I was the victim of a bit of slanted advertising.

Well here is a picture of a plastic expandable cage. If you are building it from wood the same principle would be applied.

The ends are bolted together using 1/4" Stainless steel bolts & castle nuts on the reverse side to protect the bolts ends. Depending on material you use would determine the length of the bolts used for joining. If you are planning to use the cage for a wet humid enviroment you would want to run a bead of silicone between the two surfaces to seal them from leaking , its a dry enviro this isnt a issue unless you just want to.

If you have some basic tools the build shouldnt be that hard , just remember to plan out the doors and to make sure the opening between the cages are the same size to make the mating easy . You will want to build the side panels and cutthe opening in them at the same time ( lay them ontop of each other) to assure a exact fit , also make sure you mark Left / right panels and your front and backs so when assembling they gotogether nicely .
hope this helps
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Thanks! I was having a hard time seeing it in my mind. Very nice cage by the way!