Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am building a new cage for my Suriname Boa. My idea is a collapsible pvc structure 5' long, 2' wide and 20" high that I can transfer to and from college to home on my breaks. I am stuck on what type of material I should use for covering the tank. I have seen the plastic mesh designes in petco/petsmart but I'm sure those don't retain humidity like I need. Right now I am lookin at creating a larg "sleeve" that I can slide around the entire cage and close at one end. The sleeve is a "crystal clear vinyl sheeting" used for insulating windows and screens.

Now... any ideas for heating this thing. Been using a UTH but i'm not sure the 4 mils thick insulating film can withstand the heat w/out shrinking. Also looking for ideas on creating some openings or doors for this cheap enclosure to access my snake easily. Thought of maybe cutting out a 6" square hole and reattaching a 6 1/2- 7" square peice on the inside of the tank with strong velcro so the snake can't punch it out or anything.

If you haven't assumed by now I am not the most creative person when designing attractive, durable cages. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. In a nutshell, I need a lightweight, collapsible structure that can retain heat and humidity. Thanks again and sorry for the long post...

I would look into square aluminum tubing an nylon connectors. Or possible even square PVC tubing and connectors. I can dig up some links later.

I would use expanded PVC skins or possibly even showerboard skins to cut down on costs. I'm not sure what you plan to do with that 4 mil film. I can't forsee a use in a snake cage. Reflectix insulation could be used to insulate the cage.

Personal opinion would be to not skimp too much on the doors. I would go with sliding glass track and laminated safety glass, seeing how you're going to have to move it often.

With a knock-down cage you're going to have a pretty direct tradeoff between cage weight and cage cost. In other words, you could go cheap and heavy or more expensive and light.

Thinking back to my days of keeping snakes in college, I would have personally gone for cheap and heavy, LOL.
-----
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)

Very interesting, and at the same time a complex question. By this I mean an enclosure meeting the requirments you've mentioned will be vastly complex and literally touches on ever one point ever brought up on this forum.

I mean you want a cage that is light weight, but heats well and holds humidity. Something sturdy but designed to collapse and move. And something resilient to the movements of a typical large boid. I mean if there was ever a "most complicated cage entry" this would take the cake.

No worries I can understand where you are coming from. In my dorm days I kept my collection in locking sweater boxes (young collection). To which I taped a piece of flexwatt to the underside of each. Than they were stacked neatly in my wall locker and the extension cord and power strip was stratigicly hidden (pets were not allowed). However I lived in the dorms and when I did visit my family (1800 miles away) I did so in short periods and not to often. As it is now I don't leave home for more than a week about the longest I can go without worring about the collection.

So my first question would be how long are these breaks and how often? I mean there is a difference in every weekend vs 3 months during the summer. Also what is you mode of transportation? Does this cage need to break down to fit on a train plane or the back of a car.

Obviosuly if you drive a pickup, I would recommend just buying a Vision one piece cage. They are durable enough to take the beating of frequent moves not to mention can double as a very large suitcase. LOL

What do you want this to look like? I mean in a dorm you see all your furniture don't want an eyesore to distract the oppisite sex.

For a large Boid I would say mesh is out or any other flexable material is out. You will find that boas and pythons as well as a number of other colubrids frequently test their surroundings for weakness. That being said a large boid can certainly comprimise any flexable or unstable structure.

I hope we can help this may be a cage for the books, record books that is.
-----
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
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Ya, this project started out an easy, fun, inexpensive idea. After my frame was built the last step(covering the dang thing) pretty much brought my progress to a hault.
I do drive a pickup but I don't want to spend much on expensive vision cages. Pets are not allowed in my dorms as well, thats why I can't just walk in with a large tank or cage, rather bring the pieces in and put it back together in my room. my breaks refer to spring break, christmas holidays and summer. my boa isn't a full grown adult yet, only a yearling at 3 1/2 feet long so I doubt it could force its way through anything I had in mind, though it is possible I guess. I plan on Keeping it under my raised bed out of site so the eyesore issue wont happen.

I just checked into plexiglass but its pretty expensive for the several peices I need. I just foolishly bought a 50ft roll of polyethelene sheeting (flexible, durable, cheap but ugly and opaque) that I plan to take back tomarrow. I even went as far as considering covering the frame with a roll of screen mesh then wrapping the two side walls and top with "Glad cling wrap" to retain humidity... But by then my white trash side was taking over and I had to re-evaluate everything. Hope I could answer some of your questions and thanks again for any help.

Yes that did answer a lot of questions, how about a few more;

First having a large Suriname female myself your in for a large animal just beware. Mine is almost 9' 30pds and a bit under 4 yrs of age. She is about as big around as the typical pigskin and stronger than all hell.

But enough of that they are wonderful animals IMO. On to the questions. Are you aposed to using Tubs? I know IRIS makes a very large tub the VE-175 or commonaly refered to as the Christmas tree tote. Infact Walmart still may have a few left at a discount if your lucky. They are clear with a green lid sometimes red.

The easy thing is they are literally a complete cage with a few mods of course but essentially they are what you are looking for minus the disassembly part. I would use flexwatt combined with some reflectix as a heat source, although a RHP could be installed easily. The lid will vent enough air but to be safe I would drill some holes along the upper rim, if they reduce to much humidity you can cover them with electrical or duct tape. I always say better to have to muc and cover some up than have to drill more.

This coupled with a cypress mulch and a sufficiant hide will make a dandy little cage. And since its a tote you can through a few items like laundry or something when you are taking it to the truck better than an expensive cage and easier than assembing and disassembling a complicated cage. At $20 I would think it would be the best route. But its up to you.

Any thing else I recommend can get pretty complicated so I will wait to see what you have to say as well as anyone elses imput.

Best of Luck
-----
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
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Ya, I used the tub method or in this case sweater box method earlier this year for my two small blood pythons. It was great in the sense that is was lightweight, durable and retained humidity/heat. However both snakes developed upper respiratory infections within 2 weeks of eachother soon after being moved into the sweater boxes. I drilled about 20 holes in the 20in tubs near the top, provided good cypress substrate and gave them each a heat mat under the tub. Ever since I have been very weary of using any plastic containers thanks to my bad previous experiences. I know I have shot down several ideas and am running out of anything new pretty quick. All else fails I may just find a way to tansport my 30 gallon tank to college but that sure runs the risk of breaking or gettin the R.A. after me when I walk though the lobby doors. Thanks again for the quick responses and good suggestions. I'll see what I can't come up with.

Contrary to what you may think, URI's are often associated with low humidity levels and low temps. In fact to treat RI along with appropriate antibiotics, it is often recommended that one increase the heat and humidity. Obvioulsy condensation and standing water are the extreme humidity, but there is a fine line in which we tread to keep this tropical and sub-tropical species happy living our tempperate climate.

Remember that surface temps and air temps are completly different and that high levels of humidity associated with low temps is worse than the low of both or just high humidity.

That being said I think it may be your best choice, however I am still curious to see what others respond if at all to your origional post.

Please feel free to continue any questions you may have concerning the topics we have discussed. I still find the idea of a lightwieght durable collapsable cage perplexing.
-----
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
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

LOL, I remember sneaking snakes and snake cages past the RA's.

I agree with Jeremy about the VE-175. It's not the size you're looking for but it's bigger than a 30 gallon, that's for sure, and I think it can be made to meet all of your criteria.

Even if the size was an issue I think you'd be better off figuring out a way to attach two tubs together.

Probably should look for a cheap one at Walmart since it's post Holidays.
-----
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)