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I looking to build an enclosure for a young boa. I only need it to last 1-2 years (before I upgrade with a bigger one). I need to make a change, my glass tank does NOT hold humidity no matter how many times I mist.

I'm still having trouble deciding on Melamine or plywood. From the postings, I've seen that people have had good and bad experiences with both materials. One thing that is important to me is keeping the humidity up. Right now, it's too low with my glass tank. I want to use a fogger type device to keep the humidity where it should be. Do either of these two materials hold up better or worse than the other.

If I use plywood, I'll go with polycrylic to seal it and a linoleum floor for easier cleaning.

If I go with melamine, I was planning on going with the stuff at Home Depot.

Also, what's the best way to heat this type of cage? I was going to use a radiant heat panel, any thoughts or ideas?

thanks,
dj

With that high of humidity I'm not sure that either one would hold up real well. Have you tried covering 1/2 to 2/3 of the top of the glass aquarium with a piece of glass or plexiglass? This will help hold in humidity and still provide ventalation.

Paul:

I've covered the top, used different substrates, and even put a humidifier right next to the tank. I also put two water dishes in there, one on the hot side, and one on the cool side.

I can't get it to stay anywhere above 30%!!!. I use a rubbermaid for tank cleaning and noticed that the humidity in that stays at least 50%. I considered using that, but I'm not sure how to heat it without melting it.

dj

you could put some heat tape or a mat underneath, and raise it on some pieces of wood...but melamine is crap, with any long term humidity it would rot and crumble

No wood product will do well in the bottom of a swimming pool. The surface of fused melamine is much more water resistant than any painted surface applied to plywood. The edges of the melamine must be sealed however or you will have water problems there. The melamine itself will not be harmed by long term water. It's the particle board inside that you need to keep dry.

I have Brazillian Rainbow Boas and Hog Island Boas, both in melamine cages, both in high humidity. I have had them that way for years and there is no apparent deteriation of the melamine. With the BRBs, I poor water directly onto the melamine bottom once a week to soak into the substraight. It has never harmed the cage in any way. I have Chameleons in cages with wire tops and sides but melamine bottom shelves. I mist the cages every day. I water the plants in the cages and allow the excess to drip out the bottom of the pots to keep humidity up. Again no problems.

No wood product will hold humidity in any better than your glass cage. If you are using an aquarium with the lid covered and still can't keep humidity in, I would check how you were measuring the humidity.

Rubbermaid containers will not melt at herp friendly temperatures. If you are using a heating device that is so hot that your rubbermaid is melting, it won't matter because the snake is going to be cooked before he can escape. Heat pads or flex watt tape laid under rubbermaids work fine and will present no problems. Heat pads or heat tape inside of a wooden cage will work fine as well.

I am looking into MDF 4' x 8' sheets, at around 5/8". It's some sort of a compressed wood. I love that material.

Melamine is crap thats a given.
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Gabriel - Montreal - Ding.
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malimine is also compressed board and plastic coated,mdf is no better,

I use Melamine for my cages and have had great success with them.
The only thing I would do one my next one is make smaller openings on the side. Right now I have them covered with card board. I am using heat tape under the cage the heat tape has a routered out area it sets in under the take. also for humitity usa a rubbermade box with a hole in one for the sides for the snake to get into it. Hope this helps

Boas come from areas that have warm air temps. My belief is that they do best in cages where the air is heated by either a red heat bulb or a ceramic heat bulb or heat panel. I try to heat the cage to around 78-80 and then have a heat pad in there for additional warmth in that area only. If you cage is low enough, like a Sterilite container 6" high, often just a heat pad is enough, because the air in a smaller volume can heat easier by just the heat pad. In a big or taller cage, you need a bulb or panel.

A possible solution for you is the following:

Melamin cage with a light socket inside, 40 or 60 watt red heat bulb (always use a lamp dimmer with any heating device i.e. incandescent bulb or heat pad/tape.) Use newspaper substrate. Then, put in a rubbermaid/sterilite container and partially fill the container with damp sphagnum moss. Cut a section out of the plastic box's lid for the boa to have access. Place a heat pad (I recommend Ultratherm from the Bean Farm or Cobra from your local pet store) partially under the plastic box. Now you have a dry cage with a nice warm damp hide box. The melamine will hold up nicely because the only damp area is in the plastic box.
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Mark

Heres a malimine i just built (1st one) it is 4 x 2 x 18" h with a removable devider,the malimine is from home depot,i was going to go with plywood and polyurathane it but all there lumber was warped,plus this wasn't that much more,it was actually cheaper then there 1/2" plywood.The air vents are plastic shower drain covers which worked out real well one on each side od wood with screen in between.Made it for a guy who keeps venemous and he wants 3 more now and a bunch of 40" stackables,so i will stay busy for awhile.

Use plywood, but sealit with EnviroTex Epoxy, it will last a lifetime and no water will hurt it! Someone I know saw a demonstration where this guy just poured water on this and it just rolled off, I know people who have used this a long time ago on cages and there still unharmed! I was going to use this on my plywood cages, but I bought a different type of cage and now I am going to cover the inside with Expanded PVC. That is another option you have. Good luck!
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