Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im going to build a few 8x3x2 enclosures. The thing is, to get them into my herp room they need to be able to come apart, or build them in the room. the later is pretty much out of the question since I will be moving one day. My idea is to make two 4x3x2 that are completely collapsable with hinges kinda like collapsable dog crates (can redo silicone on seams as needed) with some way connect the two. This would also make them easier to store if not needed at the time. I only need two at the moment, but am thinking of making 4 or 5. Might as well as I'm building 2 might as well build them all. Any suggestions, or did I just confuse everyone.

Nah, didn't confuse me 'cause I've had something similar in mind for a long time, just haven't had time to build it, yet.

Take a look at the drawing I made in the first diagram of this webpage & see if that's something like you're thinking of.
Diagram

For the cage in that diagram I had planned on using bolts to assemble/disassemble it.

Try to visualize this other form of a 2-halves design I had in mind. Build the two halves and then use 1 x 4 boards (or whatever preferred size) and make a collar or sleeve that the two halves can slide into. Of course, you'll have to put boards on each end to make it sit flat, and be stackable. I actually like this idea better 'cause it's simpler and leaves an unobstructed interior cage floor.

A couple of well-placed screws will hold it together, silicone the joints to seal it.

Have fun!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I like the idea of two halves that bolt together. A few people on this forum have done that and it seems to work well.

If you do go with the hinge idea, they do make hinges that slide apart for this sort of thing. I don't remember what they are called exactly but I'm sure you can find them on Rockler.com.

Another idea to consider is to keep the cages under 80" so they can be turned upright and fit underneath doorways. In some cases this is a good compromise but it really depends on the species in question.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Malaysian locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

One other thought, Quite often a large item can be moved through a small door way with tilting and turning into the proper orientation to get through the door. And since it's a cage (basically a box) you could turn it anyway you want.

For example in my downstairs bedroom, now full converted into snake room was a massive bookshelf. Floor to ceiling, six feet wide and not really that deep. (12" - 16"?) Anyways, I was able to remove it from the room in one piece. Simply tilt forwad ald layed it down, found when I took out the trim it was a bit over an inch short of the ceiling. Just enough so the front to back, top to bottom diagonal was just shy of the ceiling height. After laying it down on it's face, tilted it up on one side and it was now shorter than the doorway, even on a furniture dolly. Rolled it out the door, down the hall and out the front door.

Point being, look at how to get it into the room, yeah a two piece will be easier to manuever in and out.

In my room I have several 48" x 32" x 24" tall cages. Just had to turn them so the 24" dimension was sideways to get through the door, then reposition them rightside up!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I believe your talking about lift off hinges, I also call them drop in hinges. There are better sites than rockler for those type hinges.

Wouldn't know where to start.
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Jeremy

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

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 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
1.0 Child

Thanks for all the ideas. If you saw the layout of the house you would understand why I can't get the cages upstairs together. The herp room is in the converted attic. The stairs to the attic are in the bathroom (old farm house, I know its weird) and there is a little over 3' between he bathroom sink and the doorway, and directly behind the door is a sharp right turn then the stairs. It was almost impossible getting 6' visions up there let alone a 8x3x2. I'll look into the hinges mentions. Again thanks for the ideas, and always open to more options.