Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Almost every boa I know moved South over the weekend. OK, not far South, measured in feet, not miles or even fractions of miles. I finished my new Boa room and moved most of the boa cages and occupants over the weekend. Only ones to stay behind were a stack of boaphile cages with a mix of gravid and non-gravid females, I didn't want to disturb them so left them right where they were!!!
The new room, looking in from the door...

On the left are 6 Melamine cages from Sandmar Industries, used to belong to Barry Berg, I bought his cage collection when he retired from breeding. Straight ahead are the oil filled heater for cool days/nights and a portable AC unit for those hot summer days. Can't really see what's to the right with the door in the way so I'll come back to that later.

This is from in the room directly towards the 6 melamine cages. Also a small rack off to the side but no occupants at this time, just storing tubs. Will have to fix that

This is the area behind the door, two ten high racks designed around the Iris CB110 tubs. I had AP design and manufacture them for me, not listed on their website. Next to those is a stack of blanket box racks, 18 total, also unoccupied at this time.

Hmmmmmm, looks like an empty corner, maybe I could fit a stack of boaphiles there once all the gravid girls drop????

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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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

My original snakeroom, now know as the BRB room underwent a bit of adding and re-arranging as well...

From the doorway, noticable change is the larger melamine cages that went well into the room are gone, replaced with a two stacks of combo large tub racks with a single cage on top. This allowed me to bring back in the other half of my combo hatchling/workbench.

Thes next two pics show the new CB110 racks (black) and another hatchling rack.

In all, I added 34 BRB cages to the room along with an additional 96 hatchling slots. Bringing the total capacity of the room to 82 - 108 adult/ subadult depending on dividers being used or not and combo sweater/blanket racks and 234 hatchling slots. Just in time for the onslaught of 2008 babies!!!!
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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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Wow, Sandmar. How are they holding up after all those years? Do you know how old they are? I know Sandmar continued to make cages for years after they stopped advertising so they may not be quite as old as my mind is telling me.

Thanks for the pictures and updates.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Not sure how old they are but they are ancient and holding up EXTREMELY well, pristine even!!!!! Been well sealed and maintained all their lives. Barry Berg bought them originally, not sure when. Barry took good care of them and kept up on periodic resealing. Clearly they are made from the higher, industrial grade, melamine.
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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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Clearly they are made from the higher, industrial grade, melamine.

I'm sure. I honestly think it was all of us DIYer's that ruined the reputation of melamine by using the cheap foil-faced stuff from Home Depot and similar places. It bubbled and swelled so we all said "melamine is no good" without realizing that all melamine was not created equal.

I also don't think the 120 weight stuff is all that easy to find anymore.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

I visited Sandmar Industries back in the day. They had automated machinery that cut the panels, drilled the holes, and even put on the edge banding. Mark showed me a rack being made while I was there. It took longer for Sandy to thread the heat cable through the rack than it did to cut the panels and such. Sandy-Mark - get it? Sandmar.. Amazing. And as you mentioned, the quality of the melamine was tops.
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Mark