Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If I were to build an enclosure for my Ball Python out of oak, what would I use to seal the inside edges? And how would I make sure splinters would not occur in the future? Thanks.

-Patrick

>>If I were to build an enclosure for my Ball Python out of oak, what would I use to seal the inside edges? And how would I make sure splinters would not occur in the future? Thanks.

You don't have t do anything, however sealing the interior will in turn allow it to last longer.

Quality Oak properly worked, sanded, and finished should not splinter unless of course its exposed to moisture which allows the material to expand and rot or claws. If using ply the edges may splinter if not properly protected.

I have never heard of a reptile getting a splinter, as scales protect the skin from puncture, and the force generated by crawling or moving over a potential splinter isn't great enough to generate the force to deter the scales.

Unless the animal is pulled backward across the potential splinter so that the splinter can penetrate the skin beneath the scale I don't see a hazard. Scales lay in the direction of travel to prevent this.

Cheers
-----
Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Boa Morph's since 2007

1.0 Snow "Khal"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Khal"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Khal" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

I'm not completely sure if you mean solid oak wood or oak veneered plywood. In general you should not use solid wood for the basic box that forms a cage since solid wood expands and contracts so much. It is best to use an engineered wood product (MDF, plywood, etc.) with a real oak veneer for the box and then use solid wood for a face frame and/or trim.

As far as sealing the interior edges, it really depends on what you use to seal the walls and floor. If you were to use a thinner finish like a waterborne polyurethane for the walls and floor then you'd need to seal the edges with silicone or another type of caulk. If you used a high build finish like epoxy then in some cases you don't need any additional sealer for the edges.

Splinters won't be a problem if you use good wood and seal it properly.
-----
Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephala (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback