Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My best friend has to get rid of her adult female Burmese (12-13 feet long) and I'm planning on taking her in. She is currently in a 8' X 2' X 2' plywood cage. It seems to have worked well for her, but I want something a bit sturdier than the existing cage as well as more secure (I don't have complete faith that it will keep her contained if she wants out). That said, I'm looking at building another plywood cage, just more sound in construction.

Here's the question...I want some ideas on sealing the wood. I've used polyurethaned wood cages in the past and they don't stand up to the test of time - or urine - and I had MUCH smaller snakes in those. My first choice is an acrylic roof sealant. It's a rubbery white material that dries solid but retains some flexibility - so it shouldn't pop off the wood. What do you guys think of this? I can't see any reason it wouldn't be safe...it puts off no fumes once dried and doesn't peel easily once adheared to a surface. It seems ideal...but I still want some other opinions on this. I could use melamine but that would make a VERY heavy cage considering I want it at least 8'L X 3'D X 2'H. I could try melamine sheets over plywood, but that's getting a bit more costly than I can currently afford (financially tight at the moment and this was not planned).

Any other ideas? Commentary & ideas more than welcome.

Raven

I am going to give you an idea it is what use. If you have access to a sign shop the kind that make banners for parties and such you will want to ask for a hard sign it is a harder white material what i did was covered my plywood with that stuff then seal the edges with an acrylic sealant. Hope it works out for you.

I seal all my wood cages with a Minwax product called Polycrylic. Its in a blue can in the stain section. Anyway, its strong and holds up to urine and other fluids. I recoat the cages every 6 months or so but it works great.
I have a few suggestions on how to make your cage more secure if you want to hear them.

I'm always open to suggestions and would love to hear your building ideas. I have a basic idea of how I'm wanting to build this cage, and will need to do it in the near future, so any help is appreciated.

Raven

I no longer have the form email with the building directions on this cage, but it is a really nice cage that cost only about 45 dollars to make. I sent it to over a hundred herpers in the last year. I'm sure that someone, somewhere, still has this email in their inbox. Post your email so that it can be emailed directly to you if you are interested in this.

>>I'm always open to suggestions and would love to hear your building ideas. I have a basic idea of how I'm wanting to build this cage, and will need to do it in the near future, so any help is appreciated.
>>
>>Raven
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True "power" is not to be found in social or economic placement or stature, which are merely illusory, finite, frail and brief.
True power is to be found in one's sheer will and personal determination to achieve one's goals at ANY cost and at ANY sacrifice.

Sure thing...here it is:

raven_flstc@hotmail.com

I used to have a link that went to some cage designs but darn if I can find it...probably got wiped out with that Klez virus I got last year. Thanks for the help!

Raven

I built an 8x2x2 for my female (which Im already planning on building bigger since shes outgrowing that one pretty quickly). Anyway, the key to secure caging is making all the joints strong. That area will always be the weakest link when you are dealing with these incredibly powerful animals. What I do is built all joints with mitre edges (diagonal cuts) and reinforce the joints on the inside and outside. The outside gets evenly spaced "L" brackets (about a foot apart) and the interior gets 1"x1" wood strips screwed in from the outside. This is done on every internal joint and basically reinforces all those weak edges. I also use 1/4" lexan glass...its stronger than plexiglass. 3 coats of black acrylic paint then two coats of the Polycrylic and there you have it. Hope this helps!