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This is the cage that i am currently building for my timber rattlesnake. The cage is built with burch plywood with poplar frame on the opening, as well as a poplar door frame. It is 4ft long, x 2ft deep x 20in high.

After i took these pics, i cut another vent opening across the back. The vents will be cut from pegboard with a piece screwed to the outside and the inside. I painted the outside of the cage this morning and i will be staining the inside.

As of right now, I am waiting on the glass to be cut and I will be picking it up on wednesday. For the time being, im gonna be placing a UTH on one side with a piece of ceramic tile over it for a temporary hot spot. That will be changing soon to a full ceramic tile floor with flexwatt under one side.

Let me know what yall think. I am always looking for ways to improve my cages

thsnks for looking

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0.1.0 albino burmese
1.0.0 normal burmese
1.0.0 redtail boa
1.0.0 albino corn
0.1.0 creamsicle corn
1.1.0 leopard geckos
2.0.4 copperheads
0.0.1 timber rattler
1.0.0 green iguana
0.0.1 veiled chameleon
2.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 mexican red knee tarantula
0.0.1 emperor scorpion

n/p

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0.1.0 albino burmese
1.0.0 normal burmese
1.0.0 redtail boa
1.0.0 albino corn
0.1.0 creamsicle corn
1.1.0 leopard geckos
2.0.4 copperheads
0.0.1 timber rattler
1.0.0 green iguana
0.0.1 veiled chameleon
2.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 mexican red knee tarantula
0.0.1 emperor scorpion

Awesome job.

Regarding the heat tape on the plywood.. people do it, I have done it. I still advise not to do that and instead use a radiant heat panel mounted to the inside ceiling. That should work out very well I would guess.

Another tip if you so desire.. polyester body filler in the corners to make a more rounded corner. Works pretty well. Takes paint fine, don't know about polyurethane. They actually make a polyester filler for wood that is supposedly stain and varnish friendly. Way better than getting moisture and urates in the corners and far more durable than silicon sealant.

Although I am a fan of plastic cages, wood has such nice properties of holding in humidity and heat that surpass plastic. Nice cage. Burch ply is super durable. I have a 4-year-old box made from birch ply that has seen moisture, sunlight, near-freezing temps and 105 deg temps, and it still is in great condition, and all I have on it is two thin coats of water-bourne poly.
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Mark

I am thinking about the same thing with the floor. How are you doing the ceramic tile floor for the FW?