Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a burmese python that is a little over a year old and out growing its current enclosure. I am in the process of building a wood terrarium and have enough wood for the top, back, and bottom for a 6x2x2 enclosure. The front will be plexi-glass on a sliding track so I have to buy the 2x2 squares for the sides. The wood I was given is pine, however, and I know that may be lethal for some, if not all, reptiles. Is there a sealant that may make pine non-toxic for Maggie. Buying oak is a possibility, but I would prefer to use the materials I already have in the interest of saving a little bit of money.

Thank You.

I use pine. I seal it with waterbased deck seal. I like sliding glass better than plexi. Doesn't flex or scratch as easy

Not to be a killjoy but if I was building an enclosure I would go bigger. The 6X2X2 isn't gonna last a burm very long. Then, as Steven has said....seal it. Or I have a converted display case that was lined with linoleum. Nice to clean. Either way you want to give it time to cure and off gas no matter what.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Thank you for the advice. That helps a lot. And I know that a 6x2x2 wont last that long but I would like to attempt to build this enclosure first before I start attempting anything on a larger scale to save money on housing in the future. Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays (Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, etc.)

>>I have a burmese python that is a little over a year old and out growing its current enclosure. I am in the process of building a wood terrarium and have enough wood for the top, back, and bottom for a 6x2x2 enclosure. The front will be plexi-glass on a sliding track so I have to buy the 2x2 squares for the sides. The wood I was given is pine, however, and I know that may be lethal for some, if not all, reptiles. Is there a sealant that may make pine non-toxic for Maggie. Buying oak is a possibility, but I would prefer to use the materials I already have in the interest of saving a little bit of money.
>>
>>Thank You.

First off a year old Burmese should already be in the enclosure your building, by 2 she is going to need another and by 5 you’re in for a treat.

That said its best you build something now, then get disgruntled and at forum debate on the size debate.

Seeing as this cage will be temporary at best Pine is sufficient. I commend you for thinking of your animal’s reaction to pine and its oil's, however in plywood this is minimal. Due to the cured nature of the product it has already lost much of its oil. Even dimensional lumber could almost be considered Herp safe. It's the pine shavings that are the true enemy.

I digress, even if you consider it safe to keep a Herp in a pine box, for the best interest of maintenance and some longevity the interior should be sealed. With Snakes any water based poly urethane is cheap and easy to apply. However with Burmese because of the high acidic level and shear amount of urates you definitely need something a little stronger. Now if that’s sealing the entire interior with a layer of urethane than applying vinyl floor, PVC, or bar top epoxy over the floor as an additional layer, that would be your call.

Aside from sealers I would definitely recommend considering an expandable cage. IE one wall has a removable section. That way next year you could build an identical cage and simply bolt the two together. This would provide additional caging as well as saving resources. Of course the ability to divide the cage for cleaning etc. is always a plus.

Good Luck
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.0 Ghost
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0.2 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Anerthrystic
0.0.2 Normal

0.0.2 Morelia Viridis
1.0 Morelia Clastolepis