Reptile & Amphibian Forums

posted this in the bp section but didn't get any responses yet hopefully you guys can help, which materials are best for displays? polypropylene, polyethylene (both are plastic), melamine or other? I'm trying to build a display/cage setting that will look nice next to bookshelves and want to limit my long term costs basically trying to make a little library area that showcases the snakes with bookshelves near or around the cages. I need something that will hold heat extremely well. I used to use melamine and sterilite tubs for my racks but I have downsized my collection to four ball pythons and no longer need the rack.

If you want to hold in heat very well then Melamine or plywood would be your best choice due to their thermal properties. The thicker mass of wood will limit the heat loss.

For melamine make sure you get cabinet grade from a cabinet shop, the cheap construction grade at your local Lowes or Home Depot has thinner melamine and is more prone to failure. Also need to seal the internal seam very well!!

Oak Plywood is more costly up front but of course has a different look to it.

Larger melamine cages (with Boaphiles on top)

Oak cages...

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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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

thanks for the response I really appreciate it, no one seemed interested in the thread I had wondered when looking at new enclosure options why some companies used one type of plastic vs another and why melamine wasn't as common

np, two reasons against melamine, it's heavy and therefore costly to ship and if not thicker cabinet grade and well sealed it will fail.
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

>>I had wondered when looking at new enclosure options why some companies used one type of plastic vs another

I think to find out why a company uses one type of plastic vs another, you'd probably want to ask the company directly. My guess would be #1) Cost, and #2) Ease of construction. Neither of those mean anything to your animals.

The following are the important (to me), differentiating factors that led me to purchase a cage made from HDPE (I chose white HDPE over black HDPE):

Translucent - which allows me to actually see my animals without installing a light in the cage or using a flashlight.
NON-porous (unique to HDPE and not applicable to black HDPE)
Wipes clean with NO effort - nothing sticks to it at all, even glue (or dried urates). It's like cleaning a glass surface - no scrubbing required.
Doesn't "off gas" which means your herps aren't breathing in small amounts of toxic fumes day after day for their entire lives
Because nothing sticks to it, one piece must be bonded to the next so the cage is WELDED, not "sealed" or "caulked" which actually provides better sealing.
It's a stronger, more durable plastic

That's pretty much it, I believe.

Here's me next to a stack of 5 cages on a 6" pedestal. I just recently ordered 5 more and am waiting for them to be delivered in the next few weeks.

I will be replacing that rack on the left very soon. I'll be replacing it because it's not HDPE and because of that, it off-gasses (visible over time when looking at the side of the tub that is in the back of the rack - there's a thin film of black something-or-other [and it isn't dust] that needs to be wiped off every so often) and it also sags which pinches the tubs and makes it difficult to remove them and push them back in with one hand. I've had that rack for YEARS and it's always sagged (from day one) and it STILL off-gasses.

HDPE will sag too, but the method of construction used from my supplier keeps it from happening.

Hope that helps,
jb
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What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com Site received a complete makeover! Check it out!

I've seen the construction board type (I made my old rack out of it) home depot sells "cabinet melamine"...how can I tell if a type of melamine board is good or not- would the look and weight be denser and heavier compared to same dimensioned construction melamine?

Pretty much not measurable difference in size, the particle board core is exactly the same, it's the thickness of the white coating.

Construction grade uses a thinner layer (lower cost) while the cabinet grade is thicker. The thicker melamine is much more water tight.

Try this (and I'm not 100% sure) Look at the home depot sheet goods, look closely at the melamine and it will show the surface texture of the particle board. Might even be able to see shading where it's thinner and the brown is showing through. The go over to the cabinet department or maybe even the pre-made shelving and look at the surface of some of that melamine. The surface will be smoother and you will not see blushing from underneath due to the thicker coating.

found this online...

MELAMINE Description: Particleboard faced with paper impregnated with melamine resin, a type of plastic. Paper on low-cost types is simply adhered. Higher-cost sheets are thermally fused (essentially melted together).

Price (3/4"x4x8', sheet unless noted): $25 for adhered-surface, vertical-grade white sheets common in home centers. Colors and wood-grain patterns cost slightly more. $40 for thermally fused sheets.

I believe the "cabinet grade" stuff is the fused, higher cost one.
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats