Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I've talked to a few carpenters in my area and I'm researching building my own custom cage for either one adult ball python or one adult Brazilian rainbow boa. This enclosure would be furniture quality, easy to maintain, and of reasonable size for my apartment. Any comments would be appreciated! Here's the proposal:

The dimensions of the cage would be 36" long by 22" high (28" if including the removable hood, which overlaps the glass by 2" by 20" deep (sound good for the above species?). Because wood might rot given the high humidity of the BRB and possibly due to the humidity for a BP, the enclosure will be made entirely of glass.

The front panels would consist of two overlapping clear sliding glass doors, set two inches above the glass cage floor in order to avoid trapping the substrate in the rails. The three side panels would be constructed of opaque glass in order to give the snake some security, as well as to ease cleaning. Wooden corner guards would be mounted along all outside edges of the enclosure in order to add stability and attractiveness. A UTH would be mounted on the bottom glass panel, and the bottom edges of the enclosure would be elevated by foam core in order to keep the UTH from burning the shelf below. An 8" removable hood to hide the lamps would be installed above the enclosure (included in the 28" high measurement). Inside the hood, a screen lid would rest below the lamps, on top of the glass panels. A removable pegboard lid would then be installed above the lamps and screen in order to keep the humidity inside.

How does this sound so far? I have some detailed diagrams drawn up, so I'll attempt to scan those when I get home. Thanks!!

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::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

I'll try to read your idea more closely later today.

One quick comment I have is that a 2" raised front lip might not be enough. Neither of the species you mention will push a lot of substrate up into the sliding track, but it's always safer to have a bit more lip to cut down on this potential problem.

You should really factor in the depth of the substrate you will use and then go 2" or more above that. After all, if your substrate is 2" deep it will already be right below the track.

Also, since the lip will be glass it's not like it will disrupt viewing of the cage inhabitant.

Sorry if you've already accounted for this in your description -I read it quickly.

Lastly, glass if fine, but don't hesitate to use wood if that matched the decor of your apartment better. Saltwater aquaria can be built of plywood sealed epoxy and hold water for 20 years. The moisture requirements you may need will be easily tolerated by a wooden enclosure.

Thank you so much for your comments! I'm going to look into using more wood in the enclosure. Thanks again!

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::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

>>How does this sound so far? I have some detailed diagrams drawn up, so I'll attempt to scan those when I get home. Thanks!!

Ball pythons don't need huge humidity in my experience... Spraying them a bit during shed is a good thing, but they don't need to be sopping wet all of the time. Also, the dimensions you give sound a bit large for a ball; you'll need lots of places for the snake to hide, especially if it is a juvenile.

That said, I would echo Chris' comments: don't be afraid to use wood! Chances are it will end up being SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than glass... Consider MDO (medium-density overlay) if you want to paint the cages to match your decor, or an exterior grade plywood. Both are designed to be used outside. With the appropriate finish/sealer you shouldn't have any problems. If you've got the bucks for a glass cage, you might want to check out Finnish Birch (the water-resistent version of Baltic Birch) plywood. VERY nice stuff! Be sure to check out Greg Maxwell's cage-building site. His green tree pythons cages should provide all the humidity you're likely to need, and they're made out of wood!

Of course, if you have you heart set on glass, there's certainly no reason not to go with it. It just seems a bit pricey to me, especially since most of it will end up being opaque...
Greg Maxwell's Fine GTPs

Wow! Thank you so much for the comments and link. Those cages are beautiful!! Thank you especially for your recommendations regarding the type of wood to use... I think I may need to reconsider using all-glass. Also, the contact paper he's using in his tank is a wonderful idea! I think I'll look into that. Thanks again!!

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::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

>>Wow! Thank you so much for the comments and link. Those cages are beautiful!! Thank you especially for your recommendations regarding the type of wood to use... I think I may need to reconsider using all-glass. Also, the contact paper he's using in his tank is a wonderful idea! I think I'll look into that. Thanks again!!

BTW, keep in mind that Greg used to be a professional cabinetmaker, so his construction techniques are a bit "high end" in terms of the skills and tools required. You can take many of his ideas (e.g. contact paper) and apply them to "simpler" cage designs, too.

something else you may want to try is water proof paneling cut to the right size and use contact cement to attach. do the sides as well as the bottom and then use aquarium sealant to seal the seams