Reptile & Amphibian Forums

okay i was reading threw everything and for the most part did not find anything that answered my questions so people help me out on what you think. okay first of all i want to know if i should use plywood or mdf wood? and what kind if glue to hold them together? also i was wondering, if u coat the inside of the cage with resin, do you resin the whole inside before you put all the pieces together (sorry if that was a stupid question)? and would i be better off to just cover the inside with those white PVC sheets? if so, do you have to route the edges at all or anything because they are sharp? and can you hot glue the edges where they meet or is that not necessary? and what is the best way for ventilation? just drilling holes in the wood or what is best? im mostly looking for a cage with an easy clean up setup. cage will be about 6 feet long X 2-3 feet deep and 3-4 feet high (let me know if you dont agree with those dimensions. PLEASE ANSWER ALL MY QUESTIONS AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HELP!

okay i was also wondering what the best heat source would be for my boas. heat pads seem to be my easy way now but they are easy to use with my aquariums and this is diffrent. it seems it would be eaiser to use heat pads with the PVC sheets sealing the inside because i could just put them in between the wood and the pvc sheet (am i right?). also i was wondering for boas, would it be good to have a heat pad on one side (the other side cool) and have a heat lamp directly on top in the middle thats on durring the day so it will raise both sides temp's higher and at night turn it off so just the side with the heat tap will be hot? please let me know on what to do with that. thanks!

okay the "white pvc" you are referring to is known as FRP paneling. (Fiberglass reinforced plastic paneling). That's what i'm using in the one that i'm building. My dimensions are 6x2x2. On the FRP...it can be cut with a regular table saw/circular saw or whatever you plan on using, but take some 100 or so grit sandpaper and smooth the edges down and instead of hot glue i'd reccomend an aquarium grade silicone, becasue especialy if you put a heat pad under the FRP (which I really probably wouldn't do), it may melt the hot glue. the aquairum grade silicone is the only one i'd use, get it at home depot it's kinda expensive about $4 for a small tube but thats cheaper than any pet store. I'd use 1/2 or 3/4" plywood vs MDF. when you are putting your screws in, the MDF has a tendency to chip off if you screw too close to the edge. I made the top of mine out of screen like for a screened in porch or door or whatnot, that will let me continue using my light for heat and ventilation. The other possibilites would be cut some holes in the side and install a small vent.

Also...are you planning on making this into one or two tanks? (i.e. center divider. i ask because you say you will put the heat light in the center). If you are going to do it this way thats a fine place for the light, otherwise i'd stick it to one side of the cage.

Then since you seem to be almost lazy as I am when it comes to cleaning tanks, what I use is just a piece of astroturf for the substrate. I have 2 pieces. Every few days take it out squirt it down with a hose let it dry nad in the meantime put the other one in. Neither Frankie nor Lola (my two ratsnakes) have ever complained, lol.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

:kay first of all i want to know if i should use plywood or mdf wood?

Plywood will be lighter than MDF at a given thickness. If you use MDF I'd highly recommend 3/4" (1/2" sags too much). If you use plywood you could use 1/2" if you wanted (see posts below by TTreptile).

If cost savings is your primary concern, use 3/4" MDF. If weight savings is a larger concern, use plywood.

I also find plywood easier to work with.

::and what kind if glue to hold them together?

Regular wood glue and screws.

::also i was wondering, if u coat the inside of the cage with resin,

By resin I assume you mean fiberglass resin?

::do you resin the whole inside before you put all the pieces together?

Overall it's easier to seal the inside of the cage after it is assembled.

::and would i be better off to just cover the inside with those white PVC sheets?

This is generally easier to do, but is more expensive and then you have to make sure your silicone is keeping things water-tight.

::if so, do you have to route the edges at all or anything because they are sharp?

No. The sharp edges of the plastic meet along the edges of the cage and you silicone along this edge.

::and can you hot glue the edges where they meet or is that not necessary?

Something is necessary. Hot glue might actually work well. But I've never tried it. Silicone is the traditional choice.

::and what is the best way for ventilation? just drilling holes in the wood or what is best?

Most people cut holes out of the wood and install ventilation greats or PVC drainage grates. Again, see TTreptiles posts.

::6 feet long X 2-3 feet deep and 3-4 feet high (let me know if you dont agree with those dimensions)

I'm not a Boa guy. Randy T. here on the forum has a lot of cage design experience and keeps a lot of boas. Hopefully he'll respond.

In general Boa enthusiasts don't recommend large (tall) cages due to the difficulty of retaining heat and humidity. Personally, I think your cage is a bit big.

One concern you have with a cage that size is fitting it through doors. Make sure this will work before you build.

I suspect for all but the very largest female Boa constrictors a cage length of 4' is sufficient. It's also cheaper to add floor area by increasing the width (aka depth) of the cage rather than exceeding 4' in length.

But I'm not the right guy to answer that question for you.

For a very large cage I don't believe a UTH will be sufficient. You almost certainly would have to go with radiant heat panels at a minimum.

If you have your heart set on an enclosure that large you absolutely will want to go with radient heat panels. But I highly suggest keeping the enclosure in the 4x2x1 to 4x2x2 range.. Unless it is for a fairly large female.. (I keep my 8 1/2' female in a 6x2x2)

Another thought regarding placing a layer of pvcx in the bottom of the enclosure.. If you build the enclosure out of plywood or mdf I suggest using a sheet of .100" thick pvcx, it is still very durable at this thickness and you will get the easy cleaning surface and water resistance of the pvc but at a fraction of the cost (I spent roughly 20 bucks on the last sheet of .100" thick 4'x8') If you are planning a bci enclosure feel free to ask more questions.. I am fairly tired and it is late so I am sure I forgot something... I also have a few cut lists and how to's for bci enclosures I will gladly share..(most are with 1/2" material so plywood would work with them)

Have a good one.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

I'M WORKING ON MY FIRST ELABORATE CAGE MYSELF BUT I NOTICED YOUR HEATING QUESTIONS WHILE LOOKING FOR TIPS MYSELF. KEEP IN MIND BOAS NEED TO THERMOREGUALTE FOR PROPER DIGESTION. I'VE ALWAYS USED A HEAT MAT AND A BASKING LIGHT ON THE SAME SIDE WITH GOOD RESULTS. THE BASKING LIGHT HELPS KEEP THE AMBIENT TEMP UP AS WELL. A DIMMER CAN COME IN REALLY HANDY IN MAKING SURE IT DOESN'T GET TOO HOT. JUST A THOUGHT.