Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found 3/4 melamine particle board, the door glides for glass fronts. Etc, etc...
Now where do I begin?
I have carpentry skills. Every other carpenter I've talked to said the melamine wont hold up to humidity? IS this right?
And I have never used heat tape for heating.
How do I go about building a cage to heat with an undertank heater for example, or other ways of heating?
I am building large 8' enclosures for burms and boas.
The heating thing is what is holding me back.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Bob

Melamine won't hold up to humidity. Nor will it hold up to the urates/fecals of a burmese python. It does have a nice finished look, however, so you could always line the inside of the cage with something else if you like it otherwise. Personally, I don't think it's benefits (low cost, finished look) are worth the weight penalty for anything other than racks.

I have little experience with heat tape and absolutely none when using it to heat a large cage. You might also ask this on the burmese and reticulated forums where people will have had more specific experience.

I suspect you'll want someting more than heat tape unless you already have a warm room.

As far as a cage it alone is
A: Heavy as a school bus
B: Heavy as a bus
C: Heavy as a bus
D: swells , warps , sags, rots, holds smells and is HEAVY AS A BUS lol

if you are looking to build your own I would go with a burch plywood and then you can get a rubber spray cover the sealed cage with a coat of the rubber paint along the bottom and up the sides .The birch can stain to many different looks of wood and is also very smooth when finished the inside could be painted w a marine enamel or sorts and with the rubber covered bottom you now have a viable pool area for wet species of animals. and also keeps in the spills from waterbowls etc in the cage not on your carpet or floor. lol goodluck
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