Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wanting to know if anyone would have any designs or blue prints on building an enclosure for large snakes? I have a female yellow anaconda. She is still a baby at 2 ft but in time she will be a very big girl. On average 10-12 ft but can reach 15-16 ft in length. I was thinking of building a cage 8 ft long by 4 ft deep by 3 ft high with doors that open down like oven doors. It would have vents on both ends and sit 12" off the floor. I'm open to any suggestions on to better this design, other designs or any other advice. Thanks, Physignathus a.k.a. Macroclemys, CrownedOne, Steven

Might be hard to reach the back of cage with doors that hinge down. Just a thought.
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rbichler

I built this for my boas. I put the doors on top because I wanted to make it more difficult for them to take a run at freedom with an open door. Plus it makes it harder for them to get a strike up than it is to strike at you if you are in front of them at a front opening door. (My male can be unpredictable.) The dims of this cage are 6' x 2' x 2' and it is on some heavy duty casters, which I highly recommend for larger/heavier cages.

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www.hullabalooherps.com

Dude! You did a great job on that enclosure. How about some details? ie humidity, heat, light, ventilation, hide, electronics etc.

DZ

There is actually a pretty good place to get huge cages called Serpents By Design. They can pretty much build any size of cage that you want, and it's not very expensive, it could possibly be less than a custom built. Mine are 8' long x 3' wide x 2' high. I have a 9' Retic on the top and a 6 or 7' Green Anaconda on the bottom. I'm getting liners for the cages next week, and the water in the bottom cage isn't really dirty, it's just the red light that makes it look like that. But it does have the windows that fold out instead of slide across, that's basically the only thing that isn't great about them in my opinion. They are really easy to clean and stuff. I think you can find them in the cage classifieds. But this is just an idea

~Ben

Whats their web address?>!
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KDRKreatures.com
Exotic Reptile Breeders - Specializing in Bearded Dragons

Email

Yeah, their address is http://www.constrictorsnw.com or their email is serpentsbydesign@hotmail.com

~Ben

If you use castors as mentioned above, and I also recommend them, put a larger flat piece os something under them once in place or you'll dent the carpet permanently over time.

Make sure there is at least a 2 inch rise from the floor all around the cage. Snake pee will soak into every little crack and crevice and leak onto the floor. If there are seems around the floor, seal every inch with 100% silicone. Make sure the floor area is made of something easy to clean with a paper towel and bleach solution.

I made doors that swing down on my cage and now I wish I made them to slide like a jewelry case. The section of cage beneath, which the doors rest on when open, make it tricky because if you lean on the doors they now have your weight to support, somewhat, and they're not designed for it. I wouldn't put them on top because you have to lean over the cage to clean it.

The lower section, base, of my cage has the soak tub and hide box in it so it doesn't take up much space from the main cage. The only regret I have is the hid isn't very tall and my arm doesn't quite reach to back for cleaning. Snake sticks have many uses. I could ramble but I write to long as it is. If I can be of help, let me know.

DZ

First, you got a good point on the hinge out doors. Will look at other opening options. Second: The depth is a bit too deep but i'm just wanting her to be comfortable when she reaches her HUGE size. Now yes she will not be as HUGE as a female green, but none the less she will get quite large. Third: I have looked at serpentsbydesigns cages and for the price of their biggest cage they show on their website, I can build 2 cages of my deminsions. I have looked at alot of sites the custom build cages and looked at raw materials to build my own. I have even looked at the possibility of putting together 2 preformed shower stalls to make a suitable cage. And so far it has been much cheaper to build my own than to buy premade or custom plastic cages. I am still open to more suggestions and ideas, so keep them coming. Thanks, Physignathus a.k.a. Macroclemys, CrownedOne, Steven

One thing to consider regarding making home built enclosures is if they are not done just right you may be looking at replacing it or part of it in a few years down the road.. The one bonus to most of the manufactured enclosures is they are built and designed to remove issues surrounding normal use wear and tear. If you do go with a home built unit I suggest lining the interior with a plastic liner (like 1/8" thick expanded pvc that is chem welded along the edges) This will help prevent wood rot from the moisture in the enclosure. You wouldn't need to line the complete inside, just the bottom and up a few inches on the sides. I highly suggest this with a semi aquatic species, and high humidity species. Plus the 1/8" expanded pvc is extremely inexpensive. (it is closer to .100 of an inch then 1/8"
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

I don't have any blueprints or plans, but a lot of us here can help you modify your dimensions to build a "carcass" which is basically a glorified box.

Have you considered limiting the cage to a length that, when turned upright, will fit through a typical doorway (about 80"?

This is a huge asset, IMO, for a large cage.

On the same note, you would need to limit either the height or width of the cage so it will fit through doorways.

For reference, the cage you are considering building probably would not fit through the main entryway into my house which happened to be built originally for a wheelchair bounch tenant.

If money is a concern at all, a cage of about 6'x2'x2' will be a lot cheaper to build and would be more than sufficient for the largest Yellow Anaconda I've ever seen.

But I'm hardly an expert on this species and always encourage people to follow their own peace of mind when building a cage.

Regardless, let us know when you need advice on turing your design into a finished product.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

i just made a cage for my rt it is 6x2x2.i made it out of marilate it come 49''x97'' i hade homedopot cut all the peices.it takes 2 sheet at 30$ a sheet cut the first peace 49''x6'then cut that inj half 241/2x6' them are your top and bottom the peace left over will be your sides cut them 24 1/2''x23''and then the last sheet cut one 24 1/2''x6' for the back and 2 24 1/2x24'' for the frontput one on each side and use 2 24x25 peaces of 1/4 glass for sliding door.-use 11/2 brass scews conter sink them put the sides on the inside of the back and the two front peacesthat is how you get the 23inches the sheets are 3/4'' thick put the bottom on with 4 caster turn it over and put the track on for the doors get them at homedopot mesure in 24 from both sides put your top track on then have someone hold the two doors in the bottom track and put the top one use 100% clear silacon and seal all seams well.

Posted by: BIGTD at Tue Sep 21 20:07:09 2004 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

i just made a cage for my rt it is 6x2x2.i made it out of marilate it come 49''x97'' i hade homedopot cut all the peices.it takes 2 sheet at 30$ a sheet cut the first peace 49''x6'then cut that inj half 241/2x6' them are your top and bottom the peace left over will be your sides cut them 24 1/2''x23''and then the last sheet cut one 24 1/2''x6' for the back and 2 24 1/2x24'' for the frontput one on each side and use 2 24x25 peaces of 1/4 glass for sliding door.-use 11/2 brass scews conter sink them put the sides on the inside of the back and the two front peacesthat is how you get the 23inches the sheets are 3/4'' thick put the bottom on with 4 caster turn it over and put the track on for the doors get them at homedopot mesure in 24 from both sides put your top track on then have someone hold the two doors in the bottom track and put the top one use 100% clear silacon and seal all seams well.