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I'm considerind building my own cage for a Columbian Boa or maybe a Rainbow Boa and a few questions arose and I was wondering if you could help.

1. If I used birch laminated cabinet grade plywood would I have to coat it with something? If so what sould I use?

2.What kind of glues/caulks,or epoxies can I use? What about liquid nails or aquarium epoxy/sealant?

3. If I use the material mentioned above would it sag in the middle of a four foot long cage? If so what can I do to prevent or fix the problem.

4. Any ideas on a waterfall system?

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and I hope you can help!

P.S. Any input on my snake choices would be greatly appreciated. Also any suggestions on the cage or alternative snakes is appreciated. I'm looking for a boa or python in the 3-8 foot range thats not extremely expensive or hard to care for, but a little challenge is okay.

I can answer one, maybe. 3/4" plywood shouldn't sag unless you put stuff on top.of the cage.
A boa to consider would be a dumerils boa. They are 6-8 ft average, run about $100-$150, and easy to care for. As for pythons, I think ball pythons get about 5 ft or so average, and aren't that expensive unless you get a $$ morph. I've seen them in pet stores around here or $60-$80. I don't know too much about them but I heard they are calm and hardy and great pets.

>> 3. If I use the material mentioned above would it sag in the middle of a four foot long cage? If so what can I do to prevent or fix the problem.

>> P.S. Any input on my snake choices would be greatly appreciated. Also any suggestions on the cage or alternative snakes is appreciated. I'm looking for a boa or python in the 3-8 foot range thats not extremely expensive or hard to care for, but a little challenge is okay.
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Tim W.

>>1. If I used birch laminated cabinet grade plywood would I have to coat it with something? If so what sould I use?

I really don't know much about boas so i'll give you two generic answers, which should help you out a lot.

If these require a daily misting, I would reccomend to paint the entire inside with a semigloss paint, then fully line the inside of the cage with FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic), or expanded pvc. Formica will also work, it's just a little more work to put down. Then seal the joints with a 100% silicone caulk - GE Sililcone 2. Expensive stuff, but works well. Holds forever. When you're lining the cage you should cut the FRP or expanded pvc to cover the entire board, then put a bead of silicone where the wood joins. When you see a glass aquairum, you see the silicone along the inside; but what you dont see is the silicone inbetween the panes of glass. If you put it along the inside it may peel up, but it wont from the inside of two pieces of wood held together with 2 inch wood screws.

If it is not a daily misting snake, just lay the FRP/expanded pvc /formica over the bottom and a few inches up each wall. This will give a protective layer so you don't have to worry about the substrate rotting the wood. Then put a water based polyurethane along the inside of the rest of the cage, I use polycrylic and its great stuff.

>>2.What kind of glues/caulks,or epoxies can I use? What about liquid nails or aquarium epoxy/sealant?

aquarium sealant is a 100% silicone...this is the safest and best product to use. I chose GE Silicone 2 kitchen and bath because using the amount I did, it would have cost me over $50 for the aquairum sealant.

>>3. If I use the material mentioned above would it sag in the middle of a four foot long cage? If so what can I do to prevent or fix the problem.

I did get a slight sag, my cage is 2' deep x 2' tall x 4' long. I have a 1/4" back on it, but I ended up putting a center brace in the front. The sliding doors cover it, so it's not a problem.

>>4. Any ideas on a waterfall system?

Not in a wood cage, maybe someone else.

One of my cages is going to my green tree python, which I am getting in about a week and a half, and i'm very excited! They are fairly expensive, however. But worth it! Other than that, I stick to rat snakes mostly... so sorry not really any help there!
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Claudius)... coming soon

>> 4. Any ideas on a waterfall system?

Sorry to answer this one first, but this is very difficult. There are ways to do this but I won't get into it here. I'll try to find some links for you, however.

>> P.S. Any input on my snake choices would be greatly appreciated. Also any suggestions on the cage or alternative snakes is appreciated. I'm looking for a boa or python in the 3-8 foot range thats not extremely expensive or hard to care for, but a little challenge is okay.

I think Boa constrictors or Rainbow Boas are excellent choices. I also like Dumeril's and Carpet Pythons.

>> 1. If I used birch laminated cabinet grade plywood would I have to coat it with something? If so what sould I use?

Do you want a clear coat, a solid color, or do you mind putting down a layer of some sort of plastic? Lot's of choices. We need more information.

>> 2.What kind of glues/caulks,or epoxies can I use? What about liquid nails or aquarium epoxy/sealant?

Depends on your answer to number one.

Also, do you mind something that may need to be touched up every year or two or are you looking for something you can apply and forget about?

>> 3. If I use the material mentioned above would it sag in the middle of a four foot long cage? If so what can I do to prevent or fix the problem.

When using 3/4" plywood I recommend a pretty tall upper and lower lip. These do an excellent job of preventing sagging and provide a framed look to the front. 4" should do a good job of achieving this. I'll attach a picture of my Bearded Dragon's cage below. You can see the orange plastic glass track. The 6" strips of plywood the tracks are attached to are the upper and lower lips. The lips are so tall in this cage to keep substrate out of the track and to hide the heat and light sources. 4" is fine for a snake cage.

The cage pictured has a heavy printer stand, printer, and several pounds of paper sitting on top of it right now. No sagging.

BTW, this is birch plywood with a mahoganey stain. If you look at the picture over by the light source this is what the cage looks like. We are very happy with it. It looks much better in person.

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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Thanks all for the help, but in response to chris_harper2's question i would much perfer to have a claer coat so you van see the real wood like chris_harper2's beardie cage. By the way your beardie cage looks great!!! How did you do the doors?

>>I would much perfer to have a claer coat so you van see the real wood...

In that case you have two general choices. One being a clear epoxy of some sort. I've used and like Envirotex Epoxy and its many forms. Expensive, but easy to use.

Another choice is oil-based polyurethane. In this case some patience is required as several thin coats are needed as well as an extended drying time. Also, I'd recommend laminating the floor with something if using an oil-based poly. In fact that's a good idea even if using the epoxy - floors take a lot of abuse.

>>By the way your beardie cage looks great!!! How did you do the doors?

Cheap Knap and Vogt plastic glass track. Does not get easier.

Here's an oak plywood cage sealed with Envirotex. Shiny stuff.

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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)