Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have any of you ever used any of the pvc or cdpp sheets to build your cages? If so, where did you purchase the sheets & what did it cost?

I've noticed some of the newer cages that are being advertised are made of this stuff so it seems there must be a place to purchase 4x8 sheets.

I just can't see spending $300-500 for cages & the melamine is just soooo heavy.

Thanks!

Eric
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If Jesus is your co-pilot, you'd better change seats!

We have a large Home Depot here that did carry it at one time; check with all of the various construction suppliers in your neck of the woods. Some of these sheets are made by bovine suppliers so you'll have to do some investigating to find a source.

Personally, I would rather shell out $400 for a nice big Vision cage than spending all of the time and effort to do it myself (I would think that in the end, you will come close to spending that much but I could be wrong)...but that's just me and that is coming from someone who barely knows how to use a screwdriver! Good luck.

Rob

guys, it's much cheaper per sq. foot to build your own cages. it's simply no contest! i'm just now finishing an 8' x 2' x 18'' cribo tank that is light enough for 1 person to pick up and carry. the cost wasn't tough to shoulder either, a little less than $100 complete.

>>guys, it's much cheaper per sq. foot to build your own cages. it's simply no contest! i'm just now finishing an 8' x 2' x 18'' cribo tank that is light enough for 1 person to pick up and carry. the cost wasn't tough to shoulder either, a little less than $100 complete.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I'm listening...how the h--- did you do that? Less than $100.00? Light enough for one person to carry? Sounds too good to be true.

I have some 6'x2'x2' cages that I built from 5/8" plywood and two people can barely carry them. The cost was about $150.00 including finish and hardware. The plexiglas for the doors was the most expensive individual piece. That stuff is about $40.00 for a sheet in 1/4" thickness.

2 sheets plywood @ $18.00 per sheet $36.00
1 sheet 1/4" plexiglas 40.00
door hinges and latches 20.00
8 6' poplar 1x2 (frame) $4.00@ 32.00
4 cans clear polyurethane $5.00@ 20.00
2 tubes clear silicone sealant $3.00@ 6.00

That doesn't include the nails and screws to assemble it with or the sandpaper.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

back in the day i used to build heavy duty tanks too then it hit me.......why am i building 100 lb. cages to hold a 10 lb. snake? i was over building, houses aren't even that sturdy! fast foward 2 decades and about 100 tanks later.....and here's what i came up with [currently]: the bottom consists of 3/4'' rib supported foil faced styrofoam. they can't go thru it and it regulates bottom temps real nice. the entire back and sides are 1/4'' screening which can be stryoed over temporarily in the winter [if necessary] and opened up in the spring and summer. the top is 1/8'' pegboard, the entire front is sliding glass and all this framed and hexi screwed in w/ 10 firring strips complete. it's fairly light but most importantly, it's strong where it counts......the inside corners. although stackable, you can't stand or climb on it or place 4 dozen rubbermaids up top either but it will keep a snake in and is not cumbersomely heavy and those were my main objectives. i can use this 'open style construction' because i use controlled ambient room temps. as opposed to eating each individual tank and the screening also lets in tons of natural light [windows on 3 sides] which the snakes like and naturally set their bio clocks by making my job as keeper easier. there are some other little modifications here and there that are mostly maintainence related but not really necessary to this discussion. one new thing i'm toying w/ however is incorporating foam spray in the bottom corners to round them out so as to easily clean there.....square corners are germ traps and gotta go! anyway, this is the simplified version and the 2nd time i had to type this. 1rst one never showed up. all i can tell you is that it works, was cheap to build and is handleable. looks good too, i stained it walnut. i'm starting a monsterous arboreal spilotes cage like it very soon only my goal is too not use any wood in that one at all! aluminum corners and hardware mesh? hmmmm.......might work!

Can you post a picture?
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have you had ANY problems with the snakes rubbing their snouts on the screen? I've thought about screen cages before too but this has always scared me off.
Please tell us your experiences & also post pics.

Thanks!

Eric
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If Jesus is your co-pilot, you'd better change seats!

no pics, no camera yet. re: nose rubbing, yes, a couple years ago some wc's reverted and were convinced they could get out and had to be removed. cb adult uni's inspected everything throughly at first......then went in their hide. :>/ i haven't tried cb yt's yet but will have to soon. i'm constantly building, modifying and tinkering w/ cages around here esp. w/ the larger snakes that need the room and i'm always fighting the weight issue. lighter, lighter. i got tired of building arks!.....that's how i got started w/ styro and screen. now it's my dream to get my hands on an 8' block of styro somewhere and make the first full size cribo crib that weighs like 4 lbs. and cost under $70. lol! it's doable though........:>]

I hear what you are saying about saving money and I guess it just boils down to "to each his own". As I read your ideas about styrofoam and screen cages, I just sort of cringe at the idea but probably just because it is so much different than what I am used to. I just envision a very flimsy cage so I, too, would love to see some pics of an actual cage (close ups, full view, etc.). In this context, yes, I am sure you are saving money but I was thinking in terms of a very sturdy, heavy wood cage. My herp room, in addition to my many indigos, also has a couple of monitors, several species of pythons including my 30 year old burm....any cages would have to be able to withstand the force of a burm in the rare instance of an escage. Anyway, I admire those who can build their own cages because I just don't have that kind of expertise; if I did, I would probably have a much different opinion. For now, I love my plastic style cages whether they be Vision, Neodesha, etc.

heavy wood cages......that's what i'm trying not to build esp. when we're talking stackable 8 footers, they are huge! i can build 'em as heavy as the next guy but why? it doesn't have to heavy to be escape proof rob, it just has to be......escape proof [and attractive]. as far as saving money, that's me! i don't know what a bunch of 8' visions would cost but i do know I ain't paying it. lol! anyway, this just in: i heard fox tv might be doing a cage makeover show called 'while you were escaped' and i'm thinking of trying out. wish me luck!.........:>]

Made by a fellow in Indiana I think...Very light weight, light source and cheap (comparatively) Not as great as Vision or neodesha's but very functional..
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Carl W Gossett
Garage Door Herps
Monument,Colorado...northern territory of the Great Republic of Texas

I've seen these cages at shows. I like them. They ship flat and are easy to assemble.
Good design. (I'm in no way related to this business!)

http://www.animalplastics.com/
Herp cages