Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok so here it is... I need a few design tips. Im making a triangular "corner" cage.
I think I have my degrees correct - 1x 45 and 2x 22.5

The two wall covering sides will be 4 feet then what I need is a 4 foor front?

Where can I put effective vents if two of the three sides are on the wall and I dont want to damage the viewing side?

I might have to go with glass for the windows because dragons scrath the hell out of acrylic. Will the two panes of glass have a gap between them... I dont want cricekts to squeeze out.

I want to put in 3 standard sockets and one florescent fixture, what is the best way to wire these all up.

Finally! - - Once this is all done... I would like to use expanding spray foam to carve out a nice landscape and not make a carner in the back... what is the procedure for that.

I am also thinking of covering in the stand to hide my little fridge where i keep the worms and bins ect...

I know I must be insane for this post but if anyone can care to reply and help with just a few tips on one or more of the subjects I would greatly appreciate it.

You can also email me cmccarthy@nj.rr.com

Well, a few things.....if you're building what I think you're building you'll need to change your angles.
It'll be 90 degrees in the back corner, and 45 in the 2 front corners. If it's 4 feet out from the back along the wall, then your front is not gonna be 4 feet across. I get my dad, the math teacher to help me out with these configs, but you're looking at something like a 5 or 6 foot front. Im just guessing that measurement though.
Definitely go with glass if you have lizards, they'll run back forth across the glass and scratch plastic all up.
Finally, make it SUPER strong across the top so you can sit on it!!! just kidding, your feet dangling over the edge might bust the glass.
Good luck and take pictures!!!!
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Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

n/p
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Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

Ahh see my angles are all goofed up... Ok so 90 and 45 and 45 got it and THANKS!

lets see if the rest of this can get solved

all confused at this point
Cm

but you beat me to it Chris...hehe
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Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

sheesh, coffee time
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Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

np
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

>>Ok so here it is... I need a few design tips. Im making a triangular "corner" cage.

>>I think I have my degrees correct - 1x 45 and 2x 22.5

The sum of the angles of any triangle equals 180*. Since the back corner will be 90*, the other two angles have to be 90* together. So the two "front" angles are 45* each.

>>The two wall covering sides will be 4 feet then what I need is a 4 foor front?

Assuming the 4' is the OUTSIDE dimension of this triangle (the inside dimension requires compensating for the thickness of the wood), then here is my quick math (pythagorean theorum):

48" squared plus 48" squared equals...

2304" plus 2304" equals...

4608

Square root of 4608 equals 67.88"

Since the face frames of corner units usually overlaps the side panels go ahead and plan on at face frame of AT LEAST 68", or about 5'8".

That's a HUGE friggin cage. I would consider limiting the width of the front panel to 4'. That will still be a huge cage.

Without going through the math, a 4' front panel means side panels of 33.9" each. Perhaps limit the sides to 32" or 33"?

>>Where can I put effective vents if two of the three sides are on the wall and I dont want to damage the viewing side?

You can still put them on the side panels. They will get sufficient ventilation since the sides won't be flush with the wall. Or will this be a built-in unit?

>>I might have to go with glass for the windows because dragons scrath the hell out of acrylic. Will the two panes of glass have a gap between them... I dont want cricekts to squeeze out.

Definately use glass. Cheaper, better looking, and more scratch resistant. Crickets can squeeze out but there are ways to minimize this.

The rest of your questions might be best for another post. Electric and rock-work issues will get more replies if they're in the title.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Your cage would have a floor area of about 1150 square inches, about the same as a 2'x4' cage - the "typical" Bearded Dragon cage. so in that regard it's not that big.

It will be awkward if you ever have to move as it would probably barely fit through a 36" door when turned sideways. Given that many homes only have their front door as wide as 36" that may be a problem.

You could limit the height of the cage to the width of a standard doorway but that won't look as good. Typically decorated cages look better with some height.

Thought I should point that out. There might be easier to move cage dimensions that offer the same floor area.
-----
Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

>>Ok so here it is... I need a few design tips. Im making a triangular "corner" cage.
>>I think I have my degrees correct - 1x 45 and 2x 22.5
>>
>>The two wall covering sides will be 4 feet then what I need is a 4 foor front?
>>
>>Where can I put effective vents if two of the three sides are on the wall and I dont want to damage the viewing side?
>>
>>I might have to go with glass for the windows because dragons scrath the hell out of acrylic. Will the two panes of glass have a gap between them... I dont want cricekts to squeeze out.
>>
>>I want to put in 3 standard sockets and one florescent fixture, what is the best way to wire these all up.
>>
>>Finally! - - Once this is all done... I would like to use expanding spray foam to carve out a nice landscape and not make a carner in the back... what is the procedure for that.
>>
>>I am also thinking of covering in the stand to hide my little fridge where i keep the worms and bins ect...
>>
>>I know I must be insane for this post but if anyone can care to reply and help with just a few tips on one or more of the subjects I would greatly appreciate it.
>>
>>You can also email me cmccarthy@nj.rr.com

Go to menards or home depot and take a look at there corner cabinets, vanities and get an idea of what is necessary in such a fabrication. Its definatly more involved than the average enclosure project. For instance,i have an 8" drafting triangle when i measure across the front i get a measurement of 11 3/8". A four foot front is still possible but you wuld have to come out at a 90 degree on both sides till you reduced the span tp 4'. This is not a beginners project in my opinion. Good luck, Clint.
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0.1 Colombian Boa-(Boa Constrictor Imperator) "Honey"
1.0 Hogg Isle Boa-(Boa Constrictor Imperator) "un-named"
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-(Epicrates Cenchria) "Houdini"
0.1 Argentine Boa-(Boa Constrictor Occidentalis) "Lacie"
0.0.2 Green Tree Python-(Morelia Viridis)Biak type-"Smog" & Sorong type- "un-named"

Clint,

A 4' front means sides of only 34", actually probably a little less. That means a floor area of only 578 square inches, about the same as a 40 gallon breeder tank. Seems like a lot of work to provide so little space.

But I'm really posting to agree with you. The math lesson was meant more for the original poster

Corner hutches are tough, no doubt.
-----
Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

>>Clint,
>>
>>A 4' front means sides of only 34", actually probably a little less. That means a floor area of only 578 square inches, about the same as a 40 gallon breeder tank. Seems like a lot of work to provide so little space.
>>
>>But I'm really posting to agree with you. The math lesson was meant more for the original poster
>>
>>Corner hutches are tough, no doubt.
>>-----
>>Current snakes:
>>
>>0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)
>>
>>3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)
>>
>>2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)
>>
>>3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Hi Chris, how ya doing, yes they are alot of work. The way i read the post was thathe wanted 4' sides and was asking if he then needed a 4' face. I could have misread the question though. With 4' sides he would endup with a face of near 6'. There would be some tricky angles, tough cage to make if one does not have the right tools and good understanding of cabinet construction. Clint
-----
0.1 Colombian Boa-(Boa Constrictor Imperator) "Honey"
1.0 Hogg Isle Boa-(Boa Constrictor Imperator) "un-named"
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-(Epicrates Cenchria) "Houdini"
0.1 Argentine Boa-(Boa Constrictor Occidentalis) "Lacie"
0.0.2 Green Tree Python-(Morelia Viridis)Biak type-"Smog" & Sorong type- "un-named"

I think he is right the origional post did ask if he needed a front face of 4'. If all three sides were 4' then they would have angles of 60' less likely to fit the corner of his room. I agree the cage will be tough but if done right would look cool.
Good Luck

Sorry for the confusion. In my first two replies to this thread I addressed both scenarios - a corner cage with 4' sides and a corner cage with a 4' front (and therefore 34" sides).

In my reply to Clints I was only addressing the statement "A four foot front is still possible but you wuld have to come out at a 90 degree on both sides till you reduced the span tp 4'."

I was basically letting the original poster know that they need to come out about 33" on that 90* angle if they wanted to limit the cage to a 4' front.
-----
Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Im really thinking about this.... Having the floor area of a 40g breeder is really not the way I want to go especially since this isnt for just one dragon, its a trio. I would really like to provide the most square footage I can I will have to do some measuring but a corner cage really might not be such a great idea since I loose out on a quarter or more of the space with the angles I am thinking of.

Thank you very much for all the info guys its really appreciated

It appears I may have created some confusion.

A corner cage with a 4' FRONT will have the same floor area as a 40 gallon breeder.

A corner cage with 4' SIDES will have the same floor area as a 2'x4' cage.

Neither is very big for a trio, IMO.

I'll e-mail you later with an idea.
-----
Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)