Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just built an enclosure for my 8 ft. Burmese Python. It is 6.5' x 2' x 2'. It is also made of 5/8" plywood. What kind of paint should I use for the inside? I have heard of some kind of marine epoxy paint that looks a little bit like plastic once it is dry, but I can't find any at my local Home Depot. Can anyone help me with this?

Epoxy is probably your best choice. It dries hard and extremely durable. And yes it looks like plastic, can be smooth and clear as glass, and is impervious to any feces, and urates.
If you have'nt assembled your cage, you can line it with fiberglass panels, if you can use a router.
As far as paint, I have never painted an enclosure. I usually stain, and either line them, use epoxy or polyurenthane.
Just remember to let it offgas for a good long time!

I've already built the cage and I painted it with a smi-gloss latex paint. I believe the latex paint will work, I just want to make sure that it is waterproof. Do you know where I could get some paint that has epoxy in it, or do I just need to get some epoxy and spread it over the paint???

I don't know much about the paint, but what I do know is you're going to need a bigger enclosure. The snake is going to be fine in it for a while, but it will get much larger than 8 feet and very quickly. Your 6.5 foot by 2 foot enclosure just isn't going to cut it for the snake. I suggest building an enclosure at least 10 to 12 feet long.

as far as the paint goes latex will peel do to humidity and heat. you should be able to get epoxy paint at a local paint store but try to stay away from marine paints ( i'm not sure about now but they used to have high lead counts.) so keep an eye for peeling with the latex it wont happen right away but it will hapen, and like one of the other replies said make sure you let it air out for a while good luck

As far as the latex paint. While some swear it works, I feel it will peel quickly in humid enviornments.
Marine paints do not contain lead...no paint does.
Whoever posted about marine paints,you are probably thinking of bottom paint, which used to contain copper.
You can try hobby shops for epoxy paints, I buy it from a company called Barlows. They sell fishing lure making stuff.
Plain epoxy will work fine. Try West Marine. It cannot however be put over latex paint. It will peel it. Actually anything other than latex paint over it will peel it.
I would let your cage sit for a few weeks to let the paint off gas, and to let the latex paint cure completely.
Also...seal all seams with SILICONE! Not a Latex caulk!
Any more questions...post them on the Cage forum. Lot's of good people there.
Or drop me an email.

a marine specialty store can get you epoxy or resin, which will waterproof your cage. (like west marine, or your local marina)
It will also strengthen your cage (especially if you lay fiberglass too)
The epoxy is somewhat dangerous, it must be catalysed before it will harden and the catalysts are nasty stuff, dont get in on your skin, and rush to the hospital if you get it in your eyes. Make sure to let it sit for a few days to air it out.

I've used a water based, exterior grade latex paint for every enclosure I've built. 2 base coats, then a dark green, then light green with a textured roller. I let it dry well between coats and have never had a problem. I don't paint the floor. I use vinyl flooring and secure it to the floor with floor adhesive. I also use 100% silicone for EVERY seam all the way to the top. You can't paint it so use it last. It dries clear and is very durable. I let everything off-gas for about 2 weeks "with heat". It seems you can let it off gas all you want at room temp but once the heat panel goes in it off gasses more.

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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Very nice enclosure. And the tip for off gassing with heat is helpful, thanks!

Is that a radiant heat panel on the left? If so, how do you like the? I'm assuming you don't use UTH. And what are the lights on the right? What wattage bulbs? Just curious.

Thanks
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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

This one is still a work in progress. I really like the RHP. It's more than big enough to heat the entire cage. The 2 lights on the side are simply exterior deck lights. The only problem is they are sealed. I have a 55 watt white bulb in one for day time and a black light in the other for night. The box for the black light says not to use in a fully enclosed housing so I don't use it much. I'm going to put as low a wattage bulb as I can to drop the temps under the light. It gets to 96 degrees under the white light. On the other hand I have a 100 watt interior flood in my burm cage. It gets to around 104 directly under this light and it gets air circulation. Still need to switch things around a bit.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Try this stuff called Kleer Kote. It is a two part epoxy that works awesome, drys clear as glass, and you can spread it thick. I used to silicone the corners but what I have found works even better is to tape the OUTSIDE of every seem, then just let the epoxy soak into each gap from the inside. I Keep GTPs in cages with this stuff and I drench it dailly. I have been using the same cages for 6 years and never had a speck of water damage. Google the name and you should be able to get it online. Its a little pricy but well worth it. DEFINETELY OUTGAS ANY EPOXY WITH THE HEAT ON FOR A WHILE. Hope this helps.