Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone had good plans for a cage for a 8' by 4' cage for a large lizard or a large python.

jeff
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The Voices have won!

jeff pfeifer

are you referring to a floor size of 8x4? or what? What is the third dimension are you looking for?

Let us know, in L x D x H

there are quite a few good ideas out there, depends on what you want. Cheap, light weight, or attractive.
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Chondros and colubrids... my 2 favorite types of snakes!

"Life is hard. Life is harder if you're stupid." - John Wayne

Yes the floor are wood be 8'x4'. I'm thinking 2' in height sice it would be for a terrestrial animal. I'm thinking of making it out of wood. I guess inexpensive would be my plan. Thanks for replying.

jeff
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The Voices have won!

jeff pfeifer

Do you want this to just sit on the floor? No wheels? wheels? suspended? stacked a few on top of each other? if it's just a single one on the floor maybe a plexiglass lid so you can look down on it?

Now this is dependant upon how much woodworking experience you have:

if you have quite a bit of experience and tools, then this is what i would do.

Get a sheet of FRP. This is sold in a 4x8 sheet and will work great on your floor. This is to sit on the floor.

Make your sides out of 3/4" plywood, or other option ill mention below. For the back you can use 1/4" but we're gonna have a fancy top so it will have to go on towards the end.

Take a strip of wood (about maybe 1x4 or 1x6) and run along the top of the back of the cage. Then do the same at the front. Then build a frame - a long rectangle to cover the top. At this point make it similar to the frame I used in the bottom of the cage here.

Space these cross beams evenly. Then every other one you can cover with the 1/4" plywood and 1/4" plexiglass. This way you can see from the top. Then affix the back with some heavy duty hinges and latch the front. This will let you get top access if needed for larger animals.

Then just frame hte front...give yourself a few inches on the top and bottom. Of course put that 1/4" across the back.

The other option for the sides. Get some luan doors. They're like 3/32" thick luan on each side with some wood in the middle. They're cheap and light. Build your sides out of these. However you will have to cut the ends off then reglue the boards on the end that space them.

Those are just some ideas. Hope they help.

Now that I think of it, here's a couple things you may have to do.

You probably will have to put some center support in there. If you create a rabbet along the back for the luan that will help support the back enough.

i'll draw out some designs and scan here in a min.
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Chondros and colubrids... my 2 favorite types of snakes!

"Life is hard. Life is harder if you're stupid." - John Wayne

Here I drew 'em out for you. Please note on the lid I did not draw in 3-D, the rest is. I couldn't figure out how to do it and i'm tired. But bored.

Okay, clarifying my drawing some.

you will build a square frame out of 1"x4" wood that is going to total an overall length of 96" long x 48" deep. This will sit on top of the sides. Then build your hinged top to be the exact same size. This will be attached by hinges along the back, or you can mortise out a hole for the hinges (that's what i'd do).

The back along the bottom i'd affix either a 2"x2" or a 1"x2" piece of trim wood to seal along the back and bottom, since you don't have a firm bottom. Put the FRP bottom on at the very last thing.

cut a 1/2" rabbet along the back to inset your 1/4" ply.

you choose the doors you want (either sliding or swinging. id do sliding)
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Chondros and colubrids... my 2 favorite types of snakes!

"Life is hard. Life is harder if you're stupid." - John Wayne

It may be somewhat difficult to clean out a cage that size with a top opening lid. If it was front opening you could use a shovel to clean it out...shovels work great for removing burm poo...LOL
What are you going to put in it?
I have plans to build my burms 8ft cages in the near future..they are in 6's right now but i think they need somthing bigger and i have plenty of room

I was suggesting to put front sliding doors on it as well. sorry if i didnt make that as clear
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Chondros and colubrids... my 2 favorite types of snakes!

"Life is hard. Life is harder if you're stupid." - John Wayne

Jeff,

I have a crazy busy week and may not be able to help much right now.

For now, a couple of concerns:

1) Have you made sure that a cage this size will fit through doorways, down stairs, around corners etc.? On the same note, do you anticipate moving often in the next several years or do you already own a home?

2) Depending on the species being housed, 2' tall cages with a 4' depth can be dangerous. Specifically you may have to stick your body in the cage to reach a python or monitor which puts you in a very vulnerable position.

I would at least consider decreasing the depth and/or increasing the height. I have normal length arms and if I had a 2' tall cage I would limit the depth to 30". And even then it depends on how tall the upper and lower lips of the cage are. Taller lips provide a lot of structure to a larger cage but also make reaching the back edge more awkward.

Regardless, the only plans I know of for large cages are over on albinoburmese.com. I understand Bob Clark's forums are a good place for info on building large cages.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.5 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

I didn't even think about having to reach in the cage. That is a concern. I have'nt decided yet if I'm going to put my flavi/argus monitor in there or my retic. They are both babies right now so I'm just planing ahead. I was going to buid it in my basement where it is going and I was going to build it so it could be disassembled for moving. I live in a house that I don't plan on moving out of any time soon. Thanks for the direction and ideas.

jeff
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The Voices have won!

jeff pfeifer

Jeff,

Cages that can be broken down and hold a retic are a bit tricky to build. I can be done, however, so don't let that deter you.

Junglehabitats built a monitor display that was held together with pocket hole joints with no glue. It was a beautiful cage and very heavy so if it held together it should hold a retic.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.5 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)