Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm going to build a viv for a RTB before I get it. What's a safe, inexpensive type of wood (or other material, I just assumed wood would be the cheapest) that I could use? Pine would be nice...too bad I can't use it though

Is it safe to seal and/or waterproof the wood (especially for the bottom part)?

>>Is it safe to seal and/or waterproof the wood (especially for the bottom part)?

It depends on what you use. Pretty much anything will safe once fully cured.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Pine is okay for the enclosure. The toxicity of pine is only an issue when it's ground up into shavings, therby exposing the toxic resins.

I would recommend a laminated plywood over a solid and/or edge-glued wood. Much more stable in the presence of the temperature and humidity differentials that a snake cage will see on the inside and outside.

I really like birch laminated plywood. One thing to consider is the inexpensive but decent quality Russian and Finnish birch plywood being imported into the US right now. Darn good stuff.

Another plus about it is that it only comes in 5'x5' pieces, making it very easy to build a cage with a 5'x30" base rather than the typical 4'x2'. That extra space might be nice.

You can likely only get this plywood at woodworking speciality stores.

>>I'm going to build a viv for a RTB before I get it. What's a safe, inexpensive type of wood (or other material, I just assumed wood would be the cheapest) that I could use? Pine would be nice...too bad I can't use it though
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)