Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was wondering what would be the best material to build a cage out of..i am planning on buying a few ball pythons soon and i would like to build a cage with 4-5 compartments in it to house all of them once they have been quarentined for a few months. i am trying to stay away from 10gal tanks because they take up too much room..my original plan was to use wood with plexi-glass but i was told that wood wasnt the best for humidity..any help is great...thanks..
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 snow corn

I built this yesterday to house my 8 hatchling ball pythons, if they ever hatch. I got the tubs at the Container Store sold as men's shoeboxes for a total of 31 bucks including the sweater box at the bottom that will be storage. The plywood material only cost me $15 bucks. Now all I need is some heat tape and a thermostat. My next project to to build two racks of 10 shelves each that will hold 8 sweater boxes and 16 blanket boxes. I just threw this one together yestday in about 3 hours. I'll take my time with the next one and make it look much better. I'm planning on using cabinet quality birch plywood, and staining it and making the sides solid pieces.

-----
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse
8 ball python eggs due any day now!

thanks for the idea, i have been thinking about doing something like that..but to be honest, i wanted something more attractive to put in my living room..i was thinking of something like a vision cage only out of wood..i am looking for some plans somewhere or just some ideas..i am planning on buying some baby balls soon, probably 5-6, so if i can make something bi-level and with dividers it would make things easier...if anyone has any ideas or if you know anyone with any ideas..it would be very helpful..thanks for everything...
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 baby sulcata tortoise
1 snow corn

Here are some other cages I built, I think they are living room quality. Maybe this will give you some ideas.

-----
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse
8 ball python eggs due any day now!

The wife didn't think they were living room quality though. If you don't either, try ebay, I saw some really nice cabinet quality wooden cages on there last week that were surprisingly reasonable, even with shipping.
-----
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse
8 ball python eggs due any day now!

man i think those cages are nice..what did you build them out of, i mean i saw the peck board in the back, but what is the black stuff..and on the one with the slideing glass, how did you get the groove for the glass because i was thinking of doing the same thing...btw thanks for posting your pictures,its a big help...
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 baby sulcata tortoise
1 snow corn

The cages are built with melamine laminated particle board..Home Depot. I painted the outside black and then spray painted with that stone-like texturing paint. The glass tracks are just made out of a couple pieces of wood, one wide and one narrow glued together to form a track and attached to the front of the cage. A more specific description was given by me in the general housing and enclosures forum about a week ago. It's kind of wordy or I'd repeat.

-----
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse
8 ball python eggs due any day now!

thanks i appreciate the info...
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 baby sulcata tortoise
1 snow corn

another question(s), do the holes in the back make a difference for the humidity and heat..and how thick is the melamine..is it sturdy enough..and that second cage..thats the one im planning on building, except i want mine to be wider and with a couple of compartments..do you think it could work? i think i im goin to try it and see what happens..and one more thing, what did you use to fasten the boards together..sorry for bothering you again, but really, thanks for all the info..
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 baby sulcata tortoise
1 snow corn

did you also make the stand out of melamine..it looks the same as the cage..thanks..
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 baby sulcata tortoise
1 snow corn

The material is 3/4" thick, it's particle board with melamine laminated to it on both sides. It's very strong. I just butted on piece right up next to the other, predrilled the holes for wood screws and also glued them together. What looks like a stand is actually a bigger cage that it's sitting on. The bigger cage is 4'L x 4'W x 2'D and houses a jungle carpet python. Because of the multiple levels, it has just under 20 square feet of surface area. If you build a cage this way, make sure you seal all edges on the inside of the cage with silicone bathroom sealant so that moisture doesn't get to the particle board. Also it helps if you ever have to treat mites. The pegboard back provides great ventilation, but does make it harder to get humidity up. I have a automatic misting system and the use of cypress mulch for a substrate and the live plants all help with that. If I had it to do over, I'd probably use the pegboard with the smaller holes.

-----
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse
8 ball python eggs due any day now!

ok the last time i bother you, i was trying to design something and remembered that i do have frame already built for a old chameleon cage progect and the frame is 6'H x 3'W x 2'D. I am planning on keeping it upright and splitting it into 3 sepercate levels..i will just house the babies for as long as they can fit...like if i dont use the pegboard as the backing and just use the particle board laminate, can i still somehow have ventilation in the front or maybe just drill some of my own holes in the top and sides that way it holds more humidity in..also do you think heat tape would work on the laminate boards because that is what i was thinking of useing..or i could use some lightbulbs like the ones you have surrounded by the screen...and did you get those covers at the Home Depot..thanks for all your help...i really appreciate it..
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 baby sulcata tortoise
1 snow corn

I made the bulb covers, here are some pics. Lots of melamine cages just have vent hole put in. They usually cut a hole and put some kind of vent over the hole. As far as the heat tape question, I can't answer that one. I've never actually used it before. I am expecting some in the mail anyday now though to put on the racks I made for my ball pythons. The last one (8) came out of the shell today! Pretty awesome! Good luck with your cage. Are you sure you want to use that cage for balls? With that much vertical height, it would make a great aboreal snake cage.

-----
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse
8 ball python eggs due any day now!

yeah the only reason im not using it for an arboreal cage is because i dont think it would sturdy enough to hold a large snake..the frame is made out of 2x2s and they arent strong enough...and besides it cost me about ten dollars to make, so can make another if needed..thanks for the pictures and good luck with those hatchlings...and btw where did you get that heat tape and good luck with it also...
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 baby sulcata tortoise
1 snow corn

I got the heat tape at MG Reptiles...he has a website. I don't know if that's the best prices around, I didn't shop around, but the guys been really helpful. He doesn't mind answering all my dumb questions.

-----
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse
0.0.8 hatchling ball pythons

hey you seem to be a really nice guy too, cause you answer all my dumb questions too...lol..thanks...and i actually have another one, i know we've been talkin about this melamine stuff, and i was wondering if you think it is better than say 5/8" ply-wood...cause thats what i was gonna originally use. someone else messaged me about plywood and i told them about the melamine stuff, so i didnt know what was better..and eggzactly what brand of paint did you use, cause i really like it and i was wondering if they had it in blue or green...
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 baby sulcata tortoise
1 snow corn

I've never built a cage out of plywood, so I really can't answer from experience. I've been happy with the melamine, because it's moisture resistant and easy to clean up, like a kitchen countertop. Well, there was one cage I built with plywood,it was a huge cage for a savannah monitor and I put down a sheet of melamine on the bottom of that.
I used regular Krylon black paint as a base and then textured it with Fleckstone. It's been a few years since I used it, and recently when I went to Home Depot/Lowes to get some more they didn't carry it anymore. But I found something very similar and actually used it to touch up a couple places where I had used Fleckstone before, so it's very similar. The stuff I used this time is made my Rustoleum and is called American Accents - Stone Creations. Then make sure you finish with American Accents Top Coat clear finish, it's a clear protectant to keep the paint from chipping off.
-----
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse
0.0.8 hatchling ball pythons

thanks man, i really appreciate it...im gonna look for that paint this week..
-----
0.1 normal redtail boa
1.0 true redtail boa
1.1 100% het for albino redtails
1 miami red phase cornsnake
1 baby sulcata tortoise
1 snow corn