Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone, I just finished this cage. It is 4' x 2' x 19", single door that folds down. I started at about 12 today went to class, came back and finished at 10. The best part is that it costed under 100 dollars total! The most expensive thing about it was the $50 acrylic glass front.

Jeez dude, thats freaking amazing. LoL just yesterday you posted for suggestions and then you just build it that fast??? Did I say it looks amazing? Thats being self sufficient.

Very nice!

Greg Power
B.O.A. Inc

Thanks, still just a couple things to do, but I took a few engineering & architechture classes so i have spent the last week designing what i was thinking about doing. Have heat tape on the way, still have to figure out what to put between heat tape and bedding, jmartin suggested formica, but they only sell it in 4 x 8 sheets, and it is about 60 bucks, so im sitting on that one for a few, look into some other options. Any more suggestions.

Thanks again

Home Depot sells 2'x4' sheets at about $12 and if you get there when they receive their stock they may have some that comes as packing they could just give you because it's not in their inventory.

Louie

Good looking cage!!

I was going to say the same thing.

Greg Power
B.O.A. Inc

I'm building a cage just like that. One thing you might consider is to put some melamin, melanin, however you say it, on the inside so the humidity, water spills, etc. doesn't get to the bare wood.

Jason

....also keeps any potential splinters away from the snake.

Jason

As far as the water goes, I used pressure treated wood on the bottom and the framing, as for the splinters, I sanded all the side panels which are the only places where they would be able to pick one up.

I built a cage just like that for some tortoises a few years ago. It worked really well, but I would suggest putting down a sheet of linoleum on the bottom. It relly makes cleaning alot easier, and you could also use it to cover the heat tape. I have heard PT wood is poisonous. I'm sure it is probably fine but you might want to check it out

The guy at Lowes told me that it would be fine and def. safer than treating it myself, also I dont worry too much about it since there is going to be another layer on top of it, so I think it should be all right. Whats linoleum?

Thanks

It needs to be sealed....immediately, for various reasons:

1) it will be immpossible to really clean and disinfect the bare wood. It will soak up feces and urates and stink forever and be a harbor to germs.

2) pressure treated wood contains arsenic and other toxins (hope you wore a respirator when you sanded it).

3) pressure treated or not, repeated exposure to moisture/ cleaning agents, etc. will cause the wood to deteriorate, at least from an appearance standpoint (look at most decks after a year or two if left unsealed).

Check the caging forum for an appropriate sealant. I think polyeurethane type sealants work, but require a long drying and curing time before they can be used.

You'll kick yourself in the long run if you dont do it. It looks great! Kepp it protected so it will give you years of good use.

I didnt sand the bottom, like i said right abov there will be another layer above it so they will never have direct contact to it. I will get it sealed, I am not completely done yet so they arent staying in it, I just put them in for the picture. I still have to run the wiring for the heat tape, thermostat and lights.

Thanks for the tips
good looking out

will you post your plans?
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1.0 Cranwelli Horned Frog
0.1 Ornate Horned Frog
1.0 '05 Snow Corn Snake from SMR
0.1 '05 Ball Python

www.ceratophrys.com