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First paying customer

cdeer Dec 06, 2005 11:32 PM

This is my first commissioned enclosure for two monitors. Working out pretty well I think. 5'w x 4'h x 2'd(I would have made it longer and not so tall, but it's not my cage...) Let me know what you think.

Replies (18)

Jeanin Dec 07, 2005 11:14 AM

Looks great. Whats the door going to be ? I imagine pick up not going to be shipped.

cdeer Dec 07, 2005 04:14 PM

Hey thanks! The door will be plexi, two pieces.

cdeer Dec 07, 2005 04:15 PM

Yes. I will actually deliver it. In town delivery. How's that for service?

Jeanin Dec 07, 2005 06:19 PM

Lol oh thats great service. I imagine it was not for shipping as its looks heavy .

Matt Campbell Dec 07, 2005 09:19 PM

>>Hey thanks! The door will be plexi, two pieces.

Be aware that plexi doors that large have a tendency to warp. The warpage is worse with a greater temperature and humidity differential from inside the cage to outside. I've even had warpage issues with plexi doors measuring as small as 18 inches long by 16 inches tall. Both developed warps of up to 3/16 of an inch across the long access, making it difficult to slide them in their tracks.
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Matt Campbell
25 years herp keeping experience
Full-time zookeeper
Personal collection - 21 snakes (9 genera), 20 lizards (4 genera), 6 chelonians (2 genera)

cdeer Dec 08, 2005 09:56 PM

Thanks for the tip. I plan on hinged doors for this cage. I have a cage that the door has warped and one that has not. Any suggestions on how to compensate?

cdeer Dec 08, 2005 10:05 PM

Do you think glass would be too heavy? or maybe some kind of frame around the plexi?

chris_harper2 Dec 09, 2005 12:09 PM

Why are you considering acrylic? Is it only weight? BTW, I don't think glass would be too heavy for this cage.

I also agree that acrylic/plexi may not be the best choice, but if you absolutely must use it buy a higher quality brand. You really get what you pay for with acrylic.

I am not a fan of framed doors. I like the opening of a cage to be as clean as possible. But if a hinged acrylic door is necessary then a frame might be a good option. Personally, I'd find a way to avoid it.

Otherwise, good work on the cage. I'd like to know more about it. Materials, etc. I have yet to read the rest of the thread so don't bother answering that if you have already covered it elsewhere.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

cdeer Dec 09, 2005 11:54 PM

My customer wants hinged doors. I will look into glass, 1/4 inch? Foamed pvc 1/4" thick. I would have prefered 3/8" thick but the thickest it comes in biege(customer wanted biege) was 1/4". It is sturdier than I would have thought though. Thanks for the input. I tend to agree about the openess of the front.
carey deering
High-end Habitats

chris_harper2 Dec 10, 2005 05:02 PM

I'm sorry, I should not have made recommendations before finding out what the cage was built from. It looked like some kind of wood.

Hinged doors of any type will likely be too heavy for that tall of a cage made from 1/4" PVCX. I would discuss this with your customer.

cdeer Dec 14, 2005 12:42 PM

can you suggest type and thickess of glass to use on this cage? Instead of hinged I have decided on sliding doors. Thanks for your advice. You guys are great!

chris_harper2 Dec 14, 2005 12:52 PM

I have had good luck with 1/4" plate glass in plastic tracks. But your cage is bigger than anything I've built with sliding doors of this type. You might need to look into some of the wheeled tracks.

Outwater Plastics has some.

cdeer Dec 14, 2005 04:32 PM

Yes thanks, I had already checked out Outwater and found them. Thanks

deven Dec 16, 2005 01:00 AM

honestly, it should be bigger. it's our part to ensure the proper care and husbandry is given.
also, i don't see any vents.
contact
contact

cdeer Dec 16, 2005 07:36 PM

You might look at the fotos again deven. what is that picture of?

deven Dec 16, 2005 10:27 PM

I did but they are so dark, i guess you're saying you have vents...and to answer your question, you might take a closer look at the foto. just kidding, you should be able to see the screen in the top frame and the tracks in the face frame. the inside is partially sealed, ignore that. the back is going to
be covered with some rockwork in the photo and then planted and such. anyway, good luck with the wood cage.
home
home

cdeer Dec 17, 2005 06:34 PM

Hey thanks. The enclosure is expanded pvc. I guess it does look like wood. I checked out your site but unfortunately the photos would not come up. I would love to check them out! I am just getting into this. check out my photos in members' gallery. DO you have any posted? Not trying to compete with your co. but would be interested in input from others who build environments also. I do wnat to provide naturalistic environments for my clients.

deven Dec 17, 2005 08:59 PM

we're branching out to a larger market and if your interested in becoming a distributor to learn sell and save, let me know.

Deven@Terra5Designs.com

also, the galleries are across the bottom,

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