Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am thinking of building a large cage system for my son's and my own snakes. It is difficult to find Melamine boards large enough for this. What I was hoping to do is build one out of plywood and cover the inside with contact paper to make the follrs and sides somewhat water-proof. Just wondering if there were any toxic effects to be expected with the use of this? If so, any other suggestions?

Toxicity, no. But the paper won't last long once moisture gets underneath it.

I'm all for craftsmanship with wood, but the problem is that the cost of properly sealing it all can be significant, not to mention the time involved. The available plastic caging on the market eliminates the sealing issue. It should be considered if the animals being kept are especially messy or require lots of humidity. For animals like leopard geckos and bearded dragons where the substrate and feces are rather dry, wood with just a water-based poly coating or water based paint is fine. OK for cornsnakes too. But a big boa for example can eliminate so much liquid that a wood cage would need to be sealed with something more water-resistant.

Pour-on bar-top epoxy is the better option for the floors. Hard to tilt a big one-piece complex to do the sides, but that type of coating will be awesome for the floors. Can possibly use water-based polyurethane for the sides. Caulk all seams afterwards.

You can cover the floors with a plastic material like 1/8 inch expanded PVC or styrene sheet available from plastic suppliers, or a Formica product. The edges need to be sealed however or moisture will get under the plastic or formica as well. That is why I prefer a coating like epoxy.

Google Repti-Shield and see if that is still available. It is like painting with molasses but the end result is a super tough and waterproof coating. Also 100% safe once cured. Cures fast.

Two part epoxy paint is another option. Safe once cured. Cures fast and is essentially waterproof.

Water based polyurethane is better than nothing if you can't get or want to pay for the better options. Must cure completely however, and the cure time is longer than epoxy or repti-shield.
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Antaresia maculosa
Antaresia childreni

Mark G

thanks for the info, greatly appreciated. Repti-shield is no longer produced, according to my research. I think I will go with a two part epoxy for the sides and backs. I was thinking about using glass or plexi for the floor and front door. I will seal the glass floor to the wood with caulk. Thanks again!

IMO the epoxy is so good that you can use it on the floor and not need glass on the floor. I have seen a plywood box coated with epoxy paint, seams silicon-ed, holding water and fish! That is how waterproof it is.
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Antaresia maculosa
Antaresia childreni

Mark G

We use a Urethane 2 part paint in my shop that is also very hard and waterproof. Do you think that type of paint would do any harm to snakes once cured?

Once cured I bet it is fine, but how long does that take? If it is a 2-part product, I imagine cure time is fast compared to air-dry off-the-shelf urethanes. Basically, how long does it smell after you apply it?
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Antaresia maculosa
Antaresia childreni

Mark G

It dries very quickly, and I havent noticed much of a smell after it hardens.