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Hello everyone. I need help with the finishing of my cage design. I plan to build it 6' L x 2' D x 4' H. I already know I want to use laminate panel for the back and sides of my cage with ventallation holes on either side with stanless steel mesh covering the holes, acrylic panel for the front for see-through, and stainless steel mesh for the top but the help I need is for the framing and the bottom of the cage. What kind of wood should I use to build my framing? Is my design and size good for the life of my boa? I don't want to have to build another cage. Also I plan to put casters on the bottom for easy manuvering of the cage. Should I use sealant and if so what kind? What shoutd I use to fasten the frame together and for the mesh on top of the cage? If i'm missing something please feel free to elaborate for me. If I didn't build this cage I was going to buy this cage which is the Package R1 at this site-www.cagesbydesign.com/accessories/replica.asp but I would rather build one considering the price difference!!!!
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Re:Need help with cage design!!!!!
hmmmm.... where to start.
As for the dimensions of the cage. Yes they are good for an adult boa. Now for the potential problems with your design.... a 4' tall cage is going to be difficult to heat and keep humidity in, add to that a mesh or screen top and it will be virtually impossible! A lower hieght such as 24" or less would make it a lot easier to maintain temps and humidity. At a bare minimum if you do want to keep the height go with a solid top.
For venting your idea will work, so will regular platuc vent registers from home depot. A register will also allow you to adjust the amount of air flow through it and they are cheap. (around $5.)
For the framing, it all depends on what you are after. You could use melamine or plywood and not need any framing.
Here are some sites that have great information on cage building:
You can also browse through more posts here in the caging forum.
Good luck!
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Re:Need help with cage design!!!!!
OK, i'm going to build the cage with melamine, and the basics of it is going to be a melamine box with ventallation slots with a acrylic front see-through doors, what will I use to heat the cage and how would I do it? Do I put something on the underside to heat the bottom of the cage and what do I use? Will I use a Ceramic Heating Element at all and where should it be placed? I need heating tips so I can get it right the first time. An I know my snake needs light sysles so how would I go about doing that? Thank you for taking time to answer my questions, you guys are awsome!!!!! Best community ever!!!!Comment
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Re:Need help with cage design!!!!!
Well, you could use heat tape or a human heat pad set on low for belly heat. For overall heating, I prefer heat panels. While they may seen a bit to high, they are well worth it. They last years and heat better than any other device I have seen or used. You could go with ceramic heat emitters, but you would probably have to have a hole in the top covered with wire mesh.Comment
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Re:Need help with cage design!!!!!
Hey everyone. I talked to a zoologist at the Detroit Zoo who specializes in reptiles and he told me that a 6' L x 2' W x 2' D enclosure would be too small for a red tail!! He said for a adult Red Tail, which will get about 8', Needs a minimum of at least 8' L x 4' D x 4' H!!! I said NO WAY!!
I have the room but if you think about it, how are you gonna move that thing, even with casters. I could build one that big in my room but I would have to build it IN MY ROOM. There is no way I could get that thing out of there without taking it apart or building half at a time, hinging or fastening it by halves and still, thats a project!! I think I'm gonna change my plans a little and go with a 8' L x 2' D x 4 ' H. I'm not gonna get out of control cuz I plan to get the Package R1 from CagesByDesign. ;D This enclosure will be temp. till I can come up with the money for the complete set-up. I just thought I'de pass that along for all to read and give feedback on. Let me know what you think, I can give more info on what the zoologists said if anyone cares to know. b27.gif
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Re:Need help with cage design!!!!!
Keep in mind, the bigger the better. However, a 4x2x2 enclosure will house a BCI just fine. If it's an BCC, you might want to go 6x2x2. Hope that helps.Comment
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Re:Need help with cage design!!!!!
yea theres alot of folks that think that a boa needs a huge cage like that.
your boa will mabe max out at 8 feet in length. I dont keep my boa in anything larger that a 4 foot cage i dont see any need to
I also heat my cages with flexwatt heat tape its the cheapest and the best way for me. you can buy it at www.bigappleherp.com
i keep a couple of my snakes in a 4'-2'-1' and havent had any probs yetComment
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Re:Need help with cage design!!!!!
Hello BadBoyJay...........
We just built a 6x3x2 for our 6 1/2 footer Ezzie and she loves it. I guess it really depends on what you want. If you have the space and funds to do it then go for it. But I will tell you the truth. Regulating the temps and trying to keep them steady was kinda tough at first.......... Then I made the mistake of not putting on a sealant at first thinking that I could use news paper under her carpet to keep the wood dry but it went through both. :-[ So I had to take her out for a week while sealed the cage with 4 coats of Polycrylic (which is what Steve suggested in another post). Just wanted you to know that I enjoy the larger cage since I have the room, of course I only have 2 boas so they are spoiled. :PComment
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