Let's see those houses!!

[msfirebeerd]

Hello all!! I am going to go ahead and start on Princess Leia's permanent home, seein as how she will be outgrowing hers soon. I have an aquarium big enough in storage but am thinking about making one out of wood. What kind of wood would ya'll recommend? Plexiglass or glass viewing panes? Best dimensions? Designs? What all inside? I've seen some pretty extravagant ones, and I'm just looking for some ideas on how to fix hers up. I have plenty of time, seein as how she's just now 19 1/2', I just want to go ahead and start on her a new home! Let's see some pics of what your boas live in!

[Noelle7206]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

I'm guessing you meant to say "she's just now 19 1/2" [inches]"? ("just now 19 1/2 feet" doesn't sound right, unless you're raising one of those prehistoric 40' monsters? giggles...)

[msfirebeerd]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

I'm guessing you meant to say "she's just now 19 1/2" [inches]"? ("just now 19 1/2 feet" doesn't sound right, unless you're raising one of those prehistoric 40' monsters? giggles...)

haha guess I forgot to hit shift when I hit that key whoops

[Noelle7206]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

Building a cage that is suitable & healthy is a lot of work with many different opinions on what works best. For example, glass is heavy but resists scratches far better than plexi, and those scratches can trap germs too,
so if you don't wipe them as often to avoid scratching (eventually fogging) the plexi (plastic) might not be so healthy. All wood must be waterproofed, & I'd never recommend particle board stuff for anything as it crumbles with
humidity or even screw-holes. Many ppl use plywood (remember it must be heavily coated to waterproof, & both plywood and particle-board will off-gas nasty chemicals, another reason to thoroughly coat them) but I prefer
solid natural wood myself. I've not built from scratch (I think Tom here has plans available for those who wish to do so) but I've re-purposed various cabinets to house snakes. Every project is different & has challenges.
Keep in mind that such large home-built cages end up being quite heavy & few of us live in one place forever, so remember you might need or want to move it some day, & design accordingly...but done right, they can be
awesome.

[McCarthyBoas]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

Here is a link to my EZ cage prints for you. EZ Cage Prints

Take care
Tom

[acephantom903]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

Because you asked to see houses and what is inside...
The cage I have is an Animal Plastics T8 with acrylic doors. I have a set of glass doors safely set aside, but I'm accident prone and I think acrylic is the safest for Buddy. Also, the bedding is not flat because I had just sprayed it down to help Buddy start to go into shed.


My cool side decorations (Buddy is in the hide at the back) 1 hide, a double layer perch, bottom heavy rock which I use to weigh down his branch.


My warm side decorations. 1 hide, another bottom heavy rock to weigh down his hide, small water bowl on hot spot for humidity, larger water bowl at the front for bathing, paper towel tube, perch hanging from picture frame holders, RHP with (cleaned) toilet paper rolls squished up so Buddy can't perch on the wire like he liked to do.

[natieb]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

Here is a link to my EZ cage prints for you. EZ Cage Prints

Take care
Tom

Thanks for the link, Tom. I'm planning a 8x2x2 enclosure for a tortoise, and this is an excellent starting point.

OP, check out the DIY forum if you haven't already, there are a lot of very good builds in there. Here's one I made back in 09, and it's still up and running.

[msfirebeerd]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

Ace so those perches are just pvc? What's wrapped around them, just rope? That's pretty neat! Does buddy spend a lot of time on em?

[acephantom903]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

Yup, 1/2" PVC pipes and fitting with the corners shaved down so they aren't sharp. I had purchased a spool of 3lb strength cotton string which I made a hammock for Buddy... but that didn't work as I would have liked... too stretchy and I was afraid of him getting wrapped up in it. I then bought about $10 in PVC (had cutters at home) and I put it together. As I had it cut down do sizes I liked, I then spent about an hour or two wrapping it watching youtube. Gives him nice grip and is softer than the PVC alone. He really only climbs when he is hungry, just about to poop or just after he pooped, or I had just handled him. Normally he is in his hides with his head sticking out.

[msfirebeerd]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

Yup, 1/2" PVC pipes and fitting with the corners shaved down so they aren't sharp. I had purchased a spool of 3lb strength cotton string which I made a hammock for Buddy... but that didn't work as I would have liked... too stretchy and I was afraid of him getting wrapped up in it. I then bought about $10 in PVC (had cutters at home) and I put it together. As I had it cut down do sizes I liked, I then spent about an hour or two wrapping it watching youtube. Gives him nice grip and is softer than the PVC alone. He really only climbs when he is hungry, just about to poop or just after he pooped, or I had just handled him. Normally he is in his hides with his head sticking out.

what's the dimensions on the t8?

And Princess Leia stays in her monkey head like that all the time too ha, sometimes she'll get out and wonder but usually stays hidden

[acephantom903]

Re: Let's see those houses!!

48"x24"x12". I go it knowing it was the minimum size for an adult male. In 5 years, he may very possibly out grow it. I'll upgrade him as needed. When I have a more permanent living condition with space, I would probably upgrade him to the largest I can afford. Maybe something like 6'x2'x3' or 6'x3'x3' or something along those lines. Right now I might be moving around too much or living in shoe boxes, so I can't dedicate such a large space for him.