Building your own enclosure

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

I'm looking to possibly build something,I was a Carpenter for 8 years and have the skills,but not full out knowledgable on what is best used for an enclosure for a ball python.

Just curious what some of you have to say is the best material to use..I have the idea of what I'd need to do,that's not really the issue,but the frame of the enclosure is what I'm wondering about.nI'd like to keep the face and floor with a plexi glass . But on the sides and top what could be used? and as well as some mesh type coated screen for parts of the top.

is a basic plywood good enough,which I don't wanna use.i was hoping they're would be some heavy duty type of plastic or PVC that can be used. Could plywood be used then I'd just cover it with stick on floor tiles.. I have a ton of ideas what to use ,but my snakes best interestis first in mind.


any opinions would be appreciate.Thanks

[Physician&Snakes]

I use birch or oak for all my custom cages, waterproof silicon, a nail gun, mesh screen tops (unless I am doing stackables), and glass/plexiglass. I have often used swinging doors secured by brass latches but am now moving to sliding glass for future enclosures. Here is a 4'X18"X18" with drop down door...

[The Serpent Merchant]

Plywood can be used but it makes heating the cage harder, it also doesn't hold up to the humidity as well. The main concern though is what wood it is made of, and what chemicals where used in the lamination process. Some woods and chemicals are very toxic to reptiles. (stick with hardwoods, softwoods are almost always bad news unless they have been kiln dried first.

A better alternative to plywood is melamine it has a plastic veneer covering its surfaces that make is far more resistant to humidity and can act as a barrier from the wood/chemicals.

Avoid particle board and MDF like the plague though. They are guaranteed to have nasty chemicals in them and fall apart from the humidity.

Some sort of plastic sheet would be best. PVC, ABS, Polycarbonate, HDPE are all great choices. Look around town and see if you have a sign shop. They usually have big sheets of plastic available. Regular sheets are best for insulation and strength, but corrugated sheets and honeycomb sheets will work as well.

If you can't find anything local I use this website a lot to buy metal and plastics:

http://www.onlinemetals.com/plasticguide.cfm

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Both posts very helpful and informative. Awesome stuff guys,TY,it's appreciated

p&S can you post some more pics of your home made enclosures
serpent have u made any of your own.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Both posts very helpful and informative. Awesome stuff guys,TY,it's appreciated

p&S can you post some more pics of your home made enclosures
serpent have u made any of your own.

I haven't myself, but I have helped a number of people who have.

One cool thing a few people have done is plasti-dipped the hardware cloth they used. That prevents it from rusting and having any sharp edges.

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

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One cool thing a few people have done is plasti-dipped the hardware cloth they used. That prevents it from rusting and having any sharp edges.

what do you mean?
Explain please

[The Serpent Merchant]

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what do you mean?
Explain please

Hardware cloth is the metal mesh most larger cages use for ventilation. Depending on the exact type of hardware cloth it can rust from being exposed to the humidity. Hardware cloth also is prone to sharp edges that can cut a snake if it rubs against it.

½" Hardware cloth screen on one of my AP cages:



Plasti-dip is a spray on or liquid synthetic rubber dip coating that is safe up to 200 F

http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Awesome bro,thnx man