Building a stackable cage question.

[CGuzmanReptiles]

Right now I only have a Ball Python and a Bearded Dragon but I'm looking to expand my collection and I don't have enough space so I'm about to start building a custom stackable cage and I have a few questions.

What is the best wood for making a cage?
What size the cage should be to house an adult ball python?
I live in a tropical area so my room temps are always around 80f-85f so I don't need a RHP; as for the UTH can I install it under the wood with no problem or do I have to make some sort of fake flooring for it?

Btw I want to make a stackable terrarium not a rack. I have no intentions of breeding for now because I recently moved and have little space available. I am just a reptile lover wanting to expand the family

Any help is appreciated

[Capray]

Plywood is probably the easiest, coated in melamine. Or some waterproof something to seal it from moisture etc.
I'm not sure about the UTH.

[kitedemon]

I would not mess with melamine especially not particle substrate type. Personally I'd use Baltic birch plywood as it is the strongest and most stable common ply out there. ( not including marine plys) . You cannot heat through the floor if it is plywood. I would suggest using a floor made from PVC. (Not expanded regular PVC stronger and easier to heat through than pvcx) it is usually glossy smooth and easy to clean. It is the perfect addition it can be screwed to the plywood top and solves both issues of heating and cleaning all at once. Some claim plastics are dangerous (lol) but as PVC sheet melts at over 200 celsius it isn't a problem.


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[Kona's Daddy]

Right now I only have a Ball Python and a Bearded Dragon but I'm looking to expand my collection and I don't have enough space so I'm about to start building a custom stackable cage and I have a few questions.

What is the best wood for making a cage?
What size the cage should be to house an adult ball python?
I live in a tropical area so my room temps are always around 80f-85f so I don't need a RHP; as for the UTH can I install it under the wood with no problem or do I have to make some sort of fake flooring for it?

Btw I want to make a stackable terrarium not a rack. I have no intentions of breeding for now because I recently moved and have little space available. I am just a reptile lover wanting to expand the family

Any help is appreciated

I'm a fan of oak plywood...but birch is good, too. Either one looks REAL nice.

When I built mine, I used oak...with a full-sized sheet of linoleum on the floor of each enclosure. I put an Ultratherm UTH pad on top of that, and covered it with another sheet of linoleum. It's sealed, and the heat coming through to the animal is wonderful (yet protected).

As for size of cage - I found that 400+ square inches of floor space is sufficient for BPs. My enclosures are 410 square inches, each...and i think they're just fine. That's about the same size as a 32qt tub...which plenty of people use to house their adults. If they get REAL big, you'll likely want more than 400 square inches...but I went off of the 'average.'

Good luck with the project. These things are fun to build!!!

[CGuzmanReptiles]

So I would need to leave a space between the pvc and the plywood for the uth correct? how much space should I leave? If you have pictures it would be neat if it isnt much of a hassle (im more of a picture learner lol)

[kitedemon]

No space just plastic (PVC) floor. It can be screwed to the sides like it was wood uth heat through it very well. Baltic birch is a brand of plywood it has more veneers than normal ply this makes it super strong and stable. 1/2 is 9 layers I think. Unlike the regular 5.


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[CGuzmanReptiles]

So the uth would be on top of the plywood and the pvc sheet on top of the uth am I correct?

[kitedemon]

No the uth attached to PVC no plywood at all on the floor. The floor can be made from PVC it acts like wood but for sanding and glueing. Just screw it to the sides and done. Just replace the plywood bottom of the design with a piece of PVC. It is strong easily cleaned waterproof and heats well.


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[jbabybulldog]

I used birch plywood and then sealed it. for the bottom I used plywood on 3/4 of it and the other 1/4 I put down a piece of glass and attached my UTH to it. Then on top of the glass I put a shelf liner with eco earth and on the sealed plywood floor I put tiles for the cooler side.