Biting the Bullet on Cage Plans

[Paleosinensis]

It's time for me to face reality; I probably CAN'T build a quality cage for less than the pros making PVC cages (my favorite type). I have the know-how, but materials add up fast when you don't have at least a few things already on hand. They add up even faster when local glass cutters are expensive and you still have some key power tools to buy now that you can't borrow someone else's. I'll also never be able to make them lighter or faster than PVC makers unless I change materials and get specialty tools. That means for once it's time to suck it up and buy. I have a pair of PVC cages and the rest are tubs; I hate tubs. I want to be able to SEE my pets and not loom over them (personal choice).

I have two PVC cages already; one my reptile basics that sags/difficult to shut and one 2 door Boaphile that's going like new 10 years later.

I need to decide the following: Boaphile or Animal Plastics? Can I stack 3x2 cages on top of 4x2 cages? Do I need to save up and buy all the cages I'll need at once or is it equally cost effective to buy them one or two at a time? What cage size(s) are most versatile among common hobby snakes like ball pythons, ratsnakes, B. imperators, bullsnakes, etc?

All I know for myself at this moment is that I want my cages taller than 12 inches and that I am capable of routing out the ends and bolting them together if caging suddenly needs to expand.

[Ax01]

i don't think u can go wrong with either Boaphile or AP. i have their racks. on the PVC cage, i have a 36x24x14 by Scaled Enclosures (from fellow forumer AKA Dave). he has them in various sizes and in both swing down and sliding doors. i just have one, but his system is modular and stackable between the different sizes. maybe he'll pop in and post a pix of his full setup. it's a wall of of PVC enclosures.

[Paleosinensis]

I contacted Scaled Enclosures to get some shipping quotes; so far I really like what I see. The modular part would be AMAZING to have...If I had a 6x2 footprint that would let me use 3 different cage sizes including the two I have now. I'll do anything to make sure I get a cage which does NOT sag but also fits together well so I don't have to replace what I already have. That reptile basics one sagging so that the door is badly stuck drives me crazy. >:/

You wouldn't happen to know where Dave is roughly located do you? I've been looking all over and can't find that info. If I just so happen to be local I'd gladly drive several hours to go get them.

[AKA Dave]

You both are too kind! I'm toeing the line here, as I'm very cognoscenti of the rules on the Forum, so forgive me if I'm short and to the point. Yes, the display cages I build are modular. I'm just outside Raleigh, NC. This is my personal rack, or at least part of it. It consists of several enclosures varying from 48" to 24" that are all locked together. Most are prototypes which is why there are different vents cut and gaps between a couple. Didn't have the right screws and have not replaced them yet. The different colors of white too. We were trying a few different PVC suppliers. All that's been ironed out since these were built. All of these are CAD developed and CNC cut. Doors are cut on a CNC laser.


I've had it this way for quite a while and I've had no sagging issues. Any other questions I'll be happy to answer them via PM or email. To the mods, trying not the violate the TOS. If you feel that I have or are even bordering on it, feel free to delete this post.

Guess it's time I bought an ad here on BP.net.

Best,

Dave