Going to build a cage for my guy!

[Mighty Monty]

So i've decided instead of paying lots and lots of money that i don't have for a new tank for my 4 1/2 ft RTB, that i'm just going to build him one. Not the first cage i've built, however never one for a snake before.

Now a few questions. Is there any type of wood or anything i should be aware of that would harm him that i shouldn't use? I have a general idea of what i'm going to do, however i thought maybe some input from some other people who maybe have built custom cages, or have come across them could offer me some advice, or even those who have cages they've built would be willing to post some pictures. Still not sure how big i want to make it, but i'd like to give him plenty of room to climb and just be able to be active ( though i know they aren't always active ) i just want him to have that if he decides on it.

Any input or anything of the sort would be greatly appreciated..Thanks!

[ScottyDsntKnow]

Don't use anything pine. Take a look at the boaphile's line of cages as well as animal plastics to get some ideas. Honestly you could use Melamine just fine although they'd be heavy. 6x4x2 should work fine for big females.

[ev477]

I just made a 4x2x1 mostly out of 3/4" birch. I think the birch is a good choice, I didn't have any problems with the wood splitting and it's not as heavy as I thought it would be.

I have blueprints posted on here, I haven't been able to get a camera to post pictures of the cage up though.

[ScottyDsntKnow]

Can you post the link to your cage blueprints or is it a sticky?

[ev477]

It's actually in my gallery:



Instead of having the bottom panel on the front the same height as the frame at the bottom, I made it an inch taller. The frame is also not exactly how it is pictured, all the vertical beams are the same length and there are more of them. The lid is set on top of all the pieces and not how it is pictured.

[ncbloods]

I did pretty much the exact thing that Evan did on my one (and only) custom cage, except I did mine out of melamine boards. It's really heavy and not much cheaper than an Animal Plastics T10... which is what I use now.

Only pic I have is kinda centered on the snake... but oh well hope it helps

[ScottyDsntKnow]

Those look really good. Honestly though for the cost/time/effort to build a nice cage with everything I might as well just buy a Boaphile when I need to go that big. I like them the best easily.

[Mighty Monty]

I'm going to level with you, i don't know what a boaphile is, or much about other tanks other than aquariums. I do know that once you go bigger than what i have it get's to be pretty pricey, and that's money i don't have right now, and my RTB should be in a bigger enclosure. My blueprints are just sticky, however i may be able to come up with something.

Maybe some links to places that sell decent priced cages for larger females could help? I just don't really know much about accesories. I know how to build, and purchase. When the purchase is out of reach, i usually just build.

Thank you for all comments though! Very much appreciated!

[ncbloods]

http://animalplastics.com/
http://theboaphile.com/

[ScottyDsntKnow]

I'm definitely not trying to knock anyone's choices here or anything, I just put forth my opinion that at some point it is cheaper to buy something that is mass produced. If you can build a nice cage then by all means go for it, I just think that personally the AP and Boaphile cages are a great bang for the buck.