Build planning for 6x2x4 and 6x2x2

So I've been planning for a future snake that I won't even have for at least a year, maybe more (Russian rat snake). I've also been looking into wood aquarium builds because I kind of want its adult enclosure to be a paludarium with a river-like water feature, though I have plenty of time (years, in fact) to figure that detail out.

For the Russian, I'm wanting a 6Lx2Wx4H, because they make great display animals and love climbing, and I'm thinking that I'll be able to make it out of birch plywood. Just looking at the prices of 1/2"x4'x8' ($37) and 3/4"x4'x8' ($50) birch boards at Home Depot, this is exponentially cheaper than a PVC enclosure, and from the build videos I've been watching, it's easy enough to waterproof and seal plywood, so long as you use the correct animal-safe materials (pond armor, silicone that's not mold resistant, etc). From my rough math, I'd need at least 3 of these plywood boards. I'm wondering which thickness would be better? Is it necessary to use the 3/4", or would the 1/2" work? I'm sure I'll have to use pieces for some support on the back part, since it'll be the one that's 6Lx4H.

The front's going to be two glass pieces for doors, and a smaller strip of glass that runs the entire length of the enclosure to hold in substrate and water, but as of yet I haven't decided how high I want it. That strip will be sealed in using silicone. I also haven't decided if I want these doors sliding or hinged. I'm wondering if putting half a screen top for this one is a good idea, as Russians don't need that high humidity, but supposedly love water. The other half of the top would house the RHP. There'd probably be another vent hole down near the water/ground level, on the hot side, to give a more natural air circulation to the cage.

But all this looking into plywood and glass prices made me realize that not only would this project be cheaper than buying a PVC enclosure, that doing one for my ball python would be cheaper, as well. I'm wanting that one to be a 6Lx2Wx2H, with at least a 6" glass or acrylic strip for substrate, and sliding doors. I'm wondering if I can buy a glass aquarium second-hand off someone cheap that's got the right door-glass dimensions, though it looks like most 36-inch-long tanks only go up to 18 inches in height. I might do a 3-inch border around the front, so that would maybe (?) work.

Only problem is, I have no building experience, nor access to tools (yet). And I'm in no hurry to build either enclosure, as I wasn't planning to get an AP cage for Maze for a couple years, anyways, and the Russian's I wouldn't really be worried about until 4 years from now, either. Only point in my favor is I'm really good with my hands, and have used some wood-working machinery before, though only for art projects.

Just thinking into the ether, apparently. I like having a rough idea what I'm doing before I jump into things. Any suggestions/concerns?

Note to self: home depot also sells 2'x3' sheets of glass for $13 each, which would work for the 6x2x2. Nice. And cheaper than the "secondhand aquarium" idea.

Just so you know, Home depot rents tools but tools are really dirt cheap anymore.

Really all you need is a circular saw with a bevel adjustment, clamps (to hold the piece of 2x4 that you will use to guide the circular saw), corded or cordless drill to screw things in and drill holes, and maybe a router if you want to make fancy schmancy recessed areas like for the tract of the glass or probe channel or even pretty rounded corners.

I may or may not like to do home remodeling and may or may not be a little bit of a handylady ;) Youtube has tons of builds on tanks and enclosures. Check out serpa designs for examples on plywood builds. Guy is a real genius with vivariums

I used 3/4 inch melamine for my retic tank, might be a little heavy but very sturdy..... I would highly recomend doors on hinges verses doors tracks if you do not have very much wood working experience..... Hinges are easy but sliding glass doors are difficult. Definatly make your door two pieces, i messed up and made mine one piece thats 6 ft by 2ft. It has hinges on the bottom and hangsdown when open..... My next tank, my tegu tank, will have sliding glass doors because of conviences and the fact that the retic tank and tegu tank will be stacked on each other. My two cents, best of luck.

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Originally Posted by Starscream

For the Russian, I'm wanting a 6Lx2Wx4H, because they make great display animals and love climbing, and I'm thinking that I'll be able to make it out of birch plywood. Just looking at the prices of 1/2"x4'x8' ($37) and 3/4"x4'x8' ($50) birch boards at Home Depot, this is exponentially cheaper than a PVC enclosure, and from the build videos I've been watching, it's easy enough to waterproof and seal plywood, so long as you use the correct animal-safe materials (pond armor, silicone that's not mold resistant, etc). From my rough math, I'd need at least 3 of these plywood boards. I'm wondering which thickness would be better? Is it necessary to use the 3/4", or would the 1/2" work? I'm sure I'll have to use pieces for some support on the back part, since it'll be the one that's 6Lx4H.

Just thinking into the ether, apparently. I like having a rough idea what I'm doing before I jump into things. Any suggestions/concerns?

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I'm interested to see how these turn out, but they are going to be heavy as f#!@ lol. I hope you won't need to move them very often.

Regarding thickness, it depends on how you construct the cage. If you are going to have a center support piece (similar to Animal Plastics), then 1/2" is probably fine as you will really have only 3' sections without the additional support. That said, if you can go 3/4", it will certainly be sturdier. If you want to split the difference, use 3/4" for the bottom of the cage and 1/2" elsewhere.

My only other note would be to potentially consider doing 6' x 2' x 3' for the rat snake enclosure. Assuming you are going for a bioactive / paludarium, 3' is a good deal easier to light and heat than a 4'. If can be done, but you may find these solutions easier with the 3'. Sadly, most LED lighting solutions are mainly designed for 12-24" setups, but you can cheat and select low-light or taller growing species such as ferns and calathea. 3' still certainly gives you sufficient space to design and allow for good climbing. Consider that GTPs are typically put into 2' tall enclosures and they are true arboreal snakes. A Russian rat snake is admittedly larger, so I think the extra 1' is warranted in this case.

If you want to go the full 4', more power to you, just keep in mind that you may have to spend more and be clever about how you light and heat the setup. That said, if you want to go the easy route and just get a kane heat pad and set it up on the floor or a shelf and call it a day, assuming your ambient temps are reasonable, that would certainly solve any issues surrounding heating. They aren't super cheap, but they are a robust and water-proof heat pad. I believe some come with a rheostat / thermostat attached. I'm considering using these for my larger indigos as they provide a hot spot without heating the enclosure.

Actually about bioactive, look into LED for hydroponics. They are designed for up to 6 feet above the growing vegetation. You can get full spectrum or a grow friendly spectrum conducive to the type of plants that would do well in a heavy bodied snake vivarium.

Wood is cheaper than PVC, firstly because it is HEAVY as HECK. I have a melamine for my dumeril's, and I am never getting a wooden enclosure ever again. If you are going to put money, time, and effort into building such a complex enclosure anyway, I would 100% go for PVC.

Unless you are a huge strong man or have a huge strong husband, it's literally going to be impossible to move an enclosure of that size anywhere.

That's just my 2 cents. I'll never get wood again. LOL

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Wood is cheaper than PVC, firstly because it is HEAVY as HECK. I have a melamine for my dumeril's, and I am never getting a wooden enclosure ever again. If you are going to put money, time, and effort into building such a complex enclosure anyway, I would 100% go for PVC.

Unless you are a huge strong man or have a huge strong husband, it's literally going to be impossible to move an enclosure of that size anywhere.

That's just my 2 cents. I'll never get wood again. LOL

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Out of curiosity I did a quick google search on birch plywood weight vs melamine, amd the melamine weighs about 3 times as much as the plywood. Melamine is a lot denser, though, so I see why that'd be an issue. Finding weights for PVC quickly seems more difficult but what I can find while just on mobile suggests PVC weighs about the same as the plywood. I could be wrong, though.

Still, weight is certainly something to take into consideration, so thank you for pointing that out!

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Originally Posted by Starscream

Out of curiosity I did a quick google search on birch plywood weight vs melamine, amd the melamine weighs about 3 times as much as the plywood. Melamine is a lot denser, though, so I see why that'd be an issue. Finding weights for PVC quickly seems more difficult but what I can find while just on mobile suggests PVC weighs about the same as the plywood. I could be wrong, though.

Still, weight is certainly something to take into consideration, so thank you for pointing that out!

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From just googling, it seems building an enclosure, rack, cabinets, etc. with plywood has quite a few cons to it. Some people used it, but there is a reason why it's not popular. PVC overall is very reliable, very light (almost like foam), and won't crack or break under screws. Personally, I would go with the tried and true methods and materials, especially with an enclosure you want to make so complex, I would assume you want it to last awhile without risk of cracking or warping.

i have a buncha tools i inherited that u can borrow including big scary power saws lol.

anyway i think u have to weigh the pro's and con's for building materials, for example:

melamine/wood products - pro = lower costs - con = heavier materials
pvc/plastics - pro = lighter weight - con = more expensive

i built my first rack. it was fun to do, it works but the craftsmanship wasn't very precise lol. so i weight the pro's and con's and decided i would buy pro-made/CNC cut enclosures in the future. it was my first rack and i was nervous about escape so it was a lid on tub kinda rack. solid wood was solid, weight is fine:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...m/1TME5lGl.jpg


also to help w/ moving the bulk and weight, u can add handles or caster wheels: https://www.homedepot.com/s/caster?NCNI-5

good luck, post pix!


Edit: also what age Russian Rat are u planning this for? IMO a bb Russian Rat is too small for a 6ft cage. i would be worried trying to find the lil worm in the enclosure just to feed.