AP or DIY?

Since I'm about to order my AP I just thought I wonder what would be better, a AP cage or go DIY and build one from wood with glass sliding doors. I want what would be best for the snake, so any help I appreciate. I will be using a RHP for heat.

AP makes great cages, can't go wrong with them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can get a 4x8 sheet of 1/2 inch PVC from home depot $50-$80 depending on where you live. You could build the same exact cage as a t8 for half the cost of an AP cage with shipping. Actually you could build a bigger cage then a t8 with a 4x8 sheet. I'm actually trying to decide whether or not I want to buy a t8 ap cage with divider for my leopard geckos and then another for when my killer bee grows up. All depends if I have the time on my hands to build them. I'll probably just spend the extra and buy the t8s, its a lot cheaper then the vision v400 I bought for my super pastel.

Wood isn't water proof, and finding glass can be expensive. AP makes a good product, but plan on ordering it early because it takes a while.

Just made a massive order from ap to re house all my bigger snakes . I have to relocate and moving these custom diy wooden cages is going to absolutely kill me . Especially when there's 20 of them .

Animal plastics over DIY... hands down.

I bought a 4'x8' sheet of pvc and I built a rack out of it. Yes, it is easy and great to work with. I also ordered a T8. The quality from AP is amazing. I really think by the time you get the sheet of pvc, buy the right sized track for your doors, and then get the glass doors to fit it, you're going to be close to what you'd pay for a T8. Not to mention the fact that if you call them and tell them you'd like an extra hole here, or a groove cut there, they'll do it for you.

If it comes down to money go with AP. They will do it right the first time , you'll have something that will last and potentially have resell value. On the other hand if you already have the tools and have good diy skills take up the challenge, it will be rewarding. AP racks still need to be assembled once they arrive, which is a quasi DIY project on its own.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

Animal plastics over DIY... hands down.

I bought a 4'x8' sheet of pvc and I built a rack out of it. Yes, it is easy and great to work with. I also ordered a T8. The quality from AP is amazing. I really think by the time you get the sheet of pvc, buy the right sized track for your doors, and then get the glass doors to fit it, you're going to be close to what you'd pay for a T8. Not to mention the fact that if you call them and tell them you'd like an extra hole here, or a groove cut there, they'll do it for you.

---

Not necessarily. You don't need to waste time and money on making sliding doors you could make drop down acrylic ones - much simpler and cheaper to install. Personally I would always go with DIY but I also enjoy building my own stuff. Check out HLH Reptiles youtube videos on making DIY pvc cages. It may give you some ideas. I calculated building a 4x2x1 cage with 1/2 pvc to be around $140 including acrylic, hinges, screws, pvc glue etc. So significantly cheaper than AP if you have the time and skills to do it.

You could also build one out of melamine but as others said you may have humidity issues and will definitely have to seal the seams on the inside in some way. This would be cheaper than the pvc but also much heavier and possibly not as nice looking.

I made one my self after glass, door track and pvc it was 127.00.. took about 6 hours to fully construct. so comes down to money AP I think is about 200.
I do carpentry and painting for a living so it was pretty straight forward for me. If you inexperienced or don't have access to a quality table saw you may wanna order one.

Ap is an amazing company. I prefer diy still because of cost. I had a few ap cages when I kept Boas and loved them. Even an 8' cage is easy to move solo. Try that with a melamine cage

Re-amping this thread, been busy with a lot that I have YET to still get, but after seeing some comments I have some questions.

For AP cages, I saw mentioned you can have them drill extra holes, how would you know if you will need extra holes? I've never owned a PVC cage, glass currently so dealing with that BS, so I don't know if the holes they pre drill are enough or if I need more.

Second, for AP cages do you have to seal them?


Last question that's different topic; I plan for now and maybe for awhile to only own the one BP, would a herpstat 1 be fine for that?

What are you wanting the extra holes for? The AP cages come with vented slots and holes for the lighting if you choose that option. Best bet is to call and talk to them about exactly what you want, they are good about that.
If you plan to regulate only one heat source the herpstat one is fine, but even if you think you'll only keep one snake, that isn't usually the case with Bps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, AP will drill extra holes if you want them to. I needed an extra hole to run the power cord through for my Radiant heat panel. I just drilled a hole for that myself. PVC is extremely easy to drill through. If you don't mind drilling a hole, you'll be fine to do that yourself, then you can put it where you want it, if needed.

AP will send you a tube of sealant. They recommend you using it around the bottom joints and up the corners. This is just so urine, water, cleaner will stay inside the enclosure and it easier to clean. You don't need to seal the open surfaces of PVC, it won't rot. It's just to make it easier to clean and so mold can't grow.

Herpstat 1 - this depends on your heating setup. If you only have one heat source, this would be fine. If you're going with a T8 for one snake and are only going to use one 80w (or larger) RHP, you would be fine. Personally, I don't think heat tape alone is enough for a T8. I put a small snake into my T8, so I got the divider and am only using half of the T8 with a 40w RHP and heat tape. I have a Herpstat II, so I have a thermostat for each heat source.
You could get by using half of the T8 with only a 40w RHP and a Herpstat 1.

Yea for heat I am looking at running a RHP a 65watt from Pro Prosucts. I sent them my cage size (T8) and a round about and what temps we have house at and that's what they suggested. I also contacted AP about this and they said they can install the RHP for me so that'll be a plus for me not having to drill.

I think a herpstat2 might just be worth the extra $60 something bucks..

I just ordered a T8 the other day. Now the wait begins. But I'm excited to have an appropriate living space for my BP. Everyone says how pleasant it is talking to Ali at AP, they weren't wrong. Great person to work with to get my order going. Hopefully everything else goes smooth so that I can have this thing set up before summer is over :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EWC88

Yea for heat I am looking at running a RHP a 65watt from Pro Prosucts. I sent them my cage size (T8) and a round about and what temps we have house at and that's what they suggested. I also contacted AP about this and they said they can install the RHP for me so that'll be a plus for me not having to drill.

I think a herpstat2 might just be worth the extra $60 something bucks..

---

They are good people. It does still take a while to get your product, but the quality and the service was good enough for me that the time didn't matter.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SiXandSeven8ths

Everyone says how pleasant it is talking to Ali at AP, they weren't wrong. Great person to work with to get my order going.

---

Agreed, 100%

It seems to me that if you just want to duplicate what AP can do for you, and you aren't 100%sure of your skills at such a project, the difference in price doesn't seem worth the trouble oh its own.

To me, reasons to go diy would be that you want something specific that's different; you need it sooner than AP will deliver; you know you have the skills and equipment to do a good job reasonably efficiently and with a minimum of fuss; or you just like projects like that and will find it rewarding for its own sake. If none of those things is true, just save yourself a lot of trouble and buy one.