DIY Snake Terrarium: Using Cellular PVC sheet?

I’ve been interested for sometime to make a tank for my ball python, I went to Home Depot and looked at some Melamine the boards weren’t the sizes I would like without putting pieces together, so then I saw Cellular PVC sheet that I could cut down to size to make a 40 gal tank, idk if that would be okay to be used? Does anyone know about cellular pvc sheet would be okay to be used for a snake tank https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...187b51ad53.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2ecc929aa.heic


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It works really well. I've made 2 4'x2'x1' out of it recently and love it.

Here is a pic of one of them. Ignore the sharpie marks, couldn't find my marking pencils when I cut the pieces out so used the sharpie... Ended up painting the front black also.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4449/3...24e01416_c.jpg

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Originally Posted by Randall L Turner Jr

Here is a pic of one of them. Ignore the sharpie marks, couldn't find my marking pencils when I cut the pieces out so used the sharpie... Ended up painting the front black also.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4449/3...24e01416_c.jpg

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Okay now that I know about it did you use anything to seal it for when you spray/mist inside even though the pvc says moisture and mold resistant?


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The material surface doesn't have to be sealed. I do use Scigrip solvent to weld the joints together though. So it is water tight. Scigrip 3 and 4 are water thin solvents that you use a squeeze tube to run it along the joints, capillary action pulls the solvent into the joint, and the solvent "melts" the material causing it to resolidify together.

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Originally Posted by Randall L Turner Jr

The material surface doesn't have to be sealed. I do use Scigrip solvent to weld the joints together though. So it is water tight. Scigrip 3 and 4 are water thin solvents that you use a squeeze tube to run it along the joints, capillary action pulls the solvent into the joint, and the solvent "melts" the material causing it to resolidify together.

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I take it you used it on the inside of the tank and outside? And used both 3 and 4 or just one of them?


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You can use either 3 or 4. One has a working time of about a minute, the other about 2 minutes. (after which they are fairly well set and will hold in place). The solvent will work its way from one side of the joint to the other so only have to apply it to one side. (I usually squeeze it onto the inside of the joint as it is easier to apply it that way.)

Also, the scigrip solvent will solvent weld most extruded styrene glass tracks to the pvc sheet as well. (have used Knape & Vogt, Stanley and Randall brand tracks successfully) Makes it a lot easier than trying to glue those tracks on smoothly and evenly. Just clamp it in place, squeeze the solvent on, wait a few minutes and tada the track is attached.

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Originally Posted by Randall L Turner Jr

Also, the scigrip solvent will solvent weld most extruded styrene glass tracks to the pvc sheet as well. (have used Knape & Vogt, Stanley and Randall brand tracks successfully) Makes it a lot easier than trying to glue those tracks on smoothly and evenly. Just clamp it in place, squeeze the solvent on, wait a few minutes and tada the track is attached.

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Did you use the solvent to glue it all together or were those screws or nails then you used the solvent to make it a water tight seal?


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Here are a handful of other photos.

This is the other 4' made from the Veranda material after being painted.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4479/3...eb925679_c.jpg

Here is a 1/4" pvc enclosure during assembly, Showing the material mid build and also one showing me applying the solvent.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4424/3...c2d1b849_c.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4473/2...08b0d97c_c.jpg

Here are a couple 1/4" pvc enclosures built with the solvent.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4398/3...49da701c_c.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4402/3...6aa8449e_c.jpg

Nice videos on a DIY PVC cage idea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_pQMwZOAnc

Sort of part 2 (added info on what he finished it with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt_bP4q-hrQ

The screws are used to initially assemble it, make sure all edges are flush and straight. I then apply the solvent to the enclosure, after which the screws could be removed, but leaving them in doesn't hurt anything, and does provide some structural strength.

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Originally Posted by SDA

Nice videos on a DIY PVC cage idea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_pQMwZOAnc

Sort of part 2 (added info on what he finished it with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt_bP4q-hrQ

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For what he did with the heat tape could the same thing be used for a UTH then having a title on top of it with a probe connected to a thermostat controlling the heat getting to high?


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Originally Posted by Randall L Turner Jr

The screws are used to initially assemble it, make sure all edges are flush and straight. I then apply the solvent to the enclosure, after which the screws could be removed, but leaving them in doesn't hurt anything, and does provide some structural strength.

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Is there a different brand for the solvent I see that Amazon has the Scigrip 3 but does Oatey have an equivalent of this? Or would it be heavy duty PVC cement


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I've never used the pvc cement from hardware stores before on enclosures. I know of a few people who have used it with success, but the fact it is dyed and requires application to the points that are being glued together is why I avoided using it. More risk of getting parts out of alignment after the glue is on and I start assembly. Scigrip is the only water thin solvent I know of (they purchased Weldon which is what I used before.)

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Originally Posted by Randall L Turner Jr

I've never used the pvc cement from hardware stores before on enclosures. I know of a few people who have used it with success, but the fact it is dyed and requires application to the points that are being glued together is why I avoided using it. More risk of getting parts out of alignment after the glue is on and I start assembly. Scigrip is the only water thin solvent I know of (they purchased Weldon which is what I used before.)

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Okay that's fine what about using a UTH inside the tank and having bathroom tile on top of it and silicone? I've never used heat tape.

Or using the UTH under the tank as intended would it get to the right temp like that?


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I use heat tape underneath my enclosures. I routered a 1/4" wide groove half way from back to front where I wanted to put the heat tape, put the probe in the routered groove, tape the heat tape to the bottom and walla. I also use radiant heat panels in some enclosures (my preferred way to heat) and will eventually have all of them with RHP.

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Originally Posted by Randall L Turner Jr

I use heat tape underneath my enclosures. I routered a 1/4" wide groove half way from back to front where I wanted to put the heat tape, put the probe in the routered groove, tape the heat tape to the bottom and walla. I also use radiant heat panels in some enclosures (my preferred way to heat) and will eventually have all of them with RHP.

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https://youtu.be/Qt_bP4q-hrQ

In the video at 5:20 he shows he uses heat tape I would hope or try to use a UTH and the same method using the tile but where he said he sanded it down to slide the tape in i thought if I made a big enough opening if I needed to slide the UTH in and out and for the tile have it risen up a bit so it would slide out with ease if I had to replace it.


Of course using a probe connected to a thermostat to make sure it doesn't get above the recommended heat.


I know it's not really ideal what I'm thinking but it's just a thought.



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Why are you wanting to get the heat tape in the enclosure? The tape will heat the material up and transfer the heat into the inside surface well, while avoiding putting the heat tape/pad at risk of being exposed to moisture. You can still put tiles inside over the hot spot if you'd like.

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Originally Posted by Randall L Turner Jr

Why are you wanting to get the heat tape in the enclosure? The tape will heat the material up and transfer the heat into the inside surface well, while avoiding putting the heat tape/pad at risk of being exposed to moisture. You can still put tiles inside over the hot spot if you'd like.

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My question is then will the heat transfer from under the tank into the inside using the PVC because if so then I wouldn't need to use tile on the inside.


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Yes it will transfer very well through the pvc. Bonus with the 1/2" material, it'll hold onto the warmth better than 1/4" so once to temp it will hold the heat better when doing enclosure cleaning etc.

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Originally Posted by Randall L Turner Jr

Yes it will transfer very well through the pvc. Bonus with the 1/2" material, it'll hold onto the warmth better than 1/4" so once to temp it will hold the heat better when doing enclosure cleaning etc.

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Thank you


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