scheming PVC mods at Casa de Crook

Still no response from either of my cage manufacturers regarding parts/panels for my existing cages. May just get a 4x8’ sheet of 3/8” pvc from Lowe’s and cut pieces to divide and reshelve my T25 and divide my 8’x32x24”. Would also leave enough extra material to make a two level level rack that could hold combos of 12/28qt sterilite tubs for hatchling/yearling grow out space.

If those tubs are indeed the same heights as they are listed online (will measure at
Wal-Mart before committing to cutting and building) I might just do this. Could make all necessary cage amendments AND add a tiny rack all said and done for like $150-160? And that would include tubs, heat for the rack, as well as two 3D printed perches for the smaller tubs.

Would be white pvc but at this point I’m not sure I care? Pretty sure this would save enough $ to fund the cost of two 100watt pro-heat RHPs for the divided 8’ cage when they become needed and fully complete all changes needed with caging for every current critter in my care for the next several years.

Or I could use those savings to buy more snakes... [emoji48]


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Don't know how long you've been waiting for responses, but at this time of year, I'm betting they're buried with the crush of holiday orders to fill. Better customer
service would be nice but for small operations, I'd bet they gravitate to the orders that provide them with maximum remuneration? And you sound pretty handy. ;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Don't know how long you've been waiting for responses, but at this time of year, I'm betting they're buried with the crush of holiday orders to fill. Better customer
service would be nice but for small operations, I'd bet they gravitate to the orders that provide them with maximum remuneration? And you sound pretty handy. ;)

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AP hasn’t responded to my emails in a year and a half lol. Facebook messaged my other cage guy and I can see that he read the message but no reply. I can’t say I blame them for wanting to fill more expensive/profitable requests though.

And yeah, I’m pretty handy. Also have access to a full woodshop in my department at the campus where I teach. Once materials are in hand I could have all of this done and built in an afternoon at most probably? Already made a cuts list online and can do it all in a single 4x8’ sheet of material.

Only hang up is that the parts/panels would be white and all of my cages are black. Could paint them I guess... I just like the idea of using unfinished straight up pvc for everything for cleaning and surface durability


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That's terrible about AP not responding. :(

I see what you mean about black vs. white, & I personally I wouldn't want to paint them...I'm picturing the inevitable paint chipping off & showing white spots?

I think black cages look very cool, but I'd personally opt for white -to reflect more natural light in the cages for the snakes & also better for me to see what's going on.
And the savings is nice too, but totally your call.

Also worth noting is that once the boas grow up enough in a few years or so, the divider and split shelves will come out of the T25, leaving only one white pvc panel divider in my 8’ cage. I’m gonna stick some white foam between cages just to get a visualization of how things might look. For the savings I could have I think I might be able to tolerate some white in my sea of black enclosures lol


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Best of luck with your new challenge. :)

Measured 12 & 28 qt tubs at walmart... different heights. No dice on the 12/28qt combo rack plan

However there are 12.7qt and 25qt tubs that are within 1/8" of being the same height. 12.7 is just about 1/8" shorter. Possibly a hair less.

My concerns here: If shelves/levels are built at the same heights so as to be interchangeable, then with heat tape installed the 12.7qt tub would fit great. The 25qt would be a bit snug and wear on the heat tape over time. Could build with the 25qt height in mind and make a plexiglass or other thin material "shim" of sorts to minimize the gap at the top of the 12.7qt? If that makes sense...

Those that are rack users, am I over thinking the issue with the gap between rim of tub and top of shelf? 1/16 would be ideal in my mind as I would worry about tiny hatchlings squeezing their way out. Would be used as a grow out rack for my rockhampton coastal carpet 30grams and other later additions to the collection here over time. Maybe more carpets, maybe neonate boas.

Discovered an option online to have this all done in full 1/2” black expanded pvc and cut exactly to size and shipped... for about 4x the cost of doing it myself hah!
May actually consider it though. My ocd and valuation of my free time would be greatly relieved to make all necessary cage mods and builds executed in perfectly matching materials and all I’d need to do is some drilling/assembly and maybe have fun with a router to do recessed heat tape on the potential rack build.


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Ordered a bunch of cut to size black pvc panels to divide and shelve the bigger cages. With my current teaching/work load I decided I’d pay a premium to have everything pretty much pre fab and save some headache. Will hold off on rack purchase or construction for a bit too. Just need to scratch part of the itch for new snake room gear


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Got my pvc parts in from Acme Plastics online. A little pricey but at least they match my cages and are cut exactly to the sizes I specified. Fits my T25 absolutely like a glove. Reptile basics rack should be here in a couple weeks too hopefully.
Now to dial in temps and move boas around. I’m going to hold off putting the carpet in the divided T8, she’s just so tiny. She’ll go in the rack for a while once it’s here. Then I’ve got plenty of tub/enclosure space to plot future additions lol


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Originally Posted by jmcrook

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Got my pvc parts in from Acme Plastics online. A little pricey but at least they match my cages and are cut exactly to the sizes I specified. Fits my T25 absolutely like a glove. Reptile basics rack should be here in a couple weeks too hopefully.
Now to dial in temps and move boas around. I’m going to hold off putting the carpet in the divided T8, she’s just so tiny. She’ll go in the rack for a while once it’s here. Then I’ve got plenty of tub/enclosure space to plot future additions lol


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Looking sharp my man!

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Originally Posted by Gio

Looking sharp my man!

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Thanks, buddy! Both the boas honestly have plenty of space in the divided T8 but I kinda want to go ahead and move them in here for a change of scenery. Seeing these huge empty cages is driving me nuts hah!

Just need to cut down some posts for perches, dump some bedding, and then we’re set!


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Working on perches and prep and stuff. Ordered a bunch of cheap amazon vines/garland to wrap the perches. Will wash/air out before using with the animals.
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Leonard is already tiny but half of a T25 makes him look like a newborn worm again.
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Bonus pic of the red lights in the cage, darkened room, and light from my parking lot coming through the blinds
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Vines and twines. Ivy garland from amazon and coconut coir twine/rope from Lowe’s
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Looking good there JM! :)

My Labor Day weekend project showed up today. Sweet! PH-12 100watt RHPs for the divided 8’ cage.
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Its going to be a good weekend!

What are the metal clips you have holding up the dowel?

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Originally Posted by Nick_MD

What are the metal clips you have holding up the dowel?

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Corner brackets from Lowe’s. The corners are a bit pointy for my liking so I file them down. The ones that Gio uses in his cages have about a 45° angle on the corner areas though and seem better to me. Think he got them from Home Depot?


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Next puzzle piece for these big ass 4’ cages. Sky hides beneath the shelf under the heat panel and ceiling on the cool side. Using the large hide mounting brackets from Reptile basics. Pretty snug sliding the hides in and out but that beats the alternative.
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I always thought the sky hides were the coolest idea for semi arboreal species. Looks great jm

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Originally Posted by Toad37

I always thought the sky hides were the coolest idea for semi arboreal species. Looks great jm

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Curious to see how much usage they get from my boas once they’re both in one of these enclosures. I think the carpets will go nuts for them though. Feeding time will become Death from Above hah


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Cut and wrapped perches just now. These and the divided 6’ cage above feel like the perfect balance of pleasing aesthetics and minimalism for my keeping. Not a totally bare/sterile cage but can be emptied in less than a minute for deep cleaning when necessary.
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That looks great...& I like how you think...pretty but still has to be practical. :gj:

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Corner brackets from Lowe’s. The corners are a bit pointy for my liking so I file them down. The ones that Gio uses in his cages have about a 45° angle on the corner areas though and seem better to me. Think he got them from Home Depot?


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For crying out loud!!

Where do these posts come and go from?

Yes, those are the same version of perches that I have from Home Depot.

Prior to that all I had were the perches that Ed Lilly provided with his cages.

Once you go with bigger sized dowels or branches, you need solid hardware.

JM has done and excellent job.

A lot of our discussion related to this stuff happened in the Giant Python forums when we had retics.

Those ideas work well for almost all semi arboreal snakes that have some size on them.

Just ordered three 4x30x18 with heat panels, selves, and locks from Herptastic Reptiles. Comparable price to AP with half the lead time, 10-12 weeks or possibly less. Will then have ample housing for every animal here, and then some, well into adulthood.

Was fiddling around with dialing temps in the divided 8’ cage and learned the RHPs were creating a ~90° hot spot in the floor of the 6’ cage, but not where I wanted the heat to be. Could center the divided 6’ enclosure to get around that and use the bottom cages to create the floor hot spots in the cage above, but it throws off the visual balance of things in the room and that irritates my ocd a bit.

By stacking 4’ cages on top with the same footprint and panel placement as the cages below I should be able to use the heat transfer to my advantage theoretically for belly heat in the top enclosures while also running those panels less. Again, a theory for the moment until I can test it all out.

A good reminder for me on how to be flexible and adaptable with husbandry methods and such. May end up meaning that the 6 footer needs to go elsewhere when there’s a single animal occupying it, but we can cross that bridge when we get there in a few more years or so.


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Still waiting on the three new enclosures, but planning next moves with dialing in the larger enclosures. Was told mine are next to be cut when they’re back in the shop.

Redoing the current larger cage LEDs to face inward from inside the door tracks vs downward from the ceiling... less glare on the glass and better lighting in the cage. Win+win

Got cork bark, grapevines, coco husk chips, perches, shelves, skyhides, and RHPs. May do some smaller black Iris tub humid hides that can double as a secondary shelf in the future too. Similar sized to RBI hides, but fully enclosed with a latching top. Can lift a hiding animal out of the cage for cleaning without disturbing it when needed.

Thankfully the academic year is about to end and I can spend and absurd amount of time soon working on my snake room, herping, and art making for the summer. Ready for a break to say the least, it’s been a helluva school year

This is where I kick back and get myself right at the end of a long day/week/month/year...

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Good idea on the lights -aiming away from front glass- looks great. Even better is looking forward to vacation. :D

Thanks, Bogertophis! Also just caught my oldest in the middle of shedding as we speak.
What a great night in my snake room!!
[emoji16][emoji1665][emoji482][emoji216][emoji216][emoji216][emoji216][emoji216][emoji216][emoji216]
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Your poor snake...trying to undress in the dark with nobody looking, & you caught him anyway! :rofl:

Went ahead and moved the boas into the 4x2.5x2’ enclosures and guided them into their tallest sky hides to ensure they’d find them. We’ll see if they actually use them.

Floor temps 78-80°, hot spot on the shelves and perches ~90-93° (a tad warm but only on the highest point of the perches), sky hide under shelves at 83-84°, thermostat probes cable clamped to the back wall under the panel set to 87°. Temps held steady all night.

Headed to the studio and we’ll see what the critters are up to when I return later.

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Game on!!
Looking spectacular brother.
Well done 👍

"I just love what you did with the place"...said each of your snakes! ;) (I really like the "sky-hide" concept too.)

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Originally Posted by Gio

Game on!!
Looking spectacular brother.
Well done [emoji106]

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Thanks, bud! Note to self and others: when installing cage items it’s best to do so prior to dialing in your heating elements, especially RHPs...
sweating my ass off in a 78° room laying directly under the panels installing lights lol!


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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Thanks, bud! Note to self and others: when installing cage items it’s best to do so prior to dialing in your heating elements, especially RHPs...
sweating my ass off in a 78° room laying directly under the panels installing lights lol!


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Good advice. :rofl: Experience is the best teacher, or so I've heard? But only a fool turns down helpful hints!

They look fantastic

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Thanks, bud! Note to self and others: when installing cage items it’s best to do so prior to dialing in your heating elements, especially RHPs...
sweating my ass off in a 78° room laying directly under the panels installing lights lol!


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I have learned to remove the animals and unplug things to avoid just that.

It's crazy how much heat the RHP's can kick out.

I remember when I was fully inside the 6 foot cage making adjustments with the panel on. It was like Death Valley inside.

Lesson learned.

New enclosures shipped today. Sitting in my snake room looking at the large enclosures and visualizing the second and third stories of enclosures that will be stacked on top... getting pumped to officially kick off my summer break with some serious snake room work soon.
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Second & THIRD stories? You WILL be busy! :D

Currently unused 6 footer will be stacked on top, 4.2.5x1.5 (x2) in the middle, 4x2.5x2 (x2) on the bottom. Across from that will be (from the top down) 4x2x1, 4x2x1, 4x2.5x1.5.

Planning is lots of fun, but it's even more fun "filling them up".

Enclosures arrived today. They forgot the shelves for all of them, but sent me 4 enclosures instead of 3 as well as LEDs that I did not request... [emoji2369]

Also FedEx cracked 2 of 4 RHPs. Talked to Chris at Herptastic and he’s going to get shelves cut and shipped in the next few days. Also sending replacement RHPs and a shipping label for me to return the broken ones.

Sending back the LEDs with the panels and they’re letting me keep the 4th enclosure as they said they had me down for 4. I dunno, but okay. Not even going to assemble it as I have nowhere to put it unless I start taking over every room in my apt.

Sneak peek of things to come. The 6 footer is going to be up top with two of the new enclosures in the middle. That stack will be just under 5.5’ tall. Another stack behind me that will have a new one on the bottom with two 4x2x1 on top. That one will be right at 5’ tall.

Next move I make will be an absolute nightmare, but not planning on leaving this place until I buy a house eventually.

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Y’all. It’s getting real over here. Shelves for here yesterday so now the new enclosures are fully built and stacks are getting tall. Letting sealant cure and temps get dialed, then we’ll work on getting coastal carpets set up in their likely forever homes. I’m wiped out and gonna treat myself to some well deserved barley sodas [emoji482][emoji216]
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Looking awsome [emoji106][emoji106]

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Oh yeah!! That’s a great looking setup Crook!! :partyon:

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

........and stacks are getting tall.
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Wow that's a Nice Setup!!

And thanks for that pic...

I was looking at building shelving but the price of wood Ugh! Then looking at metal shelving, still Ugh

Then I see the moving dollies under there and the light bulb went off in my head!!

Nice efficient way to stack enclosures and still be able to move them out to clean behind there. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Gocntry

Wow that's a Nice Setup!!

And thanks for that pic...

I was looking at building shelving but the price of wood Ugh! Then looking at metal shelving, still Ugh

Then I see the moving dollies under there and the light bulb went off in my head!!

Nice efficient way to stack enclosures and still be able to move them out to clean behind there. :gj:

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Thanks! Yeah the cart is just three Milwaukee furniture dollys and two 1x4x8’ pieces of whitewood from Lowe’s. Heavy duty door pulls mounted to the underside of the left and right dollys. Makes getting behind them to deal with cords/probes/etc much easier. May put the chest freezer on a dolly eventually too


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Stack #2 completed and a quick wide angle shot of the room which barely gets it all in the frame. Now to prep a bunch of coconut mulch, get some decorative elements placed, and shuffle some critters into larger enclosures. Once I’ve got everything dialed I’ll give specific details on all the new cages, perches, perch holders, etc.
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Your snake room is looking great! How do you like the new cages vs the AP?

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Originally Posted by 67temp

Your snake room is looking great! How do you like the new cages vs the AP?

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Thanks temp! Overall functionality-wise I think they’ll be pretty comparable to AP. There’s a bunch of little attention to detail points that I’ll do a write up on hopefully soon. Things like rounding of edges, stacking pin holes, etc that I think give AP the edge, but these will certainly do the trick from a utilitarian perspective. Once I’ve actually got critters in them I’ll have a better idea how I feel.


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