How tall and how to heat with flexi?

Trying to get an idea about how high I could stack 6' by 2' cages without being to high to deal with and looking weird. I would think having them stacked 6' would be easy to acess but look weird. Being 4' would be a good height I would think. And then, How do you heat the wooden cages? o you put the flexi under it and leave a small space so it doesn't over heat? Of course I will use a t-stat. Would need to be ok for boas.

I'm going to stack my boaphile cages 5 high.. that makes a stack around 5' tall. I don't mind cleaning the one sitting on the floor, but I don't want to have to strain to reach a cage over my head.. not to mention you can't see unless you have a stool.. lol big boas + standing on a stool may not be a great idea.

I don't know how to heat wooden cages.. I don't have any, nor do I want any. Plastic is just so easy to clean and disinfect.

For the heating wood cages, I thought about laying the flexwatt on the wood and then laying a thin peice of plexiglass on it. Also for overheating I was gonna drill holes in the wood then the heat could get out and air could get in.

But how high wouldn't look wierd? I mean having the cages stacked 9' like the ceiling would be cool and all but not functional at all. Would having cages stacked 5' high look wierd in a room thats 9' tall?

What would there be to look 'weird'? You can set some of your supplies on top of the stack of cages (or hatchling racks if you're breeding your snakes)

I use the cage tops as shelf space.. I can't see it looking weird.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

What would there be to look 'weird'? You can set some of your supplies on top of the stack of cages (or hatchling racks if you're breeding your snakes)

I use the cage tops as shelf space.. I can't see it looking weird.

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I also do the same thing, the tops are designed to hold junk! lol

http://www.aircapitalconstrictors.co...s/000_2176.jpg

http://www.aircapitalconstrictors.co...s/000_2177.jpg

You can see the stuff on top. The top shelf is supported by a thick cross beam and there is WAAAAYYYYYYY more junk on top now....LOL

I know you want to build a cage of wood, but tubs would be better and easier to clean IMO. If you are set on cages, then I would go with plastic, you'll wish you had if that wood starts to asorb the feces and water from spilt water bowls uno. Even Melamine, over time, will begin to absorb the wetness.

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

I know you want to build a cage of wood, but tubs would be better and easier to clean IMO. If you are set on cages, then I would go with plastic, you'll wish you had if that wood starts to asorb the feces and water from spilt water bowls uno. Even Melamine, over time, will begin to absorb the wetness.

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Damn skippy! Good advice Jim!

Thanks bud.

I made some boa cages out of melamine and installed an 11" x 24" piece of flexwatt inside the cage sandwiched between 2 layers of ceramic tiles. I don't have a problem with the melamine absorbing moisture, but I keep the aspen about 3 inches thick for absorbency. ;) Here are some pics of the cage.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...s/boacage2.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...os/heatboa.jpg

All I know is that my big boa pees and poos like a St Bernard. It would soak right into the wood. I have an AP cage and I use kraft paper liners.

Here is a pic of the cages installed and a pic of the female before she dropped enjoying the warm spot.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...einstalled.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...oawarmspot.jpg

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Originally Posted by jglass38

All I know is that my big boa pees and poos like a St Bernard. It would soak right into the wood. I have an AP cage and I use kraft paper liners.

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Its all personal preference, everybody uses what works for them. My female is about 7' and has large urates, but the aspen I use seems to do a good job of absorbing. ;)

That's an AWEsome looking herp room ya got there, Bill! :gj:

For years I used wood cages, and I'm glad I don't have a single wood cage left.... broke out the beer to celebrate when I ditched them for tubs. It is a personal preference as to what you use. We all do things a little different.



If you do build wood like I once did. I applied about 4 heavy coats of latex based paint to the bottoms and sides of the cages. This prevented any spills of any nature from being absorbed into the wood. The wood never lost any of its integrity over time.



I also re-painted the cages every year.... what a pain!



Most people at some point run into mites, mites will thank you dearly for using wood cages.... they love wood. You will have a hell of a time getting rid of them from wood cages.



They fit into the smallest gaps, lay eggs and it's a major pain!



Plastic tubs, no gaps, no where to lay eggs, no where to hide.... easy to clean and will last longer then wood. I do think plastic offers and more hygenic environment to keep reptiles in. Just my 2c

But it's all personal preference and what you want to do.

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Originally Posted by JLC

That's an AWEsome looking herp room ya got there, Bill! :gj:

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Thanks, its looks even more "full" since I took this picture. I have several more racks that I made in the room, plus a large incubator. Amy told me the other day "it seems every time you make a rack it suddenly has occupants, where are they coming from?" I just smile and say "I don't know, they must be sneaking in". :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Wild Bill

Thanks, its looks even more "full" since I took this picture. I have several more racks that I made in the room, plus a large incubator. Amy told me the other day "it seems every time you make a rack it suddenly has occupants, where are they coming from?" I just smile and say "I don't know, they must be sneaking in". :rolleyes:

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Yuppo, nice looking room you got there Bill. Don't those "Occupants" come with racks? :)

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Originally Posted by Sputnik

Yuppo, nice looking room you got there Bill. Don't those "Occupants" come with racks? :)

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I figure she would lose track after awhile, but she always knows when there is a new one. I can't "fly under the radar" like I used too. :(

Is there any tubs that are ok for LARGE females?

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Is there any tubs that are ok for LARGE females?

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The VE175 from www.reptiletubs.com . Dimensions: 20 7/8"W x 52 7/8"L x 14 1/16"H . How large of a female?

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Originally Posted by jglass38

The VE175 from www.reptiletubs.com . Dimensions: 20 7/8"W x 52 7/8"L x 14 1/16"H . How large of a female?

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Thanks for posting that site, I have been looking for those for months. I didn't know they made a HUGE 52 inch long one.... very cool!

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Originally Posted by Sputnik

Thanks for posting that site, I have been looking for those for months. I didn't know they made a HUGE 52 inch long one.... very cool!

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Voila! Good luck! They ship fast and take good care of there customers!

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Originally Posted by jglass38

The VE175 from www.reptiletubs.com . Dimensions: 20 7/8"W x 52 7/8"L x 14 1/16"H . How large of a female?

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Well I mean when they get bigger as in 7-8'.

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Well I mean when they get bigger as in 7-8'.

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Those might be a bit small then. At that point I think AP or Boaphiles are the way to go.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Those might be a bit small then. At that point I think AP or Boaphiles are the way to go.

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CHA CHING!!!

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

CHA CHING!!!

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No argument there! Gotta pay to play :P

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Originally Posted by jglass38

No argument there! Gotta pay to play :P

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LMAO. Those are cheaper than corian anyways like my original plan was

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

LMAO. Those are cheaper than corian anyways like my original plan was

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Corian?

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Corian?

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Ya, solid surface material thats I think 100% acrylic. I made a 4' by 2' cage out of it already. A bit heavy but nice looking and sturdy plus it holds humidity and heat very well. We have had a solid surface buisness in our family for almost 20 years. The sheets are 130" by 30" and you can get plain white for like $175 a sheet
Heres the cage I built already that Ruby lives in.
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL591.../152966898.jpg

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Ya, solid surface material thats I think 100% acrylic. I made a 4' by 2' cage out of it already. A bit heavy but nice looking and sturdy plus it holds humidity and heat very well. We have had a solid surface buisness in our family for almost 20 years. The sheets are 130" by 30" and you can get plain white for like $175 a sheet
Heres the cage I built already that Ruby lives in.
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL591.../152966898.jpg

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Nice! Looks sharp!

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Nice! Looks sharp!

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Thanks, It wouldn't cost too much to build a stack 4' tall of 6' by 30" cages

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Thanks, It wouldn't cost too much to build a stack 4' tall of 6' by 30" cages

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Sounds like it would be!

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Corian?

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Hey that's the stuff countertops are made of!! That cage has gotta be pretty heavy!

:taz:

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

Hey that's the stuff countertops are made of!! That cage has gotta be pretty heavy!

:taz:

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^ a few posts up lol
It would weigh less than melamin actully
Oh ya, the sheets are 144 by 30"