Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
so i started to build my first BP cage, i know its high but i would rather have that option so i can use it for something other then a BP once i start breeding and convert to a rack system. The measurements are 36x18x18. Since i am housing 2 snakes and there babys im dividing the cage with a removable divider. the cage when finished will be painted inside with a water proof paint and have alot of cover so the space isnt going to over whelm the snake... well onto the pics! criticism is welcome !!!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...Picture001.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...Picture002.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...Picture004.jpg
the hole on each side of the top is where i will be placing the heat lights and the center hole was cut specifically for a bi light housing strip thing lol. just to act as a sun so to speak and not emitting heat. im debating wether or not to use a UTH or flexwatt. but thats up in the air still the front of the cage is a solid door with 2 10x12 pieces of glass framed out to look like windows one centered on each side. im hoping by this weekend i can start testing temps so i can make it perfect by april's reptile show :)
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
im wondering is how will that mesh stop the snake from contacting the heat lamp
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
Isn't 18 x 18 a little small for an adult BP? A 9" water bowl would take up a full quarter of their floor space. Just a thought.
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ranger
Isn't 18 x 18 a little small for an adult BP? A 9" water bowl would take up a full quarter of their floor space. Just a thought.
definately is! its for hatchlings :) as they grow ill take out the divider and build a 2nd cage for the one and keep the other in that tank 36x18x18 is big enough
for an adult :)/
and the mesh is very thin the snake cannot fit into it. and the heat lamp wont completely be touching the cage.
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
that mesh sure looks like 1/2 to me
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
well i have it so the actual dome is going to be on the wood not the mesh, and the bulb will be 1.5-2 inches away from the mesh, the mesh holes are 1/2 by 1 and now that i look at it a snake could fit its head in it so im gonna go oover and criss cross another layer of it overtop of it. just in case. but other then that it should be ok no? not to be rude or anything but is that what you mean? if not can ya explain? i am doing this all now a month and a half before i buy a snake so i can make all the tweaks to it before i encounter a problem :) thanks alot!
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ranger
Isn't 18 x 18 a little small for an adult BP? A 9" water bowl would take up a full quarter of their floor space. Just a thought.
Definitely not for a hatchling or juvie ball python.
A 9" water bowl is huge, I don't even know why you would need a bowl that big..
Nice enclosure, do you plan on putting tile down or something on the bottom?
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
you should but somthing in the front that would go directly behind the doors to keep you bedding in the cage
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
Metal hardware cloth in a BP's cage is not a good idea, I can already imagine your BP being injured because of this, it will also rust with the humidity needed for your BP.
I would suggest screen mesh.
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
I'd also reccomend screen mesh instead. A ledge across the front will help keep the bedding in there so that it won't be falling out every time you open the front door. That's some very NICE woodworking by the way. I can't wait to see the finished product. You could also think about using fiberglass resin(not the fabric part, just the resin) to paint the inside, which would seal it up nicely. Or food safe epoxy.
Good luck, and build some more stuff!!
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
thanks for the responses! i did make sure there was no loose metal on the edges of the mesh. and i wasnt sure if i could use a different kind of mesh that wouldnt burn with a heat light. and yes there is going to be a lip across the front about 2 inches high. im going to use coconut fiber bedding. and im painting the insides as im typing this with a nontoxic paint and am goign to be letting it sit with the heat and everything just to double check that its ok and no fumes are goign to be with it. its still a work in progress it should be complete with heal lights and suck by next week im ordering the flexwatt tonight. and i went to the dollar store and bought some bowls to use as hides. i hope there not too small. shouldnt be. but ill be posting more pictures tonight with the inside painted! thanks for the imput . also what kind of mesh can i use that is harmless to the snakes? thanks!
also would it work if i moved the mesh to theoutside of the cage instead?
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...cture006-1.jpg
painted the inside today and the back of the front door
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...cture007-1.jpg
close up of the color ( i still need to touch up alot )
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...cture008-1.jpg
entire outside. the paper is covering the glass windows so i can paint the trim tomorrow. i attached the hinges locks and knob this evening. the exterior is going to be sanded and painted the same as the door on the inside (black) to match my room.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...Picture009.jpg
frontal view.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...Picture010.jpg
this is my only issue thus far aside from the metal mesh between the lighting and inside. will i be able to use weather stripping to seal this gap? im very sure nothing could excape it animal wise, its a llittle less then 1/4 inch wide. and thats the farthest the thing will go no wider thank god.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...cture012-1.jpg
this is the substrate i will be using once finished.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...Picture013.jpg
this is what hides i will be using they will be painted due to light passing through them very easily. are these too big? or too small?
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94...cture015-1.jpg
thats one of the hides next to a 3 stack of the eco earth coconut fiber substrate . the bowls are less then 3 inches tall. feedback is welcome!! should be completely painted and all issues resolved this weekend! thanks for looking!
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
what kind of wood did you use?????
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
Nice enclosure!
Just on a side note... I plan on keeping my adult male Ball Pythons in 24x18x15 enclosures... just a thought.
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DutchHerp
Nice enclosure!
Just on a side note... I plan on keeping my adult male Ball Pythons in 24x18x15 enclosures... just a thought.
i got my adults in a 4x2x1 and they seem to love it
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...IMG00316-1.jpg
the bottom cage is 4'x2'x18" the rest are 4x2x1
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
To each their own, Zombie :)
It's great to see that someone has healthy BPs in nice, large enclosures.
When my males just get too big, I'll put them in bigger cages.
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
[/QUOTE]
thats one of the hides next to a 3 stack of the eco earth coconut fiber substrate . the bowls are less then 3 inches tall. feedback is welcome!! should be completely painted and all issues resolved this weekend! thanks for looking![/QUOTE]
i really like the eco earth cocofiber only thing i ran in to is that if you use lamps it zaps the humidity out of it. so what i did just testing it is mixing eco earth with cypress mulch and see how well and how long the humidity stays up
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
I would perhaps put trim or something so that the door fits inside, and there isn't that gap. BP's are very adept at escaping, sometimes thru impossibly tiny gaps. Even if you dont think they can. I had a hatchling get out through a tiny bit larger than a 1/4" gap..... As it looks by your pics, I would assume the snake could easily get thru that.
Think about covering your top wire mesh with some screen.
Re: Building a BP cage for 2 ! (pics)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rejekt
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DutchHerp
To each their own, Zombie :)
It's great to see that someone has healthy BPs in nice, large enclosures.
When my males just get too big, I'll put them in bigger cages.
you are very correct sir to each is own . just don't be like me and get stubborn about it hahahahaha
