I give up!

[Skittles1101]

I am so frustrated. For the past month I've been thinking of ideas to build my own stacked ball python cages. Originally I was going to build 4 individual wood cages with rubber feet to stack and plexiglass front doors. Then I wanted a book shelf type enclosure with 4 "shelves" and again plexiglass front hinged doors (considered sliding doors too). But unable to use pine, cedar, or fir for plywood, MDF is way too heavy to carry up my stairs to the second floor, and all other woods are just insanely expensive. I wanted something to "showcase" my snakes, since I can't really have too many. My landlord might have a heart attack if he knew I wanted 4 more...but still! I don't mind the rack systems they are just expensive to buy online, and they seem kind of small for a full grown ball python. I know they are great for breeders and people with multiple snakes, but I only wanted like 4. It seems like for the price of building my own I might as well get it online, which is way too much. Anyone have any nice looking and comfortable ideas for housing 4 snakes? Any pictures would be nice, I'm pretty handy so I can make something myself, I just need ideas! It's driving me crazy lol. Thanks!

Leah

[DarrinLowe]

A while back, I think in January. Ohhwhataloser had some pictures of his cages he built, and they seem pretty nice and might fit what you are looking for..

[Skittles1101]

Thank you, that is exactly along the lines of what I'm looking for. Do you have a link to the thread? I just don't know what materials are needed...

[jason79]

I built these out of 3/4 plywood sanded on one side. I used a water based stain and water based polyurethane.

[dragonboy4578]

I cannot find the thread, but someone had taken a tub and cut a hole in it for a plexi glass window to be screwed into. They used a fairly large tub that way around the size of a 20 gallon aquarium. The lid was held in place with luggage straps. The rest of the tub was set up like a normal aquarium with bedding, hides and fake plants ext... The person that posted this stated that it gave him/her all the advantages of a tub, but still being able to view the snakes....

[DarrinLowe]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Loser-s-caging

There is the thread, I forwarded anything that he PM'd me. Cause I was curious about the door and such.

[Skittles1101]

Alright so right after I posted this I figured I'd check at Walmart to see if I could brainstorm. And I found THIS!

They had 32 1/8" x 19 1/8" x 13 3/4" Sterilite Containers with locking lids, that are completely clear! The rack is the 4 tier multipurpose rack (found it in the DIY isle). For a grand total of...

Rack-$34.97
Container (each)-$14.67
Total-$78.98!

Still a lot to do before I can put a snake in it...but wanted to share this with you all. I loved everyone's ideas. Gotta love good ol' Walmart! Now....anyone have any suggestions at to what to use for heat in these?

Leah

[Simple Man]

Flexwatt and a Herpstat. You can run it along the back area equal lengths on all tubs. Make sure to get the grounded version since that rack is metal. I would also use black contact paper on the outside 3 walls of the tubs that you aren't looking at so the snakes feel secure. I use put black contact paper on the outside of my tubs for that very reason. That's a mighty big tub unless you're throwing in adult females.

Regards,

B

[DellaF]

Ok! What you got in mind to put in there?

[Skittles1101]

I figured the flexwatt would be better, and I am getting a thermostat before I put anything in there. I know the dimensions seem big...but it's not much bigger than my 20 long gallon glass tank I have, maybe a little taller and two inches longer, and I have a 6 month old male in that now and he's fine. I am putting black Con-tact paper on the two sides and back, as I do with my glass tank. It's gonna be at least a month before I get anymore snakes, so I have time to change things around if needed.