Need to get some answers before I start to gather parts!!

[hypnotixdmp]

Going to be building my anaconda a 6 ft cage soon, and I was thinking of lining the inside with fiberglass instead of sealing the wood, but I am not sure if that would be ok for snakes? Also, what type of wood do I want if I am going to be using plywood? What thickness, and how many pieces of what size will I need? I got the sliding windows we will make, thats a simple track we gotta cut out. So, anyone who has built a 6-8ft cage, please feel free to chime in and help me out!!! lol

[CloudtheBoa]

If you're going to use plywood, use the best grade you can find. It will be more expensive, but you won't regret it when it lasts you several years. As to what kind, I'm not sure I let my father do all the choosing because he's a carpenter. I'm not sure about the fiberglass. My first thought is not to trust it, but it probably depends on what kind you use and how you apply it. Hopefully more knowledgeable people will chime in.

For my 6ft enclosures, I used 1/2 inch A-grade plywood, but you could probably go thicker. I'm not sure what species, but I'm fairly sure it was a hardwood. You will want to insulate your enclosure as well. I didn't and I'm paying for it right now; it worked fine at my father's place but I'm struggling here at my mom's apartment. I'll be heading out to get some insulation board in the next few weeks, though. I'm able to maintain slightly cooler temps (85F hot side rather than 90F and 78-80F cool side which is normal) with a lot of work. I could probably dig up my thread on it that I did on another forum if you want to see how I did mine.

Have you worked out how you're heating it yet?

[mechnut450]

I say 1/2-3/4inch thick plywood , I sat a minimum of 4 sheets ( one for top,1 for back 1 for floor and then one of sides( depending how wide and tall you make it ) You can also possible look into sealing the cage with a resin that water proof once dried ( I say to sand it smooth and apply a second coat if this will become a life time cage to make sure it sealed good. I know when I built a 4x2x2 cage I sealed the wood with a roll on bed liner paint and it was great ( I even managed to have my heat tape under the liner/paint so it was protected from moisture.) It took 2 people to move it and then it was hard to move in my mom's trailer cause the hallways was narrow left little room for errors.
I do think if you do this make everything and paint/ resin coat it with plenty of air. and then assemble in the final resting place. so you only have to go over joints to make water tight. I don't know if I still have the pictures anymore to show my finished cage. I know when I rehomed a couple bps that one cage went with the snakes and I last heard still using them.

[hypnotixdmp]

I say 1/2-3/4inch thick plywood , I sat a minimum of 4 sheets ( one for top,1 for back 1 for floor and then one of sides( depending how wide and tall you make it ) You can also possible look into sealing the cage with a resin that water proof once dried ( I say to sand it smooth and apply a second coat if this will become a life time cage to make sure it sealed good. I know when I built a 4x2x2 cage I sealed the wood with a roll on bed liner paint and it was great ( I even managed to have my heat tape under the liner/paint so it was protected from moisture.) It took 2 people to move it and then it was hard to move in my mom's trailer cause the hallways was narrow left little room for errors.
I do think if you do this make everything and paint/ resin coat it with plenty of air. and then assemble in the final resting place. so you only have to go over joints to make water tight. I don't know if I still have the pictures anymore to show my finished cage. I know when I rehomed a couple bps that one cage went with the snakes and I last heard still using them.

Do you mean the stuff that you would put in the bed of a truck? Also, I am trying to avoid sealing the wood, but it seems that will be my ONLY options. Will probably cut it all, make sure it all fits together good, then seal it and let it set outside for about a week, week and a half to air out before assembling it INSIDE lol.

[mechnut450]

yup not sure if walmart still carries it but I used a gallon container and did 3 4x2 bottoms and up the sides a few inches (middle of summer and let air out for 2-3 days. I did about 3-4 coats on the wood. it worked great... I then figure go to racks the following year lol

[Pyrate81]

Might this work: line the wood with a tarp like sheet. Ie pond or landscaping liners. Then tile it.


I also don't see a problem using fiberglass if you use the right stuff. They do use it to build in-ground pools. Not sure if you're looking for toxicity levels or how sturdiness.