DIY Enclosure Construction Tips for my Jungle Carpet

[SerpentFeather]

Hey all!

I'm starting to plan the construction of my full sized enclosure for Spectre my Jungle carpet python.

I was wondering if any of you DIY gurus had any advice on what materials to use. From what I understand the basic options I have are ply-wood, melamine and acrylic. Are there any other good materials for the frame? Is there some kind of opaque plastic sheeting that could be used (like many of the commercial terrariums)?

My main concern with wood is hygiene but I understand that properly sealing the wood can solve that problem to a certain degree. I haven't figured out dimensions quite yet but i'm playing with a 4'Wx2'Dx3'H so light materials would be key.

Thanks in advance for all the tips guys,
- G

[backafter30]

I have a couple of thoughts: You're right. Weight should be a factor. There is a plastic company not far from me that sells 4x8 sheets of black expanded polystyrene. It is like the most awesome, perfect material for building enclosures. It's also $90 a sheet. :eek:

Melamine works great, but weighs a ton, can disintegrate if you get the edges wet, sags if not supported, and normally only comes in white. A stark white enclosure is a personal choice, but wouldn't be mine.

I guess acrylic could be used, but it is also heavy and a matter of taste. You could paint the outside, or apply scenery around it to add decor and give privacy, but it seems overkill to me.

Thick plywood is also heavy and must be sealed, which really isn't that big a deal. I've built a couple (still working on them) out of lightweight 1/4" plywood with a 1x2 frame to give support at the corners and something to attach to. Once nailed and glued, it is surprisingly strong, and only around $15 for a sheet. You might want to use heavier frames, or more bracing for a cage as big as you're planning, but it should still work with thin plywood.

I sandwiched heat tape between ceramic tiles, sealed with silicone, to make my own waterproof heat pads (must use thermostat), and got waterproof led tape lights off Amazon for cheap lighting. Like I said, I'm still working on them, but so far I'm really pleased.

[Danimal]

Hiya - I just recently built a 4 X 2 X 16 cage for one of my coastals. backafter30 summed up the materials really well. In this case I chose melamine because I was short of time. Wood is easy to work especially if it's a large enclosure that has to be made in parts to fit through doors. Also finishing takes extra care and time to do it right if it will be in contact with moisture most of the time. Melamine is very heavy but other than that as long as you support the opening and seal the joints well it's easy. Cheap too.

So, just a basic rectangle box. I used 2 by 2 to frame the inside of the opening for support then I built the door from 1X material and 3/8" acrylic for the windows. I used exterior PVC 1X10 trim stock for the basking shelf (this may be hard to find for you) and an rhp for heat. I used 3" plastic round vents. I will try to get you a pic of the whole thing but here is a close up of the center of it. I am building 2 more this size and 2 that are 3 feet wide then a dolly to set them on just to move for the vacuum.

http://www.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/1/5/8715687/4293716_orig.jpg

[Danimal]

Here are 2 more. Since these aren't display cages I did not stain or paint the front, just put a few coats of sealer and I didn't use the pretty hardware. Once stacked you can't see the outside at all, only the interior and front. Darker colors, black specifically may be more aesthetically pleasing, but white (lighter colors) do not hide contaminates and so makes it easier to clean. Just something to consider.

http://www.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/1/5/8715687/107097_orig.jpg

http://www.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/1/5/8715687/1391620_orig.jpg

[SerpentFeather]

Hey guys! Cheers for the advice! I looked into the cost of some materials in Australia and did some pricing out and i decided to take the easy way out and bought a cabinet to convert hehe.
It seemed perfect for my purposes and will allow me to practice my craftsmanship without worrying about the overall structure :)

What would you guys recommend for sealing the enclosure? Do you recommend going all the way up to aquarium grade sealant?

Thanks so much for the help!

[SerpentFeather]

http://www.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/1/5/8715687/107097_orig.jpg

http://www.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/1/5/8715687/1391620_orig.jpg

Great looking enclosures by the way!