Would this Convert into an Enclosure?

[Beaglegod007]

Was wondering if this seemed to be something that could easily be used to make an Enclosure for a boa.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000CFOUEU/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493749149&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=deck+box+rubbermaid

Any thoughts?

[jjhill001]

If you're gonna spend that much on something that you can't even see your snake in you might as well spend an extra couple hundred and get a nice animal plastics or boaphile cage.

This box isn't gonna offer any sort of day or night cycle unless you cut it up and put windows on it. Which is gonna end up costing a bunch of money and being quite a bit of hassle.

[sattva]

Yaaa... I got to agree with jjhill... Get a proper cage and you and the snake will be happer...
They got some good sales going...
Animal Plastics (http://www.apcages.com/home/)

[Tsubaki]

Think a 2nd hand pvc would be cheaper?

[ttreptile1]

I agree with JJ, more hassle than it's worth. You can also watch craigslist for cages. I often see nice units on there that are ready to go and cheap. Otherwise, for what that outdoor pool shed costs, you could build one from plywood and put a nice finish on it or get a lower end boaphile cage. just my ,02 cents though.

[Beaglegod007]

If you're gonna spend that much on something that you can't even see your snake in you might as well spend an extra couple hundred and get a nice animal plastics or boaphile cage.

This box isn't gonna offer any sort of day or night cycle unless you cut it up and put windows on it. Which is gonna end up costing a bunch of money and being quite a bit of hassle.

I was actually thinking to modify this having it on its side, converting the door into a see through door perhaps removing it and installing sliding glass doors and installing vents, a RHP, and lights.

A 5x2x2 animal plastics cage is pretty expensive.

[dannybgoode]

I was actually thinking to modify this having it on its side, converting the door into a see through door perhaps removing it and installing sliding glass doors and installing vents, a RHP, and lights.

A 5x2x2 animal plastics cage is pretty expensive.

They are but with good reason. A proper enclosure will last longer and be far more sturdy than a converted rubber maid. Also a rubber maid is made from thin plastic which won't retain heat as well as a proper job. Depending on where you live this may or may not be an issue.

As others have already pointed out by the time you have done those modifications etc you'll have spent as much as a second hand Viv in any event.

[TRD]

Not health to keep snakes in there. You also don't lock your children away in a basement for live.

[dannybgoode]

not health to keep snakes in there. You also don't lock your children away in a basement for live.

+1000000 :)

[jjhill001]

I was actually thinking to modify this having it on its side, converting the door into a see through door perhaps removing it and installing sliding glass doors and installing vents, a RHP, and lights.

A 5x2x2 animal plastics cage is pretty expensive.

If you can do it and it ends up saving you a few bucks while also allowing proper heating and ventilation then more power to you.

Sheets of glass that big aren't going to be very cheap unless you buy it in bulk. For example at Lowes a 48x24 piece that isn't quite the 1/4 inch thickness (this is thickness of most standard US aquariums I would use this thickness) is like 63 dollars or so. You could maybe harvest glass from a used 20 dollar 75 gallon from craigslist or something.

You could probably build a similarly sized cage out of plywood, seal it with pond armor (they use this to build wooden aquariums for large fish it's expensive but will protect it from the humidity and make it safe no matter what kind of wood you get)

A 4x8 1/2" piece of untreated plywood is gonna run you about 20-40 bucks. Two of those would leave you with plenty of wood to make the runners for the glass and what not. It wouldn't be light weight by any means but I built a pine frame stand out of 2x4s for my snake's cage and it cost me something like 60-70 bucks for all of it.

So stand, wood for the cage, glass and the sealant would probably top you out around 200-220 bucks. And finding advice on how to build those cages (the runners in particular could be tricky), or friends/relatives with the proper tools to construct them is gonna be a lot easier.

I'm not gonna say that its a definite no, because with a bit of ingenuity it COULD work. I just don't wanna see you drop 110 bucks for something that might not look great or could potentially not even work right, potentially could run you a lot more money than you are thinking making it not quite as much of a deal as you'd think. Plus, that plastic is alot more difficult to work with.

[TRD]

^ Not sure, but over here I buy a complete glass vivarium of 3'x18"x18" for less than $ 30.. including screen top, sliding doors, with 5mm glass.

Prices in the US are that silly? It is just glass, lol.

[chairman]

I would just buy the AP cage, conversions are usually more trouble than they are worth. But there is a similar one here:

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/enclosure-reptile-room-showcase/109058-i-built-rtb-prince.html

[jjhill001]

^ Not sure, but over here I buy a complete glass vivarium of 3'x18"x18" for less than $ 30.. including screen top, sliding doors, with 5mm glass.

Prices in the US are that silly? It is just glass, lol.

Absolutely they are ridiculous. That same terrarium is 114 dollars US here and only sliding screen tops. Man, cheap terrariums AND free healthcare. Looks like socialism doesn't drive up the cost of everything like they seem to think over on this side of the pond. I have friends from Sweden and the only thing they seem to thing is really expensive in their country compared to ours is clothing made by American brands.

I would say it was because of tub keepers but these terrariums have been these same high prices (going up pretty much yearly) since I worked at a pet store over 12 years ago.

[jjhill001]

I would just buy the AP cage, conversions are usually more trouble than they are worth. But there is a similar one here:

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/enclosure-reptile-room-showcase/109058-i-built-rtb-prince.html

Hey, if he wants to give it a shot, I'm not gonna stop him. If he can control costs and make a viable terrarium out of something like that for 50-100 dollars cheaper than one of the PVC's and makes a tutorial on it that would be awesome for a lot of keepers of some of these species.

The pros and cons of this project would be that it could be cheap, but it could be just as pricey, it could work, or it could not work at all and be a waste of time and money. It would be light, it's probably not gonna look good especially if its the first time trying something like that.

The only flaw to the wooden cage really is that it's gonna be a total pain to move around which matters to some, less to others, but it is cheap. A smaller wooden cage would not be cost effective due to the price of quality sealant products.

[Joelb922]

Or just build a cage, im about to start building a large enclosure for a square tail boa, its not too difficult to do, as long as you have some framing and carpentry skills and tools

[Beaglegod007]

Decided to build a melamine enclosure, it will be cheaper and a lot easier to work with. Only real con is how heavy a 5x2x2 cage will be. My last 3 cages I made from 3/4 inch plywood looked great but at least melamine is resistant to moisture just have to caulk all the seems.
Pretty funny hearing people rant about the cruelty of converting something into an enclosure as if I was gonna throw a boa inside a deck chest and just slam the lid shut.
:no:

[TRD]

Decided to build a melamine enclosure, it will be cheaper and a lot easier to work with. Only real con is how heavy a 5x2x2 cage will be. My last 3 cages I made from 3/4 inch plywood looked great but at least melamine is resistant to moisture just have to caulk all the seems.
Pretty funny hearing people rant about the cruelty of converting something into an enclosure as if I was gonna throw a boa inside a deck chest and just slam the lid shut.
:no:

You'd be surprised how some people keep snakes, or what some people consider normal.

No offense intended from my side.

Goodluck in making the enclosure, I'd be interested on the final result :)

[regi375]

I do keep two of my babies in converted storage containers. They're a lot cheaper for their size than an enclosure would be. Basically I frame an aluminum screen to fit onto a hole I cut in the lid. The sides are opaque so I can still see them.

[Jim Smith]

One other consideration is that the Rubbermaid "storage" box you pictured is made from several pieces that pressure fit together at the corners. These joints are notorious for becoming loose over time. Any snake that needs an enclose that large could easily push the joints apart and your enclosure would come tumbling down like a house of cards. Save your money and buy a PVC cage from one of the makers. Just my two cents worth...

[akane]

I didn't read it all. It's 6am and I should still get some sleep but while you could modify that, why? I built a plywood base, sealed it with enamel, and for my low humidity needs did mesh and sealed wood or you could to pvc. I've also done plexiglass sections with soild sides and enough mesh for ventilation. The right hardware store will cut many supplies for you if you don't have the tools and you were going to cut things up and attach them anyway so why not just start with all your own materials. Enamel makes plywood work like plastic or others have used polyurethane. It has the benefit of seeing through for quality woods or more paint colors but it's not as thick and smooth so I don't find it evens out the cheaper plywood made of chunks without a heavy paint layer underneath and even then unless you sand and apply a few coats it still won't be quite as smooth. It's still fully waterproof and can be disinfected though so it's a fully acceptable route to make wood into the equivalent of a plastic bin but in customizable sizes for cheaper. I have two 5' cages with one 24" and one 30" out of wood coated in enamel that are getting like their 4th species lol I just sanitize it, put on a new seal, repaint fully if needed, and then modify the top if needed and I have a new cage with the same oh... 12 year old bottom wood bin in one case.