My custom cage pics

[Kmef07]

Ok here are the first steps one is painted with grout already and the big one was painted tonight. there is a paintbrush for size comparison. the smaller pieces are 4foot high by 3foot deep and the big one is 6foot long by 4foot high. the big one is the back and i have two the size of the small one for the sides and Plexiglas for the front. thanks for looking. there will be more to come as i finish more steps. but it is a custom built 100% so it will be a long time in the making i fear.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0456.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0457.jpg

[Chu'Wuti]

So are the pieces wood? Plywood? Did you make the pattern? Did you use two shades of grout to get the dark & light areas?

[Kmef07]

yep plywood with a bunch of pieces of foamboard insulation attached with a glue made for foam and then painted with the grout. I was going to use two different shades of grout but I shaped the edges of each piece of foam and that made for natural shading. each edge is tapered at a different angle and also different thicknesses because i wanted it to resemble real rock.

[Will0W783]

That's really cool-looking. I can't wait to see the finished cage!

[Kmef07]

I cant wait either. I painted on the grout to the big piece in the second pic last night and then i have one left to do tonight and i will probably try and seal the two that are already done tonight.

[BP_okay]

Is this for your brb? Or a new family member?

[Kmef07]

It's for my BRB. When i get more snakes, when i move out with my gf soon, They will all be kept in tubs, because it is so much easier. My BRB is lucky she is my first and will always be my display and get the newest of everything lol.

[BP_okay]

Nice. The easier the better. I am the same way with my first snake. I just love him more than anything. As you can probably tell, I don't have any kiddos. Good luck with the cage and I am looking forward to the final product. :)

[Kmef07]

Ya i figure the new cage will also make a good place to put my son when he acts up. lol jk. (please no one report me to a child agency im just kidding.)

[Chu'Wuti]

ROFL! I can just imagine the sight of your son inside the enclosure with the BRB . . . cop walks in to check on a report of child abuse . . . "But officer, BRBs can't eat anything that big! He's perfectly safe, I promise!"

[BP_okay]

LOL, yeah... "he's just playing. He is home schooled and, he needs his social interaction for the day."

[Will0W783]

ROTFLMAO! "Social interaction for the day" being escaping from a hungry snake, huh? Hehehe- run kiddo, run.

[Chu'Wuti]

OMG! ROTFLMAO until my belly hurts!

[Kmef07]

Haha that is so f-ing funny. No joke though he likes to get as close as he can to my current cage and has to have me open the top so he can look in so i wouldn't be surprised if he actually tried to crawl inside one day. lol

[Will0W783]

Hahaha- that would be funny. You come home from work one day and your son is bunking with the snake!

[BP_okay]

In all seriousness...:) How old do you think your son will have to be b4 you are comfortable with him handling your brb? I ask this bc mdh is so worried that I will build up my collection with big snakes, and one of the kiddos willl get hurt. Obviously, he's just one of "those people" who does not understand responsible snake ownership. Maybe I could get him to look over the final copy of the letter re: HR669...

[Will0W783]

There isn't really anything inherently wrong with being concerned, as long as he takes steps to ensure the children understand the snakes, and doesn't just make them afraid of snakes. Snakes are solid muscle and, as such, can pose danger to small children- large ones pose danger to adults- but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be kept. Dogs can pose a danger to kids as well, especially a playful large dog. Just as with any animal, you need to explain to the children not to antagonize them or to play with them without supervision. Get good tank locks that your children won't be able to get open, and teach them about the snakes; start early. There is no reason you all shouldn't be able to coexist happily, just so long as you are careful and responsible. :)

[Chu'Wuti]

I taught my sons how to hold snakes (under my supervision) when they were 3 or 4 years old. I also taught them how to identify venomous snakes (important where we live) and how to catch snakes safely, both for themselves and for the snake. They were catching them for themselves outside only a few years after that.

Nearly any pet can be dangerous if handled improperly. I knew a family that had a small dog--around 25 pounds--that went berserk and mauled their 3-4 yr. old son. Turned out the little boy had jammed a pencil deep into the dog's ear canal. Children should not be left unsupervised with pets until they are old enough to be responsible for ensuring the pet's safety, which will, in turn, ensure the child's safety in most circumstances.

start early. There is no reason you all shouldn't be able to coexist happily, just so long as you are careful and responsible. I completely agree.

Furthermore, being paranoid about snakes and trying to tell your children to stay away from them (or a lot of other things) is going to backfire, I can almost guarantee. I'm a perfect example of what I mean: My mother hated snakes and I was ordered to stay away from them. By the time I was 7, I was catching them--I just didn't tell her.

Would you rather know what your children are up to, or would you rather have them hiding their activities because they know you will disapprove? You're probably going to get enough of the latter behavior when they are teenagers anyway. If you start out openly discussing risks & safety measures of _______ (name that behavior--climbing a tree, snake handling, motorcycle riding, smoking pot, etc) in a way that makes your children feel you will really listen and not just react negatively, you will increase the likelihood that your children will talk with you when they get older and think about engaging in some really risky behavior.

I had three sons whom I mostly raised alone, and I knew that they were highly likely to engage in risky behaviors. I wanted to ensure, as much as I could, that they would always feel they could talk to me about anything and that I wouldn't just react but would think & respond thoughtfully and in a way that encouraged them to think for themselves. I wanted to help them learn how to make good decisions for themselves. They are now nearly 26, 23, and 20, and while I don't always agree with every decision they make, they are doing pretty well for themselves. They are intelligent, caring, & strong young men, and I am pretty darned proud of the way they're turning out.

[Kmef07]

I would be comfortable with my son holding my brb now if i didn't think he would drop it on accident or hurt it. He is in the terrible 2's and he is not very gentle with anything right now....working on it though..... Brb's are slender boas and are not very thick. also my snake is about 3 ft long now which is about 3in longer than he is but I think he is stronger than her for now. Obviously in the next 6 months or so she will probably be stonger but in my supervision if something were to happen i would be able to get her off fairly quickly. when she is full grown she might be a little harder to get off but we will have more precautions then. My brb is really docile though and never seems to be pissy unless she is in shed. Im not big on shying my son away from anything but being open with him like sandy is talking about. If he wanted to hold a full grown anaconda now that would be a problem. lol but if he is mentally able to understand how to properly do things then he can under my supervision.

[Chu'Wuti]

If he wanted to hold a full grown anaconda now that would be a problem. lol but if he is mentally able to understand how to properly do things then he can under my supervision. Sounds pretty wise to me! And you're right that twos are unable to understand their own strength--he could easily squeeze your BRB too hard at this stage. I can remember saying "Be gentle, stroke this way, be gentle" many times when mine were that age! Along with demonstrating how to stroke gently numerous times! So for now it's "Daddy will hold the snake, and you can pet it--like this" [demonstrating gentle strokes]. :)

[Kmef07]

Daddy will hold the snake, and you can pet it--like this"

Yep that is exactly what i do. he has a bad tendancy to push really hard and poke.

[Will0W783]

Sounds like you guys are doing a great job teaching your kids to understand and enjoy snakes. If I ever have kids, I'll try to do the same.

[SavannahMon!tor]

is that the peice that goes in the back or the sides any way good job!:cool:

[Chu'Wuti]

Thanks, Kimberly! I wanted my sons to appreciate all life for its beauty and respect life-forms for their strengths, not just fear due to lack of knowledge.

[Kmef07]

is that the peice that goes in the back or the sides any way good job!

The big piece goes on the back and the smaller piece goes on the side.

UPDATE!!!

They are all painted now with the grout and im in the process of applying all the coats of sealer. water based and reptile safe. then i will finally be able to start the big build. im getting really excited as my snake is starting to outgrow her aquarium.

[Chu'Wuti]

New pics! New pics!!!

[Kmef07]

They really dont' look any different. just all painted im hoping this week to have the walls put together and the floor in. My son hasnt let me really work on it he has wanted to play so not much progress...

[coastalNY]

im looking to construct a waterfall made from mostly styra-foam so i have a quick question, what did u use to cut the foam nd make it look like rocks? (im kinda goin for the same look)
-Thanks

[Kmef07]

I just used a foam scrapper. it can also be used for wood and it is just kinda like a cheese grater. i don't know how to explain it. and then you get "sanded" grout and just take the styra-foam (i used home insulation foamboard from Lowes) and shave it to round out the edges (this part really sucks!!!!!!) and then paint it with the grout and you will want a couple coats and make it the consistancy of soup. Im also making a waterfall to go on the inside of this cage im building so let me know how urs turns out. also make sure you seal it and used a waterbased sealer. the grout after painted on is really really brittle but after you seal it it becomes awesome and it is really light after it all dries.

[BP_okay]

Sorry it took so long to respond re: the kiddo handling thing. I've been away. I really agree and that's what I have been explaining to mdh. I completely agree, it all starts with responsibility. Hopefully after some convincing with solid arguments(and maybe a little nagging :)), I'll eventually get my ball or woma.

[Chu'Wuti]

I wonder what risky things your DH engaged in when he was a teenager without his parents' knowledge? Did he never go out and catch critters?

[BP_okay]

Absolutely nothing! That's the thing - he's a complete nerd - albeit a loveable nerd. He's a Econ grad student and does nothing but research. He's extremely allergic to anything with dander, hence I became a herp addict. Regarding catching critters, he told me that he would catch crawfish and the occasional turtle, quite frequently, during his days in Texas. Other than that, he's shares Fluffy's(the juvenile corn) skittish nature. Sigh....

[Chu'Wuti]

Well, too often the more adventurous types have picked up weird diseases or gotten into trouble with the law or developed really bad habits . . . so I say, Keep your Loveable Nerd! As an Econ grad student, he's got a solid future ahead, I feel sure!

[Will0W783]

Lol....my fiance is a nerd, and so am I, I guess. I'm a neuroscience Ph.D. student, and he's a car salesman and a very smart bookworm. Nothing wrong with being nerdy!

[BP_okay]

You guys are completely right. He tells me I'm a nerd all the time, but just a different type of nerd. I mean for heaven's sake, I am studying to be an acutary, love horror/sci-fi/fantasy/graphic novels, so I am guilty too.

Sandy, you are right. A boring disease free nerd is so much better than all the alternatives out there!

Willow, wow! With your studies, you must be an amazing woman, considering all the herps you have. I am extremely impressed.

[Chu'Wuti]

Hey, we should start a Nerds group here! I'm a Ph.D. candidate in Communication--just finished all my exams so now on to the research and dissertation! and I also have TESL certification, so my sons call me an English nerd. On top of all that, I'm married to a Physics nerd. Hooray for Nerds!

[Wolfus_305]

The cage looks amazing so far!!! Congrats on a job well done!...so far.

[Will0W783]

Yay! Go Nerds!!!

[Chu'Wuti]

We need new pics! How's the build going, Kyle?

[BP_okay]

Nerds unite! Great idea Sandy. By the way, what's your second language - spanish seems to be the most popular these days. Congrats on your studies - how long until your done. Mdh has 4 yrs left unitl he's done with his Econ. Ph.D.

Yeah, and Kyle, I would love to see the cage progress too. As usual, us gals always seem to get off topic quite easily. :)

[Kmef07]

I picked up the bottom framework to lay the hardi-backerboard on friday and we are in going to build it hopefully soon. my dad, who is amazing at building stuff has been out of town since yesterday so the building was halted and I was interviewing for jobs all last week and had my son over but i have finished the sealing so really no new pics. I hope to have new pics up really soon like this week sometime but who knows my life is so hectic right now.

[BP_okay]

I can totally understand that. Us herpers never really do get the time we want to deal w/ our favorite hobby :( Looking forward to the pics and good luck w/ the new job/interview. Dads are always good builders, and I am sure you will be someday too. It seems to be in your genetics.


Good luck,
Traci

[Chu'Wuti]

Here's hoping that at least one of those interviews pays off with a great job offer, Kyle!

[Kmef07]

Hey got a job with alpine valley water company. im going to start out as a route driver for them and then going to get the first sales posistion that opens up!! im excited i love driving and have never really had a job doing it. and then it will give me a break from sales, which i need very much, and then i can get back into sales with the company after 6 months or so. Im so happy cuz i can't stand my current job. my current employer sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Will0W783]

Congrats Kyle!

[carciady]

Good luck with your new job, I look forward to seeing new pics of the the enclosure.

All the best, Ady

[BP_okay]

Way to go Kyle! I am so excited for you! Congrats!

Traci

[Kmef07]

Ok so I have made a ton of progress i have the sides mounted on a frame and I picked up some wood last night from a local guy who mills his own wood in northern Kentucky that had a great price for all his wood so after i get back from Gatlinburg Tenn I will finish it hopefully. The next thing is how to attach the glass and to get the glass for the front of the tank. anyways i will try and snap some picks of the tank in a few before i leave and upload them tonight when i get to the hotel or maybe before i leave. the rock looking stuff i made got roughed up a bit but i will be able to fix it when it is all completed.

[Kmef07]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0485.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0486.jpg

Her are the pics.

[siz]

Nice, looking good Kyle. Your BRB will love it!

[Kmef07]

ya if we can ever get it finished!!!!!!! It seems like we keep hitting road blocks and it is impossible to find time to finish it! but the vacation is awesome. Gatlinburg rocks!!

[sassamagoo]

I was in Gatlinburg on vacation about 9 years ago. It is a very interesting town, lots to do. Glad you enjoyed your vacation!

Keep us posted on the cage, I can't wait to see the finished product. You're giving me and my bf good ideas for when we will need to build bigger for our BCI. :)

[Kmef07]

gatlinburg is awesome. my parents used to come here all the time but the last time they were here was like 1992. we went to pigeon forge today and it was amazing!!! the go karts were so much fun and there is a museum here called wonder world. going to put putt tonight. and swimming late tonight. my parents said since 92 there has been so much that has changed and it has gotten so much bigger than they remembered.

Im glad im giving you good ideas the biggest hint i can give you though is to plan out everything and really search for good materials to use. i came across a lot of materials that i would never have thought of using but walking around lowes and home depot i found cheap stuff that seemed to fit the need.

[Kmef07]

ok so a little of an update. the cage design has changed a ton and have had a little bit of problems getting it just the way i want it in my head lol. the construction is almost finished and the inside is going to be next. im really excited for the inside. i will not elaborate because i want it to be a surprise, but im hoping to get some pics up tomorrow of the actual cage.

[sassamagoo]

Oh, the suspense!!! Can't wait to see it!

Sass

[Wolfus_305]

AHahah projects always seem to change when you actually start working on them. for example: i planned to paint one dragon on my door. i have ended up with two dragons fighting on two walls and a castle.

Can't wait to see the pictures!! =D

[Kmef07]

ok so the gf and son moved in and the cage went on hold i finally got it all built and put in my room. then my computer crashed and i am on my gf's so no pics for a while :( but anyways i now have to actually build the inside and get that together i hope to have that done in about 2 weeks. Just an update

[Wolfus_305]

Aww that sucks that your computer crashed, I hope it all works out ok.
I can't wait to see the pictures of the finished cage!
Kendra

[Kmef07]

Ya it is huge and it is so much bigger looking than when it was in my big basement room not all together. Still lots of work but stuff that is easy and more creative and that is fun. Next is building the river and putting in plants and setting up the thermostat and the water pumps and all that crazy stuff and making it look natural eventhough it is fake. how's your bp? i saw that it ate finally.

[Wolfus_305]

aah yess! Creative is always fun, I'm sure when you're done your snake(s) will think it's natural!
From the pictures so far it looks like it's coming along great!!

My bp is good now. He started eating at 11.5 months and he's been eating regularly ever since, he gained some weight and he seems much happier now.

Kendra

[BP_okay]

Ahh, Kyle..sorry to hear about your computer..heaven knows when mine did, I felt so lost. I am really excited to see your pics, when everything comes together.

Kendra, how long did Creative go off food? Good to hear he is happy and healthy now:-)

[Wolfus_305]

Oh, you think Creative is my BP's name. Actually, Kyle said something about he wanted to be creative and then I being an artsy person replied to that by saying that creative is fun. Maybe it was the capitalization.. sometimes I capitalize random letters, not sure why.

Wolfus is my bp's name (started out as a joke and it just stuck) he went for eleven and a half months without eating.

[Kmef07]

Ok so another update and I have made some significant improvements to this little project since last time I updated. For it is really starting to take shape and I have gotten the water working and everything on except for the top which still needs to be painted with the grout and I have to put on the legs. There weren't going to be any legs, but I got a new waterbed and it was considerably larger than my last bed and the door to the cage hits the end of the bed. Due to the way my TV is and the size of the bed and the cage I really can't move anything around without taking a really long time to do so. I am hoping to get the legs on this weekend and the top grouted for sure and then I will just have to set the substrate and let it run for a couple days to make sure the temps stay stable and everything works ok. Then I will be able to move my BRB into her new home. This project has now surpassed a year in construction and almost 500 dollars or more!!!!!! I didn't even come close to realizing how many resources this would take. Great sense of accomplishment now though and even my GF is really excited for it and I think she is more excited than I am now. LOL. Thats saying something because she told me when i started it was a bad idea.

Anyways I digress and now time for some pictures...
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0749.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0750.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0752.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0753.jpg

[Kmef07]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0754.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0755.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0756.jpg

[Kmef07]

It is a little farther along now and I will try and get some pics on tonight or tomorrow of how it is with the front on.

[Kmef07]

Sorry it is a mess i cant get the door all the way open so i cant really clean it out and the plexiglass is really dirty. Also the plexiglass is cracked from being in my garage waiting to be put on so that is going to have to be replaced soon :(



http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0758.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0757.jpg

[siz]

Man Kyle that looks awesome! I love the waterfall how did you put that in?
She'll love it :D

[Will0W783]

Wow Kyle, great job- that is awesome! Your snake is very lucky.

[marvelfreak]

That is a really sweet cage. You did one hell of a job. I just hope you catch the punk that put that ugly Reds can in there. LOL Your going to have one very happy snake.

[Kmef07]

waterfall is just the same as all the other pieces. I used styrofoam insulation board to shape it then filled it in with GREAT STUFF (expanding foam insulator) then i painted it with the grout and sealed it with a water based sealer.

[Kmef07]

I found out that hot glue works great to hold the foam to itself and other things!!!!! the glue can't be too hot though cuz it will melt through the foam and not stick.

[shaunyboy]

that is a most impressive tank mate,very much worth all the effort and man hours you've put into it.a tank to be proud off !
cheers shaun

[Kmef07]

Ok it is finally done!!! It has been done for a couple months but here are a couple pics now. The plants have grown in a little more now and are more full but you get the basic idea.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0870.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll51/kmef07/IMG_0847.jpg

[Boots]

Very nice setup, you certainly put tons of thought and effort into it. Thanks for posting.

Jason

[infernalis]

That is simply amazing!! wow, that is one spoiled snake!

[Kmef07]

Ya 2 weeks after i finished the cage it found a small hole that it was able to push in the mesh and get in behind the waterfall. I had to cut a hole in the side and coax it out. That has since been fixed but my brb keeps finding little areas that I would prefer it not to be so that is the only bad part about a big cage. took a little over a year and a half to actually finish the cage and get all of the inside work done on it, but well worth it. Total thing is 6 foot long by 4 foot high by 30 inches deep. Weighs a little over 350 lbs with the 10 gallon tank filled up. I still have some touch up things to do to it but for the most part it is done.

[Chu'Wuti]

Hey, Kyle! It looks beautiful! I agree, it was well worth the work you've put into it. Hope you have the flooring reinforced under it, though, or that your house is on a slab! I've learned that my 55-gallon aquarium is causing some shift in my flooring and will have to reinforce.

Sandy

[Kmef07]

Ya its definately strong enough. That would suck cuz it is in my room on the second floor of my house and if that went through the floor then the queen size waterbed that sits next to it would be gone too lol.

[RandyRhoads420]

Wow nice a hydro set up inside of a cage......