building a boa enclosure.

[KORBIN5895]

So with the new boas arriving in a few weeks I need to get snapping on my enclosure.

Here are my thoughts. I want to build an enclosure 4'6" tall by 4' wide and 2' deep. I am going to divide it into three enclosures of 18"x4'x2'. I am thinking about using Plexiglas sliding doors. The material is going to be one side good birch plywood. Not sure what I am going to use for the back.

As for heating I am kinda torn. Rhp are too expensive and heat tape has to be ordered in. I was thinking of mounting lights inside but not sure if I want to go that route. The other option I am thinking of is heat cable that is used on your roof to keep ice from building up. It is five watts per foot. I can get eighty feet for fifty dollars. If I go with a belly heat I will place Plexiglas or glass over the bottom and seal it in.

Not sure what I will do for ventilation yet but that should be simple. I know that's a pretty thin skeleton but any suggestions?

[Gungirl]

For vents I use these on the sides of my vivs. I use the 3" ones but this will give you the same Idea.
4 in. Resin Circular Mini Wall Louver in White (4-Pack)-RLSC4 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Materials-Roofing-Gutters-Roofing-Ventilation-Soffit/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbazw/R-100065701/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051)

as for heating The only thing I would use is an RPH. I know you said they are too pricey but I don't see anything else working well. The lights will be where the snakes can get to them and flexwatt or heat cable most likely won't get your ambient temp high enough. My royals viv is 4'x2'x18" and there is no way flexwatt would heat it enough on its own.

[DeesBalls]

what i did for heat for mine... was...

i took little pieces of bulsa wood (sort of like popsicle sticks) and put them around the flexwatt in the cage..

i sealed those down with silicone and then i took plexi cut to the excact size to fit over the flexwatt...

i sealed it with silicone all around to ensure no water can get down to the flex watt...

on the back of the cage, i cut out a 1/8'' slit. so when i need new flexwatt, i can just slide it out, and slide the new in.

works good!! temps stay right at 86 (for RTB) and 92 for BP. hooked to a thermostat of course :)

i should say my cages are 3x18x12. so they are smaller cages...sorry, i didnt see that it was going to be 4x2x18. for my BRB cage, that was 4x2x2 i used a 100w ceramic heat emmiter. got the warm side of the cage up to about 100, but of course i only set it to about 83-84... so i would say...RHP would work.. unless maybe you did a big piece of flexwatt..... maybe putting a strip of flexwatt ont he top of the cage? not sure ... sorry for the confusion.

[KORBIN5895]

This cable I am looking at is eighty feet long. I will have about twenty feet worth in each cage. Not sure if it will get the ambient heat high enough either. I am also toying with running putting some back heat on but don't really want to do that.

[KORBIN5895]

So I think I am going with a 4'x4'2' enclosure divided into two enclosures with my 77 gallon on top. I also found someone with a few radiant heat panels I may purchase.

[KORBIN5895]

Just purchased the lumber and will pick it up in about twenty minuets. The enclosure will be a two unit 4'x4'x2' birch plywood enclosure. A friend of mine has a few Rhp that I will be purchasing from him. I am unsure of what to do about lighting inside the enclosures.

[Strutter769]

I use 24" florescent fixtures in both of my larger gages.

[KORBIN5895]

I just bought three xenon puck lights for twenty bucks. I think I will put two in the bottom enclosure and one in the top enclosure.

[beardeds4life]

for venting I used in my dragons cage Im building this mesh stuff that i cut grooves for and then just slid in. It is to put under outdoor vents and for 5 bucks I got 20 feet

[KORBIN5895]

Oh. I found these wicked little vent that I will post pics of later they are $2.50 each but I will try them. I guess the xenon bulb will be an issue on the snake's eyes.

[cenecker]

I've actually never heard of a radiant heat panel, so I'm learning from this thread. Thanks!

[KORBIN5895]

So my father in law and I cut the plywood to size. Now we need to assemble the main box and the add the trim.

[KORBIN5895]

Okay. I am thinking of putting vinyl flooring or corrugated plastic on the bottom of my enclosures as an added protective layer. Any other thoughts?

[marvelfreak]

Okay. I am thinking of putting vinyl flooring or corrugated plastic on the bottom of my enclosures as an added protective layer. Any other thoughts?
Years ago when i built a couple big cages i put it in them and it really work great and looked nice. I even went 1 foot up each sized. I say do it.

[USMCgunner11]

I use Reptile Basics radiant heat panels predominantly. They are more costly but only upfront. They last for a very long time (typically 20+ years and most come with a 10 year warranty). They also use less energy which will save you a few bucks on your electric bill.

[Xanafein]

Hey man, What id you Pay for your Birch Plywood Panels, Im starting a Cage build myself and im having a hard time locating any for less than 50 bucks Per 4x8

Also, Radiant heat panels Are not that Expensive at all when you compare them to the bulb cost and replacement and the initial fixture cost, not to mention they are more cost effective as well, 40 watt RHP will heat the same area you need a 100watt ceramic with ease, and it doesn't dry the air as bad. factor that good ceramic bulbs are costly and do need replacing on occasion and i find them to be a good investment If you go with a floor Lining, I recommend Vinyl over corrugated plastic, as the corrugated plastic seems like it would be more difficult to Clean

Also, Instead of those pucks, You should Order some LED light Stripping, and the asseble yourself fixture, I got enough of em to put to LED bars in 5 cages for like 125$ got a low light red strip for night time, and a "Soft Glow" strip for daytime lighting, Im debating getting a timer for them as well, right now ive got a wireless remote for em, Whats really cool is that they have bars for em that fit in the corner from the back and top and can run the full length of the cage


Also if you are using birch ply, i highly recommend going for a natural finish because IMO birch has one of the prettiest grains of the common hardwoods

[KORBIN5895]

Hey man, What id you Pay for your Birch Plywood Panels, Im starting a Cage build myself and im having a hard time locating any for less than 50 bucks Per 4x8

I bought shop grade ( one side good) . It cost $40 a sheet. I searched the WHOLE stack for the sheet I wanted. I am also staining it very dark to match my other furniture. As for the back sheet I only purchased a ⅜ piece of plywood underlay which cost $10.

Also, Radiant heat panels Are not that Expensive at all when you compare them to the bulb cost and replacement and the initial fixture cost, not to mention they are more cost effective as well, 40 watt RHP will heat the same area you need a 100watt ceramic with ease, and it doesn't dry the air as bad. factor that good ceramic bulbs are costly and do need replacing on occasion and i find them to be a good investment If you go with a floor Lining, I recommend Vinyl over corrugated plastic, as the corrugated plastic seems like it would be more difficult to Clean

I already have the che and they last about three years. It would cost me about $7 an enclosure for the heating fixture if I were to go that way. I am going with the Rhp though. I also bought a piece of remnant vinyl for the floors.

Also, Instead of those pucks, You should Order some LED light Stripping, and the asseble yourself fixture, I got enough of em to put to LED bars in 5 cages for like 125$ got a low light red strip for night time, and a "Soft Glow" strip for daytime lighting, Im debating getting a timer for them as well, right now ive got a wireless remote for em, Whats really cool is that they have bars for em that fit in the corner from the back and top and can run the full length of the cage

I only paid $20 for the xenon puck lights. LED are quit a bit more than that. They will be hidden anyway so I don't need to go for strip lighting. These will also add to the ambient air temps. I am also putting an opaque diffuser over it.


Also if you are using birch ply, i highly recommend going for a natural finish because IMO birch has one of the prettiest grains of the common hardwoods

We have the box put together and the top finished. We will attach the top tomorrow and maybe put the trim boards on.

[Xanafein]

ah, so you went shop grade, I went Furniture Grade :| both sides good


Other than that, I have only two thumbs to give, but your cage plan Makes Me happy

[KORBIN5895]

Yeah furniture grade is $80 a sheet here and I am way too cheap to spend that.

[Xanafein]

Jesus, Where are you shopping?

[KORBIN5895]

Kents, Home depot and home hardware. Canada ships all of their raw lumber over to the USA. The USA mills it and ships finished product back to Canada. It's a great system.

[Xanafein]

That is a bummer man, Then again its not like the interior is going to be as Visible, just Sand it nice and smooth and seal it

[KORBIN5895]

I may go with a dark stain inside also. But like I said I went through every sheet of plywood to get this one. All of the imperfections will be covered or have been cut off. The dims changed a a little bit. The actual enclosure height is 46 inches now. The interior dims are 46½"x22½"x22⅞". LxWxH.

[Xanafein]

Lemme know how the construction goes, sounds like you are going to have a nice attractive Cage

[KORBIN5895]

So we put a coat of pecan stain on the interior and a coat of Tudor on the exterior tonight.

[KORBIN5895]

So it's almost done and I wanted to post some pics of it. My father in law did 95% of it. I basically held stuff and did the staining ( my wife helped stain also.)

http://s14.postimage.org/9pfxzn9d9/IMG_20120506_124314.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/9pfxzn9d9/)

http://s13.postimage.org/f6p91q5g3/IMG_20120506_124333.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/f6p91q5g3/)

http://s11.postimage.org/3nuld0egv/IMG_20120506_124347.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/3nuld0egv/)

http://s9.postimage.org/ljzyhz5sr/IMG_20120506_124415.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/ljzyhz5sr/)

[Lankyrob]

Looking good :)

[WackyInLaw]

So it's almost done and I wanted to post some pics of it. My father in law did 95% of it. I basically held stuff and did the staining ( my wife helped stain also.)

Is this the same father-in-law that you are posting about as being Wacky in the Let's talk - I'm bored forum?

[USMCgunner11]

Coming along nicely. Anxious to see the finished product. Good luck

[youngster]

Nice cage Kevin!

Is this the same father-in-law that you are posting about as being Wacky in the Let's talk - I'm bored forum?

Seeing as your sister was already banned from the forum I do think it would be wise to stop posting family matters on here for the world to see.

[Terranaut]

I just scrolled right to the pics ;)
Looks great so far!!

[KORBIN5895]

Thanks guys. I stained some more tonight. One piece of trim stained really dark. Kinda worried about that.

[Lankyrob]

Nice cage Kevin!



Seeing as your sister was already banned from the forum I do think it would be wise to stop posting family matters on here for the world to see.

Once again the youngest person on the forum seems to be the most mature :)