New Homemade Enclosures (Still In Progress)

Joezrose · 09-15-14, 06:14 PM

So I decided to get back into snakes but don't like the design of any of the affordable enclosures, so I decided to build my own. When I started I had a general idea of what I was looking for but still didn't figure out all the fine details like lighting, heat source, doors, decor, ventilation, sealing, ect. But here is what I have so far. I'll update with details later.

**Tsubaki** · 09-16-14, 03:10 AM

nice so far

Joezrose · 09-16-14, 05:07 AM

I'm a lot farther than that but I couldn't get it to let me post more than 1 pic

Joezrose · 09-16-14, 05:18 AM

I'm missing a bit of in between pics but the jumps aren't too big lol

Joezrose · 09-16-14, 05:19 AM

Figured out what I was doing for ventilation

Joezrose · 09-16-14, 05:22 AM

No doors or anything, just didn't like the room to be a mess while waiting to finish. Btw if anyone know how to do more than one pic at a time, I might find that helpful

Joezrose · 09-16-14, 05:24 AM

Glass doors installed, still need to frame the opening to cover the track and make it so the doors only open in so the snake can't push them out

Joezrose · 09-16-14, 05:28 AM

This is as fas as I have gotten. Put flexwatt on a thermostat in the bottom and put the snake in, temps and humidity are good so far. Still need to decorate interior of the cage, and frame the door, then add flexwatt to the other cage. Then I get to start all over for the other snakes lol. Like I said I'll add the details later

**EL Ziggy** · 09-16-14, 11:02 AM

Lookin good Joez!

smy_749 · 09-16-14, 01:05 PM

Joe, how do you install the tracks? Where did you purchase them? Thickness of wood? What stain did you use on the inside?

Sorry about all the questions, these came out really great.

sharthun · 09-16-14, 01:17 PM

Very nice enclosures!

Joezrose · 09-16-14, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

Joe, how do you install the tracks? Where did you purchase them? Thickness of wood? What stain did you use on the inside?

Sorry about all the questions, these came out really great.

I used 3/4" finish grade plywood making the cages. The stain on the inside was mahogany polyshade from walmart or lowes, outside was black polyshade. I did 2 coats polyshade then 2 coats clear polyurethane. The tracks I gorilla glued and clamped all the way across. The first time I tried, the track ripped right off... So I roughed up the wood and track with a coarse file then retried and it seems to be ok. I plan to frame the front opening with molding that will over lap the track and add more glue there as well. The tracking I purchased from completecabinethardware.com and got the 1/4" x 4ft black poly track for $10.

JinxtheBP · 11-19-14, 10:50 PM

These are wonderful. I want some just like them!

Mikoh4792 · 11-20-14, 12:59 AM

Looks very nice! Just one question about the substrate. It looks like some type of bark. Do you just throw out the soiled parts or do you re-use them after washing them? I'd imagine it gets expensive to replace regularly.

Joezrose · 11-21-14, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Looks very nice! Just one question about the substrate. It looks like some type of bark. Do you just throw out the soiled parts or do you re-use them after washing them? I'd imagine it gets expensive to replace regularly.

It isn't too expensive, It's zoo meds reptibark on top $20-$26 for 24qt and Eco earth on the bottom $7-$10 for 3 bricks, I spot clean as needed, and when it starts to smell I wash, dry, and reuse.