China Cabinet Conversion Steps

Brylee1233 · 06-19-14, 02:53 PM

I plan on buying a china cabinet and convert it over to a snake enclosure. It will be for my Brazilian Rainbow Boa, so it will need to be able to sustain high humidity. All I know right now is it needs to be sealed. What else? How do I keep the wood from rotting? and I really want a bio-substrate (I'm not sure if that's what it's called. but I want live plants... You know what I mean...)

If you want, could you give me a step by step plan I would need?

(I understand if you don't want to). If you want pictures of the one I am thinking about buying, just say!

Thank you in advanced!!!!

jpsteele80 · 06-19-14, 03:14 PM

Use a polyurethane or something like it to seal it, pics help on giving advice, I'm planning a conversion of an oak entertainment center pretty soon myself

SnoopySnake · 06-19-14, 03:27 PM

All I have to recommend is using a waterproof sealant that won't leach toxins into your soil. When I do my wooden enclosures, since I do bio-active set-ups as well for my rainbow boas, I was thinking about trying out this stuff.
Amazon.com : Seal-Once Marine Waterproofer - 1 Gallon : Hardware Sealers : Home Improvement

ktana · 06-19-14, 06:20 PM

I had picked up an oak entertainment center off freecyce.org. Free of course

Then picked up some tile from my local hardware store. I bought the kind that has the sticky backs. I bought a light color so that when I was cleaning the cage I could make sure visibly all was cleaned properly. I felt with dark colors I might not see something that was extra stuck on. I tiled the flooring and then tiled the wall one tile up. Then sealed where the floor met the wall. Sealant was a product recommended from a fellow that works at local pet store that has many many snakes etc. Don't remember what it was. Sorry. I drilled holes large enough for snake to fit through on dividing walls and into drawers so he could go to different areas at will. I secured glass doors and drawers with locking mechanisms. And attached wheels so it can be taken out side. I attached screen a foot from the top of the cage so he can't get to close to lights. And drilled small ventilation holes above screen. Sounds like a lot, but only took a day. Put it on FB to show friends and someone immediately bought it from me. Have yet to do another one. Hope this helps. If I left anything out just let me know.

wrecker45 · 06-19-14, 08:22 PM

I converted this dresser for my water dragon. snakes 360.jpg

snakes 416.jpg

ktana · 06-19-14, 08:48 PM

Wrecker45. That is very cool. Does the "grass" pull out for cleaning?

Do you use the drawer for storage or can it be accessed from the inside as a hidey hole?

wrecker45 · 06-19-14, 09:04 PM

Grass is scewed to plywood. Slides out for cleaning. Drawer is for storage.

Brylee1233 · 06-20-14, 10:05 AM

Here's the picture of what I am thinking of getting... Its not a very good pic, sorry I didn't take it

Brylee1233 · 06-20-14, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopySnake

All I have to recommend is using a waterproof sealant that won't leach toxins into your soil. When I do my wooden enclosures, since I do bio-active set-ups as well for my rainbow boas, I was thinking about trying out this stuff.
Amazon.com : Seal-Once Marine Waterproofer - 1 Gallon : Hardware Sealers : Home Improvement

Thank you! I will definitely keep this in mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktana

I had picked up an oak entertainment center off freecyce.org. Free of course

Then picked up some tile from my local hardware store. I bought the kind that has the sticky backs. I bought a light color so that when I was cleaning the cage I could make sure visibly all was cleaned properly. I felt with dark colors I might not see something that was extra stuck on. I tiled the flooring and then tiled the wall one tile up. Then sealed where the floor met the wall. Sealant was a product recommended from a fellow that works at local pet store that has many many snakes etc. Don't remember what it was. Sorry. I drilled holes large enough for snake to fit through on dividing walls and into drawers so he could go to different areas at will. I secured glass doors and drawers with locking mechanisms. And attached wheels so it can be taken out side. I attached screen a foot from the top of the cage so he can't get to close to lights. And drilled small ventilation holes above screen. Sounds like a lot, but only took a day. Put it on FB to show friends and someone immediately bought it from me. Have yet to do another one. Hope this helps. If I left anything out just let me know.

Great! thank you!

Brylee1233 · 06-20-14, 10:09 AM

So since I am going to have to use a bulb, will the plants be able to keep the humidity up?