Time to get building

[Big_V]

Well it seems the children have all grown up and its time to put them in their permanent homes. So my blood python and suriname BCC are looking at a 6x2x2 home each. The blood doesnt need that height but I want semetrical unites. Im entertaining the idea of melamine, my only concern with it is really the weight of such cages. Does anyone have any tips on such construction? ie sealing, tricks for cutting (other than taping the cut lines), how to get it to last long.
Luckily a friend of mine is a excellent carpenter so no problem on the construction part, I just have to tell him what to do.
Your help is appreciated, since im lost on what to do.
Ryan

[YoungBuck]

Personally, owning Bloods myself would never use melamine again~! With the humidity and moisture bloods need, and the constant spilling of their water...melamine just doesn't cut it. Sure it's cheap and easy to work with, but there is a reason for that. Melamine sucks up moisture like a sponge and after a few water spills, the flooring is done. It turns into mush and if you manage to dry it out like I have, it still warps to hell and back so much that I can barely open up my sliding glass doors anymore. Right now I am currently in the midst of building two 5' Boa cages for my Central American's made out of a frame and some plywood. A friend of mine who breeds Bloods and Borneos used the same approach and says the plywood holds up much better than the melamine he used to use. If the Boa cages work, I am going to make plywood caging for all my Bloods and Borneos as well. The only drawback is that it isn't as visually stunning, unless you paint it of course. As for sealing it all, I use non-toxic bathtub/shower caulking and it works great~! I also plan on laying down tiles or linoleum on the bottom of the enclosures with some Aspen wood chips as substrate to hold the humidity. Hope this helps a little

Mike

[NocturnalBC]

Originally Posted by YoungBuck

Personally, owning Bloods myself would never use melamine again~! With the humidity and moisture bloods need, and the constant spilling of their water...melamine just doesn't cut it. Sure it's cheap and easy to work with, but there is a reason for that. Melamine sucks up moisture like a sponge and after a few water spills, the flooring is done. It turns into mush and if you manage to dry it out like I have, it still warps to hell and back so much that I can barely open up my sliding glass doors anymore. Right now I am currently in the midst of building two 5' Boa cages for my Central American's made out of a frame and some plywood. A friend of mine who breeds Bloods and Borneos used the same approach and says the plywood holds up much better than the melamine he used to use. If the Boa cages work, I am going to make plywood caging for all my Bloods and Borneos as well. The only drawback is that it isn't as visually stunning, unless you paint it of course. As for sealing it all, I use non-toxic bathtub/shower caulking and it works great~! I also plan on laying down tiles or linoleum on the bottom of the enclosures with some Aspen wood chips as substrate to hold the humidity. Hope this helps a little

Mike

Hey Mike, Just wondering if you sealed the seams and joints with silicone? The only reason I am asking is because I have been using Melamine for about 6months now and haven't had any problems. I used 5/8 Melamine and sealed every possible area with 100% silicone sealant, the cage hasn't sunk or anything, still looks like new. A friend of mine tried to make a Melamine cage, all he did was put it together and forgot to seal the seams, now his cage looks like what you are talking about.

Even though your talking about a high humidity leval, you should still be ok to use Melamine, add some glue to the joints before you screw and then seal it up with silicone ( maybe 2 or 3 coats). Then let it sit for 2wks. I'd also add your heat source and let it sit for another week with the heater on.

[Corran]

I refuse to use Melamine for any type of cage, its insane all the nasty chemicals that are used in that stuff, not to mention its really heavy. I find i like pine much better. just make sure its all seald properly and put a nice thick finish on it to waterproof it.

[galad]

I thought bathroom and shower silicone isn't good, because it has anti fungiside in it. Which can be harmfull to reptiles.

Or did you find stuff that doesnt have fungiside?

ws

[NocturnalBC]

Originally Posted by galad

I thought bathroom and shower silicone isn't good, because it has anti fungiside in it. Which can be harmfull to reptiles.

Or did you find stuff that doesnt have fungiside?

ws

Never heard that before. Either way I let it sit for a total of 3weeks before using. 2weeks after sealing then another week with heat pad. I'm pretty sure anything harmful would have disappated.