Wooden Cage

[youritworks]

Most of the cage topics here seem to be breeders, keeping the snakes in plastic bins in rack shelves. I understand how efficient this is when your breeding snakes, however what about for displaying them. I have two baby dumerils that I may breed when they are old enough 2-3 years to wait. But they are beautiful and I would love to keep them in more of a display than just a bin.

The suggested cage sizes are 4 wide by 2 deep by 2 height, which seems reasonable, but as I look at adults sized snakes it seems too small. I have a room (my den) that I can dedicate to these two snakes for now and wonder if I should build something bigger. Granted I can't make them too big for now since they are only 24 inches long and would get lost in a adult size enclosure.

My current idea is to build a wooden structure most likely with 3/4 plywood and 2x4's with glass or or plastic doors in the front for access and place heat lights in the top of the cage. I don't think under tank heating pads or heat tape will work so in any wooden enclosure it seems the heat source would need to be on top.

Has anyone experimented with wooden cages? What is your experience in cleaning, maintaining and heating versus plastic or glass cages?

[Monica]

My grandfather built me a huge wooden tank that turned out gorgeous for my dumerills monitor lizard abut ten years ago. I ended up getting a custom built tray to sit inside of it. Mine was sheet metal however I would think that plexiglass would be much better (easier to clean)

I used over head heat lamps on one side of the tank for heating, but I like the idea of belly heat for my snakes personally. One idea you could try would be to get a sheet of thin plexiglass to lay on top of the wooden bottom of your tank then sit you heat pad or tape on top of that and then sett another plexiglass tray over that. (this was my plan before I became obsessed... now I have two racks built and one more on the way!)

I have heard of a few people using heat tape on wood that have complained of seeing smoke or smelling it...very dangerous. By having your heat source on the plastic layer I don't think that that would be an issue. I would imagine you would probably have an easy time drilling a couple of small holes out the back for the extension cord for the heat tape too.
Just my opinion!! :roll:

[latazyo]

right now, I have a divider in my 4 foot cage....it can be removed to expoand teh cage as necessary....then you won't have to build a bunch of cages along the way to maturity

[Alias47]

Heat tape may be okay, and I know you are looking for it...if you use pads, they need some source of ventilation or may overheat (I don't know about tape) You can use a single layer of acrylic (plexiglas) with an uth on it and cut out the section of plywood where the heater will sit. You may even want to use glass on the bottom (better heat transference).
If you are using plywood...same question I had...be sure you coat it WELL with a paint or sealer that can be used in a snake enclosure...I do not know enough to point you in the right direction...but maybe someone else here can. The pine the wood is made out of can be lethal to snakes.

[youritworks]

Thats a good point about heat and material. I could build an all plexiglas enclosure with wood trim, but I've never worked with it but I have with wood. That's why I wanted the feedback before I did this.

Does plexiglas heat as well as regular glass? I wouldn't think that it would work as well. So for cleaning could do the bottom in glass the first 4-5 inches of the sides, back and front in plexiglas and then complete the sides back and top with wood.

Of course there is always just building an entire glass enclosure and wrapping it in a wooden case just for looks. If the case is bigger than the tank then I could elevate the tank and put a heater under it and let it vent out the back of the case, hidden out of the way.

Thinking out loud again. Thanks for all your help.
Thanks for your feedback

[Alias47]

I would think you could do the whole sides and back out of wood...but you may want to cover it with something that would be easier to clean...I have heard of people using acrylic...or tiles...or linoleum which comes in every shade and look and cleans easily.
I definitely think glass carries heat much better than acrylic...but depending on your needs acrylic may be enough.

A hardware or glass store could cut you a piece of glass to fit precisely to your measurement and it should be roughly the same price as good acrylic.

[Detroit Boas]

Well should there be some kind of power failure glass will cool down alot quiker then acrylic..Even though it is heaveir i wold suggest melamine over plywood..Its nonpoures and is easier to keep clean..But if you are looking for some real nice display cages check out..www.cagesbydesign.com

[Alias47]

I never knew acrylic would hold the heat so well!
Thanks for the tip.