Concrete & Red Tail Boas ???

[Thats-Boss-To-You]

First off I would like to say thank you to all of the great people here that answer questions for all of us you don't, but would like to know more about our precious pets (oops; Family Members).

Well with that said, here is my question. If I were to build a habitat for my RTB, could I build it out of concrete? Would this harm my snake? The habitat would be a wooden frame with concrete walls and a large sectional glass front, with a pond at the bottom.

Hope to hear from you soon [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Thanks in advance
Don Jungwirth

[addsig]

[morti]

I can't say that concrete would hurt the boas, but here is why I probably wouldn't do it.

Can you imagine how much that would weigh?!? That would be huge!

And a pond built into the bottom would be a pain to clean.

I will just stick with my boaphile Plastics. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

-Your Sick Uncle Morti.
[addsig]

[eddie]

Well, it would be sturdy...
But the crete would be a B%#ch to keep heated properly.
It would also keep the air temps a little low as well from the crete chill.

The pond could keep it warm maybe, if its heated, but you have the filtration and the drain to wory about.
The snake can get stuck on the drain trap and get sucked onto a high volume drain system.

Then there's the clean up...

The crete would have to be super sealed in order to not be porous.
Porousness leads to trapped bacterias etc. and a hard clean up time.

Did I mention it will be heavy?

[addsig]

[eddie]

And we didn't mean to forget...
Welcome to Redtail!
[addsig]

[Thats-Boss-To-You]

10-4 Thank you for the input.

Is there any other type of material like maybe a plastic or similar that could be sprayed or spread and then molded or shaped to give it a ROCK LOOK and texture?

Thanks again

[addsig]

[sophia]

>>10-4 Thank you for the input.
>>
>>Is there any other type of material like maybe a plastic or similar that could be sprayed or spread and then molded or shaped to give it a ROCK LOOK and texture?
>>
>>Thanks again
>>
You know they do make rock-look products for interiors of homes that can be used. They're plasics and clean easily. Then there's tile and you can get real slate tiles at the home store, bust it up by wrapping it in a towel and pounding it with a hammer. This stuff is easy to put on, just put down the grout and press it in and you can get the tint for grout that comes in any color that you want. Just be sure to heavily seal the final product to fill in all the nooks and crannies. This stuff looks great when it's finished and breaking it up like that makes it look more natural. If you go with the common slate it will probably be too heavy and the slate tiles come in ceramic with a 'slate look' to them or real slate (thin) the former being cheaper and just as pretty, and as a side benefit, the cermaics hold heat wonderfully!

Just some thoughts
Tay [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[sophia]

>>>>10-4 Thank you for the input.
>>>>
>>>>Is there any other type of material like maybe a plastic or similar that could be sprayed or spread and then molded or shaped to give it a ROCK LOOK and texture?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks again
>>>>


As an after-thought (I apologize it's cage cleaning night and I'm pooped).... You could use plaster and tint it, I'd use three colors in separate containers to get a more natural look and put it on with a wide blade putty knife laying one color over the edges of another in a sweeping motion. Be sure to use screen as a backer to help hold it on/to give it a tooth to stick to. Once you're done and it's dry, seal it with clear polyurethane a couple of coats at least, I'd go with four or five if it were my encolsure just to be on the safe side.

It's easy and it's good therapy.

Tay
[addsig]

[Ed_r]

I'm assuming yor trying to do a zoo like enclosure. A lot of the older reptile houses are made of concrete. I'm pretty sure they are already poured with a heating element of some kind into the concrete. It would definately be a show piece if done correctly. But this would be very very expensive to do. The concrete would definately need to be sealed very well. Air heating would take an aweful lot of wattage. The pond would really be sweet, but the clean up would be hurendous. If the cost isnt an issue i would get thick Acrylic or plate glass and make the enclosure that way.
[addsig]

[Thats-Boss-To-You]

Sounds great!

I will do a little more research based on all of your wonderful suggestions and see what info I can come-up with. I will share my research with everyone here and any projects that come out of it.

Red Tail Boa DOT Net Rocks!!!
[addsig]

[morti]

Sounds like a plan boss.

Definately show off with pics of the enclosure when you are done with it.

Another thought I had is rather than going with concrete in the enclosure, you might consider going with a pre-made display enclosure like the ones offered by J-worlds.

you can see their enclosures here:

http://www.jworlds.net/intro.html

Good luck!
[addsig]

[gibson]

well were on the subject:

What type of wood material would br good to use in building an incloser. I would like to build 2 large inclosers in 1 unit. Kinda like an entertanment center looking piece. 1 unit on top and the other on the bottom. Any ideas in what materials would be good to build with?
[addsig]

[Ti]

Ummm, Gibson, I've heard wood works pretty good!


[addsig]