Building a plastic cage

tragedyandy · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2010, 07:14 PM

I am planning on building my burms larger cage in the next few weeks and am wondering if anyone knows where to find decent plans on how to build your own plastic vision cages?

I am pretty good with my hands so i dont see it being much of an issue, i just find wood too heavy, cumbersome and i am not a fan of heat lamps ,, much rather use flexwatt,

has anyone here built there own plastic cages? i am planning to make it an 8 foot by 3 foot cage any info anyone can chip in would make my burm and i happy

Sliding Scales · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2010, 08:03 PM

When I build my next cage, for my dumerils boa, I am going to use a heavy duty shelving unit. The double rivet design, that assembles really easy. If you shop around you can find them used and then paint them or like me, I will powder coat it. If the size is not perfect, you can cut the uprights or the horizontal beams, and re-weld them to make the perfect size. The beams are really heavy on the double rivet, however they are also very stable and you could, if you were so inclined, install a water feature, or a large heavy tree branch. This is not the cheap shelving, but warehouse quality.
My plan is to use the corrugated polycarbonate greenhouse material for the side and back panels, as that stuff has a high insulation value. Not cheap, but you can purchase the clear stuff, which is like glass it is so clear. A tough! The top and bottom part will be wood with a melamine covering, while the doors themselves will be solid polycarbonate panels. I know many people like flexwatt and that is cool, but I would never use it. I will use a pro products radiant heat panels instead. That way my heat comes from above, just like nature, and there is no way it can harm the animal. For this cage I will use the HerpStat Pro for the thermostat.
You didn't say what snake would go in it, but since you did mention that it would be eight feet long, I would assume it will house a bigger animal. If it is a snake, then I would suggest making it taller, as they really enjoy the ability to climb. This system would be so easy to move as it would knock down into pieces, as the panels would be attached with machine screws.
Welcome to Pro-Products!
Spyder Robotics Herpstat

Just my idea...hope this helps.

tragedyandy · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2010, 08:18 PM

I am putting my burmese python into it

Sliding Scales · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2010, 08:29 PM

Yeah....dude....make it taller if you can. You won't believe how much the snake would use that. The above idea is because you said you were handy, but if you choose a more conventional cage then still make it taller.

How about a picture of the snake?

tragedyandy · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 03:43 PM

Mittens and 1.jpg

This is and old photo of her and 1, she is almost 6 feet now and growing like a weed.

i just want to upsize soon because she is rubbing too much and i have a boa that could use her cage

AGActaeonia · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 03:59 PM

Burmese Pythons do not need tall cages, and in most captive environments, it would eventually prove a waste of space - fat snakes don't climb, and, when they do, they tend to break your expensive plastic enclosures.

An 8'Lx18"Hx3'W setup would be appropriate for either sex.

If you want a tall cage, get a Reticulated Python. They'll use anything - including you - to get where they want to go and love climbing structures.

AGActaeonia · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 04:05 PM

...And USPlastic is good. Ordering in the amounts you need will save you money, but there's likely a local source that would be cheaper, and you could avoid shipping.

Sliding Scales · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 05:19 PM

I guess one could get into a debate of how much height is really needed, and what would be too tall. I would not want someone to build an enclosure where the space seemingly would go to waste because the snake wouldn't use it. However, I have very rarely seen that happen. Most people that build a larger enclosure almost always find that the snake unitizes the extra space. You're Burmese is currently six feet long, and you are planning on building a cage that is eight feet long, so obviously you are taking into account the "growing like a weed" statement by providing more room. The only way to really resolve this is to look at you the owner and how you interact with the snake. If you are like some people that allow your snake a good amount of time outside the enclosure, allowing it a range of movements it does not usually get inside the cage, that one thing. However, as some have pointed out on RTB, if your interaction with your snake is limited then a larger cage is probably warranted. Who knows what a Burmese will use, as far as the height of the cage is concerned? Every snake is different. You might want to seek advice on the size from someone that actually owns one. This is an age old discussion, but it comes down to two things. You either build a cage for the snake...or you build the cage for you. Now that is not a slam...it has rationality. In other words...if you have the room to make the cage larger, and YOU feel that YOUR snake will make use of it, then go for it. However, if you have space constraints where you simply cannot go that large (or tall) then well...that's that. It seems to me that some actual Burmese owners should be consulted for opinions. Still as you cruise the postings on RTB you will see what I have just said is true. Some have larger cages...some do not. The choice is yours.

EricIvins · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 05:55 PM

You'd need to invest a good 5 grand or more just to get started.......PVC isn't easy to work with unless you have the experience to do so........Visions are molded, not built. Every other PVC cage is either chemically or mechanically welded. If you use 3/4 PVC you could use screws or rivets, but at that point it would be cheaper buying a cage than building........And at 1/2" or 3/4", the weight is comparable to wood........

And Burmses will utilize something to climb on.......You have to have the perch size in proportion to the snake though.......duh......

AGActaeonia · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 05:59 PM

Have you ever worked an adult Burmese, Scales?

Something 16' long, 150+ lbs?

No offense, but it's always seemed to me that you're full of ideas, but very little experience.

AGActaeonia · #11 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricIvins

You have to have the perch size in proportion to the snake though.......duh......

Exactly, and with something proportionate to the average Burmese' girth, using an 8x3x? plastic cage becomes redundant.

Room sized enclosures or zoo-displays are more commonly appropriate for those sorts of arrangements.

Advertisement