Hey guys,
I used this guide to make my own enclosure. Worked out great! (Reference source Striking Serpents).
"Supplies
To build this cage you will need the following tools and supplies:
2 sheets of 2ft by 4ft 3/4 inch melamine*
2 sheets of 1 ft by 4ft 3/4...

2 sheets of MDF makes 3 4x2x14" boxes. I didn't know what to do for first, but this is how it came out minus glass track and glass haven't came in yet. Don't know what color for second box!

Can I rhino line the inside for sealant?

awesome info thank you

Box #2 glass track on the way! Hopefully they will be able to move in this week. Friends daughter wanted to know what boxes were for, told its her new bed she started crying!Ha!

Did you order the glass offline or get it through Rockler, or local place?

So, just curious, would it work the same way if I substituted the melamine with some thing more light weight?

By far the easiest stack i've seen! will try this at home... may have to change sixes to fit in a particular area and to suit arboreal snake

I used MDF not light weight at all!

Where is everyone here getting your glass from

Local hardware store. I used plexi alot cheaper!

If its 3/4" how do you use flexwatt? cant be under,if its inside how do you go about this safely for the snakes?

I used 12 x 12 heat matt underneath in one corner. Big Red loves that corner in the winter. Only stretches after a meal of when i let him out. Would use heat tape but can't find any in BFIndiana.

Yes but would flex watt work(penetrate 3/4'' board)under or would it have to be installed inside enclosure ,and if so HOW? I am building a 3/4" thick enclosure now,5'x2'x2' and need some tips on how to do it.i have wired it for aquarium set ups befor but not 3/4 inch board.

Depending on how long the strip of flew watt heat will eventually travel through the wood absolutely. I would get thermostat so you know how hot the tape is getting and anamometer to see how hot the wood and inside is getting to. Or cut a hole screen it and put a heat lamp. inside put a heat mat and heavy bedding so whatever is in it wont move it.

My idea.

Was planning on running it with a dimmer,i have a 5' strip 11" widewas gonna go 2 to 3 foot on the flex was trying to get away from the heatlight,i think i'll router out the bottom to 1/4 " x2'x11" for the tape to be sure.

looks realy nice gone use this as base for my own cages but with one little tweak so u don't need anything between em to stack em and have a gap between em for cables or heating devices

somethin like this picture just lower the top panel a bit and there u go instant gap for the heat mat for the top cage or eventual wires from light fixings ect

Attached Images

boa bak.jpg (42.4 KB, 32 views)

Back in the mid 90s I was purchasing cages very similar to this from a place called custom cages out of Wisconsin. Flex Watt works fine to heat 3/4" melamine. Melamine is fine to use with boas, and will last quite a while. It can handle ample moisture and heat.

"Cut a 2 inch by 4 ft strip from the remaining piece of 4 ft by 1ft melamine for the litter dam. Put the litter dam in place and screw it in from each end..."

wait a minute, shouldn't the litter dam be 46.5" x 2"? Or is my math failing?
I just want to know for sure, I've never built ANYTHING before (well, wooden salt shakers in grade 7 shop class...)

OK, I am far from a good carpentar. In fact, I hate woodworking to tell you the truth. However, my daughter needed a cage for her pet Hog Island. I built this cage exactly to the directions in the opening post. I have to say, it was as easy as could be, just about everything was able to be bought at Home Depot. most of the melamine comes pre cut. I had to make 3 cuts I believe. The cage came out so good, and I like the way they look so much, that I think I am going to build more for my stuff. My wife likes the looks of it better then the other cages I have been using. Anyone thinking about it, do it, besides the weight of melamine, its a fine material to use for cages.

I decided to go with Radiant Heat Panels to heat these cages. The flex watt just has to work to hard for me to feel totally safe with it. The panels cost a little more, but I feel much safer with them.