RCReptiles.com

[valiant]

some of you might remember me, I was going to get ball, but circumstances at that time didnt allow it. now I have a friends, that she just up and gave to me to keep. I have his cage set up perfectly, but hes getting kinda big for it I think. We just built some counters for our restuarant and I got to thinking about building a multiple creature enclosure and wiring it all up.

the thing I am wondering is some of the cages I have seen being built of plywood use a melamine floor or plywood floor. In reading this page http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/4x2.shtml it looks like the person put the flexwatt directly on the top of the bottom and it just looks like the substrate was put directly over it.

is this ok?
this seems like a perfect way to heat it, but I would be worried about burns. The only way I could think to remedy this is a cut a peice of plexi to use as a removable floor, which would make cleaning great, and putting the flexwatt under the plexi, between the melamine and plexi, or could I use plywood and plexi for the floor.

the part of the enclosure that would be for my ball would be 5'x2'x8". I want to make 2 of those stacked, with the top part of the cage being an enclosure for beardies being 5'x2'x18" and I would utilize the bottom for newborn racks or extra storage. I want 2 displays for 2 adult balls and a cage for 2 beardies on top. I dont plan on moving this cage that much, pretty much be stationary, unless I move. Should be a sick project.

[Buck_99]

This would make me nervous. For most snakes it would be fine, but maybe yours would be one that likes to push all its substrate to the side and bask directly on the heat tape.

Anyone else share this thought?

[hhmoore]

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

I have interacted with Clay quite a bit over the past several years, and have a good deal of respect for him, but I just don't like the idea of exposed electrical components on the cage floor. Granted, one can seal the ends, and the connections to minimize the risk, but it isn't wholly eliminated. Also, consider urine, spilled water, and cleaning. (I do know a person that said she did her cages that way...until she fried a snake).
I would be much more inclined to do a cutout to contain the heat tape - it can be made from underneath and keep the heat outside the cage, or from the top...with a piece of plexi covering the heat tape. *I would recommend sealing the plexi insert with silicone, to prevent moisture from seeping in

[valiant]

yeah, I think I am just going to use good plywood and make the floor a little thicker so I can use the router to make a channel for the heat tape and seal plexi over the top of it. This should make it easier and to clean the floor. Thanks for the feedback.

[mechnut450]

I actually made my bp cages and I taped the flexwatt to the floor with duct tape and then used the walmart ( durabrand) benliner paint and put 4-6 coats of that over the entire lower cage to seal it. I also have the flexwatt on a dimmer controll that not turned up over 50% and then it on a thermostat in case the room reached a temp above 94 degrees ( senor porbe sits on the flexwatt and under the aspen shaving. I recent switched to a rack type case system and am planning on redoing the shelves the same way I did the cages this summer ( it will take a few days to disassemble it and coat everythign and place back together. ) I an currently house 13 snakes (2 are being pet sitted for a friend whiel he drives a 18wheeler) That and I always got a rescue or 2 comingin for either shrt term care until I find it a home ( these are house in a differnet room)

[valiant]

[mechnut450]

I have had no problem with the set up this way . bessure you use this stuff either outside ( and allow to air dry 2-3 days ) or if in the house/trailer with a window open and a fan for at least 24 hours and another 4 days befoer you even consider putting snakes in. now this product not smooth it rough (like grit ) in the resin/paint (what ever it is). I also place a minium of 1/2 inch deep aspen on the cage bottom before i allow the snakes on it . I not had any problems with the materail and th snakes seem fine. I watch if you leave arodent in the cage for a while as they would injest the wood as they try to chew out. I covered the entire floor and then the 2x4 that frame inthe bottom . I would suggest that you place a bead of liquid nail or silicone between the 2x4 and plywood ot help prevent a lot of the mix from getting sucked up in the void are between them and taking longer to dry. I also was making 4 cages when I did this and by the time I had finsih the coating on the 4th cage I could start again on the first cage ( i did this in like 80-90 degree weather in the ealry day ) this allowed me time to let it dry and since i only had the bottom and frames on I did slop more over the tape ares to make a thick coat .as it seem it didn't want ot bond any with the tape.. I also seen that if the flexwatt plugged in and a little warm that the product dried quicker on the tape. (this was found out when I built one cage for a larger snake and had plugged it in anf had taped it down to make sure it worked right ( that was 4 hours I had a head ache from fumes cause I had built the entire thing in the room (since it too big to move if assembled outside ) ..

I also use those under the kitchen light ( at walamrt for like 20 bucks each) to light eh cages as they seem to thorh out a little extra heat and give great light for seeing in the cage.


need any help can pm me for either contact info and a time frame and we can chat ..