DIY - Boa Enclosure
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- You can get the track and the door pulls from the following site:
www.completecab...
They sell different colors and lengths. Shipping cost is very reasonable!
One cage can be built with one sheet of melamine (4'x8') $32.25 at Home Depot
You need the following:
2 pieces 26"x48" (Top and Bottom)
2 pieces 25.25"x 12" (Sides)
1 piece 12"x48" (Back)
2 pieces 1"x 48" (What the track sits on)
1 pièce 1.25"x48" (Back support pièce for the bottom)
1 piece 1.5"x48" (Back support pièce for the top)
Glass panels are 1/4" tempered glass - 9 9/16" x 25" - 2 pieces per cage
Wood Glue
Some type of acrylic waterproof caulking
For attaching melamine to melamine I used 1 5/8" coarse drywall screws and always drill a pilot hole.
For attaching melamine to the framing I used 2" coarse drywall screws and always drill a pilot hole.
2x4s for the base and rip 2x4's for the additional enclosures. Same cuts in length though.
3 pieces cut to 23" in length
2 pieces cut to 48" in length
Feel free to email me with any questions!
davecaughlan@gmail.com
I have been watching and referring to this video since you first posted it. To me, this is the best diy Boa rack video I have seen, and it has helped me tremendously. Built a baby rack based on your design. Thank you, greatly, for being willing to offer this to us.
just bought a 7 ft red tail and ran upon this video. it's the best and easiest I've seen so far. I used to be a construction laborer when I was young so I'll have no problem doing this
especially now that I know home depot will make your cuts. (I never knew that, believe it or not) Thanks for a great video.
I used your design and followed it to make 3 tier ball python enclosures. Thank you for making a great video.
I copied his using hardwood, and dividers so it will hold 6 bp's
I've built this using his design. I stained, and poly'ed 3/4in cabinet grade plywood. Built divider's so it will house 6 ball python's. The plastic glass track is on Amazon. 6 Under cabinet lights off amazon. Herpstat 3 thermostat. Pre wired reptile basic's heat tape on each level under the frp. No issues with the frp covering the enclosure bottom.
Pretty straight fwd, and easy project.
Way cheaper than buying pre-built enclosure's.
The best build I seen on here you really should consider going into business for your self great great craftsmanship. I’m definitely using this video as a guide to build my boa constrictor enclosure. Thank for this video it was very very helpful.
Hi Dave. I've been meaning to let you know I built these exact terrariums (2x tall) based on your great video! You were too vague on how you made the bottom/rail slide or I just didn't understand it lol.
Instead I used aluminum U rails drilled in top and bottom. With 1/8" thick plexiglass windows that I then cut out from scrap some plexiglass framework for the windows and plastic/solvent welded them to stop them from flexing at all. Which was the only part I was stressed about, but it worked great. Only caveat is that removing the windows would be a pain.
They house my 2 adult cornsnakes! Long needed upgrade. I would say all together cost me under $350, a months worth of work mostly on my days off. I had all the tools, but no workbench to cut or measure things which made it difficult and more time consuming; it was makeshift stands and me on the concrete alot. I also added 3 vents per house, 1 on each wall with 1 small pc fan intaking fresh air slowly. 5 months and still holding up great, thanks again!
That's amazing that this only cost you $32.50! I really like the rack structure that allows you to fit cages on top of each other and casters so it can be easily rolled around in case you want to move it to another part of the room.
This is extremely thorough and well done. Incredibly helpful; thank you.
Great video! Thanks for adding the dimensions! This will be perfect for my tortoise hatchlings!
Been watching this video for 10-years, and it still is my favorite build video on UA-cam. Do you have an update on it, and have you filled all 5 enclosures?
Super awesome idea, friend! Thorough and well-explained! :)
Pretty sharp Dave, looking good man.
Thanks for the idea! I just made my boa one and im going to cut the top out and put a screen for a heat lamp.
The plastic texture panel is frp fiberglass reinforcement panel just in case I was wondering when it got warm did u notice a smell when we get it into the HD it has a smell didn't know if that did any harm to your boas
Nice cages
Vents for air? How's the snake get enough o2? Looks great!
just out of curiosity...I didn't notice any vents... I'm sure this is just a no brainer though. great job and love the use of the solid support frame and caster wheels for easy maneuvering.
Awesome work!
How has a melamine held up with the moisture? I know it can swell up with minimum amounts of moisture.
Super helpful, I'm looking into red tail boas.
You might have considered placing the heat tape underneath the melamine and giving each enclosure its own top and bottom. I love the rest of the build, though.
Great build! The only concern that I have is your placing of the heat tape. It would be a little inconvenient to pull-up the textured floor to replace the hea
In the description, you said the support pieces for the track are 48" long? Did you mean 46.5"?
Did you get the track piece from home depot as well? Can I get an item number or description of it? Looking for something identical to it and only finding 1/2 inch aluminum track pieces.
Thank you so much . I'm looking to build about the same just doubled for adult sand boas . They are pets but also breeders and I want to be able to keep an eye while males are in with females .
does the fire retardent panel give out good heat or do u think reg tiles from home depot would work just as good or better
would plexiglass be OK to use. I want to make mine with a door that opens down with 3 or 4 hinges across the bottom and have the plexiglass frames in. would that be OK?
Looking good guy!
What’s the total cost
excellent idea
Nice enclosures ! you gave me some great ideas, if you don't mind me asking, why did you leave 3/4 gap between them and not just use the top for the next tanks bottom ?
Do you recon that would be big enough for boa imperators
Used Your advice on this video about the heat tape and using that wall covering as flooring. Great idea by the way and have it all installed on ours. But the smell of the sealant is still pretty strong after over a week. How long did you let yours it before putting snakes in them? I feel like it’s too strong and might hurt them
I ran mine for a month prior to putting my animals in. The smell went away after about 3 weeks
How much did the total build cost (roughly)? My friend wants me to make one but I want to give him a better answer than $32.50, I'm sure that was only for the melamine
where did u get the track ?
So dangerous heat can’t escape from the heat tape.
I'm using 3/4" strips of melamine to attach tracks and I want to use 2 tracks. What is the width of each track I'd need to use?
How do you have the heating setup? I hear the Flexwat heat tape needs ventilation to prevent fire hazard or warping the wood and glue in the wood
?
How many sheets of melamine did you need to begin with before they were cut?
would this concept work with burms? wouldnt they bust themselves right out?
Does one 4x8 sheet build a 4x2x18" enclosure as well?
Hi Dave! Is that а heating lamp or UVB? Bearded Dragons likes more light and UVB !) Good work!
I love how everyone is so worried about them having something to climb on and there is no fucking water in there hahaha dude wtf!
I built a cage similar to this, with vents. However after a week of blowing air in with a fan, the smell from the FRP board is terrible. I am still not comfortable with putting any of my snakes inside the cage. This video was posted in 2013, please let us know how you felt with the smell and how your animals are doing. Also, did you make any adjustments to your original design?
How did you deal with the smell
Daniel do you make these enclosures for the public.
Great video I'm going to use your idea for a couple retic enclosures. Im gonna do 8ft x 3ft x 3 ft.
13:11 dat bug by the black tape in the bottom right do
Or would I only need one track?
did you use the same thermostat for both cages heat tape
I have had trouble finding heat tape locally, does anyone have any recommendations on where I could likely find it? I don't want to wait for online shipping.. otherwise a good online source would be appreciated!
Erick Rodriguez Amazon
How did it work out with the flexwatt inside .....
are those the dimensions just for the two cages
Did the snakes get enough o2 and is there a smell. i want to build them but not if they smell
?
What did you do for a heat lamp or lighting?
air vents would not be needed as the glass is offset and would allow air flow. Too much ventilation can make it hard to keep humidity levels up. Consider using Ceramic tile if smell is a concern, the major goal would just be to keep the snake from coming in direct contact with the heat tape.
Thermostat for the heat tape, thoughts?
Some people say yay, some people say nay. I didn't see you install one, what's your thoughts?
you need a thermostat for your heat tape, if not you will burn your animals.
Since the time of this post I have further educated myself. Thanks for the response though!
What did you do for vents?
how much would this all cost. anyone do it?
In total how much did it cost you to build this set up?
Daniel Turnage 32.25 says it in the description
no way in hell... just for one cage ?? lol
sweet... I think im gonna make my own for when I get my red tail.. or when it gets big enough.. lol
Curtis Blackburn the melamine was 32.25 not the whole cage😂
The heat tape won't cause a fire?
Elizabeth Stein Never did even come close.
u dont need vents ?
where did you get the tracks for the doors
+Zack Merzweiler they were just cut pieces of wood... thoroughly explained in the video.
How thick is the glass?
+Sammy Morales explained in the video
That set up is HORRENDOUS for a breaded dragon!!! WTF
Seems you are the only one who thinks so… what is a breaded dragon?
That Melamine is Heavy- I make reptile cages out of 1X2's for a frame and use the thin Melamine marker board to cover it.. It makes them about 1/10 as heavy, very light and can be insulated with 3/4 foam to hold heat real good... Melamine is a very good surface and easy to clean.. You may want to look into it @ Lowes ... you wont have to wrestle with all that weight...
can you tell me what you do with the foam please? I really want to make my own enclosure and I wasn't sure what I would do about the weight.
ok best way i know to explain it- lets say you have your 1X2 frame built, you will need a outer and inner layer of the marker board - white on inside and outside for easy cleaning- basically you cut foam to fit on the inside of the frame and sandwich it between the inner and outer marker board... you will have a bottom frame,front, back, 2 sides and a top... very light and holds heat and humidity like a champ- FB Ballstothewalls page- you can see what a frame will look like but do not do the foam like i did on that cage, make it fit between the inside and outside walls... like in a house.. That cage is going to be a show cage and have fake rock walls, thats why the foam is on the inside...
+James DeVary thank you so much! I really needed a solution like this!
+abby -k your welcome, i have been using cages like your building for 10+ years... one thing to remember, when you put your heat tape under the marker board.. Do Not cover it with foam.. the heat tape needs 1/8'' of gap to work properly... its best to leave it open... seal your corners with 100% silicone.. thats it, good luck to you
+James DeVary - you should make how-to vids!
Hey Dave my name is Jimmy i love love love your boa enclosure and have couple questions if you can please get back to me and if possible I'll give you my phone # and we can text thank you so so much and by the way love your ascent lol. And shopping same thing for my ball pythons thanks Dave hope too hear from you soon
please dont keep 2 reptiles in the same enclosure, it can lead to them injuring each other, even if you think theyre fine together, please dont
Also they barely know how to take care of bearded dragons they have almost nothing to climb on and I BET you they feed them mealworms which are really bad it's people like this that don't deserve stuff like this
I know I'm always looking for places to buy stuff for snakes or for our rats and mice. I'm telling all u reptile lovers now go to reptilesupplyco.com they have everything at cheapest price
Poor bearded dragons :(
I know right these people don't deserve to keep reptiles in such horrible conditions
Dude u breath so heavy. Need to stop eating hamburgers
Omg the poor beardies have barely anything to climb on or anything do your research before you buy FIVE
Disliked because of the poor husbandry
well, if you interact with them enough and take them out their "decor" doesnt really matter, dont make judgement without knowing exactly how much time someone spends with their animals
Branden F did you look at the housing? And I swear if they feed them mealworms I'm gonna kill myself
Educate. Don't criticize.
Anthony Boyer its to late for education you have to know everything about them before getting them
You talk too damn much! Write out a script and stay on topic!
Used Your advice on this video about the heat tape and using that wall covering as flooring. Great idea by the way and have it all installed on ours. But the smell of the sealant is still pretty strong after over a week. How long did you let yours it before putting snakes in them? I feel like it’s too strong and might hurt them
Angie and Aubree I’m pretty sure i put them in there pretty soon. Maybe it’s the sealant you used?
Maybe... I’ll have to look and let ya know what we used. What brand do you use tho?
Did anyone ever figure out what sealant to use