Room Sized Cage (revisted)

[The Snake Guru]

Well all, please forgive the repeative post, but I did some photo reorganizing so I have post up new links for everything. LOL

As many have you already seen this, but at anyrate here it is again!

This is a 12ftx6ftx6ft cage I built for Retic Kiana, pretty much has everything built right in including a hard PVC rainmaker system. Here's the shots from beginning to end and some in between! LOL

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step1.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step2.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step3.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step4.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step5.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step6.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step7.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step8.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step9.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step10.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/step11.jpg

Some of the Lighting and Inside Shots:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/Cageroof.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/Cageroof2.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/SecondBaskingsite.jpg

Stock Tank water tub.hide box (a real space saver! LOL)

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/WaterTub.jpg

Here's the Kan Heat Mat....Love these!

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/HeatMat.jpg

~B~

[8b8ll]

I'll take two!!



:dance:

I'll never get tired of seeing this masterpiece man. If only everyone kept a retic in a cage like that!!

Thanks for posting up again, that Kane mat is wicked!! Def. will be getting of those for the 8x3x3.

Thanks B


Mike

[The Snake Guru]

RFLOL

Ya know you actually have an opportunity here buddy. Since you only live around an hour away from me....I could actually help you build one man!

Just a thought for ya.

Glad you enjoyed the pics!
~B~

[Robilyn]

It's still great Brad! Kiana is a lucky girl :-)

[The Snake Guru]

Thanks Robyn!

~B~

[Reaper1187]

maybe you should change kiana's name to spoiled, lol, good lookin cage still

[The Snake Guru]

maybe you should change kiana's name to spoiled, lol, good lookin cage still

LOL....well she's kind of spoiled I guess....LOL

Thanks man!
~B~

[Justin]

lol i think i saw theese on king snake along time ago, maybe?

[The Snake Guru]

Yes sir, that is a distinct possibility....used to have the pics loaded up over there, 2 years back now.

~B~

[AciD_RaiN]

but what happens if someone breaks the window behind the cage? :confused: (you're probably on the tenth floor or something. typical)

[Meli]

Okay so here is the big question...

Does she use all of that cage? My retic in the 8x3x2 rarely even ventures to the warm side of the cage. Maybe she does at 3am...

[The Snake Guru]

but what happens if someone breaks the window behind the cage? (you're probably on the tenth floor or something. typical)

Second floor actually, but it doesn't much matter since the glass on the window has been replaced with Lexon. LOL

Okay so here is the big question...

Does she use all of that cage? My retic in the 8x3x2 rarely even ventures to the warm side of the cage. Maybe she does at 3am...

Absolutely she does!
Retics are one of the more active large constrictors.....she's usually out prowling 2 to 3 times a week and makes full use of the cage and all it's furnishings, given the space these guys will roam quite a bit.

~B~

[Meli]

Second floor actually, but it doesn't much matter since the glass on the window has been replaced with Lexon. LOL



Absolutely she does!
Retics are one of the more active large constrictors.....she's usually out prowling 2 to 3 times a week and makes full use of the cage and all it's furnishings, given the space these guys will roam quite a bit.

~B~

Maybe my snake is just boring.

[The Snake Guru]

Maybe my snake is just boring.

LOL....well I'm sure that is not the case.

How about cage furniture? Logs, Rocks, ect.? I usually switch out cage decor every month or so, or take a shed from another snake and throw it in the cage.
Rub different scents on the cage furniture, keeps them active and inquisitive. Got the idea from a couple of places, believe there was an article in Reptiles Mag. a while ago, and then I starting reading that zoos were starting up what they called "enrichment" activities with their animals.

Something to try, if you like....I rather enjoy it myself....never fails when you do stuff like that they are out checking it out pretty quick.

~B~

[ReptileMan27]

WOW that is awesome, you have a real talent :). That is the biggest darn heat mat I have ever seen lol, didnt know they made them that big..

[The Snake Guru]

LOL...well thanks man!
They are actually used for warming pigs in cold weather...otherwise known as a "Pig Blanket" Even though it is made of ruggid PVC....at anyrate if a 500 lb pig can lay and trample on it and they hold up to that, I figure the retic should be a walk in the park..LOL

~B~

[Meli]

I have been thinking Brad... and you know by now this is of course dangerous...

You should come to my house and we should build 5 cages. 5 cages for Retics!! I know this excites you terribly. Before you leave, because you're probably already packing reading this, you should make me some hooks and bring them up with you. I need one for Burms and Retics, one for Bloods, one for babies of of the above and one for teenage boys. I'll save on shipping if you could just bring them with you. Also, it might be helpful if you bring some of your super cool tools or we're doing these 5 cages ghetto style.

Now I will pay you of course...

You may take home 1-4 teenagers of your choice!!!! No returns or refunds!!!

If you take all 4 we can make 4 walk in cages!!!!!!! Take my husband and we can squeeze out 5 really HUGE walkin cages!!!!!!

It's a win win!! Hubby even has a job!!!!

[The Snake Guru]

RFLOL......well I tell ya, that's quite a deal right there! LOL

Ahhhhhh....wow.......I'm just speechless. LOL

I especially like this part:
No returns or refunds!!!

RFLOL, nice.

Well I have to say, I'm flattered that you like the cage so much that would sell off your entire family to pay for them....LOL

~B~

[Meli]

RFLOL......well I tell ya, that's quite a deal right there! LOL

Ahhhhhh....wow.......I'm just speechless. LOL

I especially like this part:


RFLOL, nice.

Well I have to say, I'm flattered that you like the cage so much that would sell off your entire family to pay for them....LOL

~B~

hehehehhehehehehehe so you'll be taking me up on it? Jim Mason always turned this type of deal down for Burms so you'll be making him real jealous! Another incentive!!! You'll be "The Man!"

[The Snake Guru]

LOL....well I suppose I could put them to work cleaning cages, would give me more time for hook making.....we don't have any slave labor laws left do we?? LOL
Too Funny.

~B~

[reptilenut4sure]

I never get tired of looking at that cage, see you added a couple new pictures. Like the one with the heat mat.. Great cage man. You know if you contracted yourself out to build cages like that for other people you could probably quit your regular job. LoL.

[The Snake Guru]

Well thanks man!
Yeah figured I'd throw a few new one in the mix. LOL

Well I always said I would happy to go and build stuff for people....only problem is by the time you'd get done paying for my trip the cage would cost a whole lot more! LOL Hell it cost me almost $1,200 fully outfitted the way it was! LOL

~B~

[denial]

Hey brad I actually wanted to talk to you about that cage. I am moving out of my apartment and into a house the end of decemeber. And I wanted to build my water monitor and enclosure almost exactly like that. Now do you think If I took your design that would work for a montior also not just a snake? I really love how you did the whole water bowl stock tank on the hide a great way to utilize your space a bit more.

[The Snake Guru]

Sounds like a plan to me man! I don't see any issues at all in using a cage like this for a monitor, the biggest thing would be to make sure the logs are nice and thick so it gives them something bigger to grab onto....I would also slant them a little more for ease of climbing. Water Monitors are pretty limber beasts so I don't foresee any issues in using a cage like this for one of those.

On the water dish part, a slight modification such as making the the platform a little bigger would definitely be something I would look into....having a lip the lizard could crawl into and then enter the tub would be an advantage....instead of the steap drop like how I have it, the snake doesn't mind it, but I could see where a lizard may have some issues with it.

At any rate, hell yeah I think it would work. Just let me know if there's anything else I can help ya out with....should be a fun project! Look forward to seeing what you come up with....it's always neat to see the ideas people come up with on thier DIY projects.

~B~

[denial]

Yea I cant wait to get started I just need that thing called money lol IM really trying to figure out a way to make water changes easier lol

[The Snake Guru]

LOL, yeah I hear that.....cages of this size, even when you build them yourself aren't the cheapest things that's for sure.

tell ya what I had that same thought, and if I had to do it again, there is a threaded drain already tapped and plugged in the Stock tanks. it wouldn't take much at all to attach some PVC to it and make it either drainable into a bucket, or you could even pipe it directly into your main sewer line, just add an in-line ball valve to turn the drain on and off and your set! I'll defeinitely be doing that when I build the second one.

~B~

[ffollett]

If it has access to an outside wall you could also bring the drain line through the wall into whats called a flow well. I use them in drainage but I have heard of people using them for adding sinks to their garage.

http://76.12.59.37/cms/files/FloWell.pdf

[The Snake Guru]

Well that's rather interesting! Neat idea too.....but with the wastes that would be produced by the Reps, crapping in the water, would that cause issues?
Just curious....I really like the idea.

~B~

[ffollett]

as long as the line is clear I don't see it being an issue. There is a 49 gallon capacity in the flow well plus the gravel around and under the box. I don't use the bottom so it would flow directly into the gravel and should break down like normal plus be washed away from addition water flowing down through the line.

[denial]

What is going in your second one brad? I really like the thought of the drain and valve. The place we are moving into has 2 living rooms and me and my fiance think that is a waste of space because we only use one living room lol so the next living room will be the room with the monitor enclosure. Man brad you have me so excited seeing your cage I keep thinking of different ideas of how to set it up and everything lol.

[The Snake Guru]

as long as the line is clear I don't see it being an issue. There is a 49 gallon capacity in the flow well plus the gravel around and under the box. I don't use the bottom so it would flow directly into the gravel and should break down like normal plus be washed away from addition water flowing down through the line.

Well interesting! I will have to look further into this.....pretty cool idea there man!

What is going in your second one brad? I really like the thought of the drain and valve. The place we are moving into has 2 living rooms and me and my fiance think that is a waste of space because we only use one living room lol so the next living room will be the room with the monitor enclosure. Man brad you have me so excited seeing your cage I keep thinking of different ideas of how to set it up and everything lol.

Got another one planned out for my Lav. Albino Retic, one for Foxy my Burm, one for the Bambi the Granite Burm.....I've been tossing around the idea of a Green Anaconda too, so that may be the 5th one...LOL Glad the cage is giving you ideas....they certainly are fun to build, and a hell of a center piece when people come over. LOL

~B~

[ffollett]

Well interesting! I will have to look further into this.....pretty cool idea there man!

I have used lots of them. If you need any more info on them give me a shout.

[The Snake Guru]

Sounds like a plan to me!
probably wait till the ground thaws out now...LOL

~B~

[ffollett]

LOL Oh sure go with the easy install. It's strange I have never had that problem.

[~Sweet Devil~]

How well has it held up for you? It looks amazing...the decorations are nice and lush...all you need now is ambient audio to really set it off...huge props for your ingenuity.

[The Snake Guru]

LOL Oh sure go with the easy install. It's strange I have never had that problem.

Well YEAH! Right now I would a damn Jack-Hammer to dig the hole! RFLOL

How well has it held up for you? It looks amazing...the decorations are nice and lush...all you need now is ambient audio to really set it off...huge props for your ingenuity.

It's held up great! I really haven't had any issues with it....she likes to squash all the plants every once in awhile, but with them having wire stems I just bend them back into place....Had thought about putting some Live Ficus Trees in there....glad I didn't, things would've been snapped off in no time! LOL

Hmmmmm like Thunderstrom Sounds and Strobe Lights when it rains? Perhaps some sounds of the Jungle playing in the backround? Sounds like a plan, if I get some spare time I'll see what I can come with.

Glad you enjoyed the pics and thanks for the compliments!
~B~

[dr_d_us2000]

beautiful enclosure

[The Snake Guru]

Thanks much, glad you enjoyed the pics.

~B~