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Junior Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 4:41:50 PM
Posts: 260,
Visits: 308
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Ok so I finally have some plans drawn up for my columbian boa. He is 6ft 7 in. I was going to build a 6x2.5x2 cage with melamine and have to sliding plexi or lexan pieces in the front with a lock. I would seal all the corners with silicone and the top would be a melamine frame with a tough mesh for the lights/ CHE. I also plan on putting vent holes with pvc and screen on the sides. My idea was to get some really wide pvc and have it lead to a rubbermaid humidity box next to the cage. This too would be sealed very well. I haven't been able to think of anything wrong with this yet, but I might have over looked some things. Any suggestions/ constructive criticism would be great. Thanks!
135g Aquarium
1.0 Columbian Boa (Boa constrictor imperator)- Father
Critter Keeper
1.0 '08 Ball Python (Python Regius)- Boobs!
40g Breeder
1.0 Beardie (Pogona Vitticeps)- Mr. Tough Guy
29g Oak
1.0 Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)- Tucker
0.1 Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus)- Ms. Smith
*Coming soon- Convict Cichlids*
Large Rubbermaid Bin
Colony of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa)
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 11:54:59 AM
Posts: 146,
Visits: 223
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Awesome! Those sound like some very interesting plans, that should make a very nice enclosure for your Columbian boa.
Sounds like you know what melamine's all about, and are going to be taking some serious steps to prevent any exposure of the stuff to moisture on cut/open areas. If you do wind up deciding to place a mat in for belly heat, you will need to place this electric heat mat inside the enclosure, OVER the melamine - and UNDER a plexi or lexan sheet. For a couple years, I had heat tape under my Boa Master floor pieces, and the high heat eventually wound up putting cracks in the melamine.
These tiny little cracks led to moisture getting down into the melamine from the substrate, and really swelling it up. In short - there were eventually bigger cracks, and ultimately a really big mess!
- The Lexan or Plexi pieces will work out good for front viewing. But it sure is hard to beat the durability and scratch resistance of good 'ol plate glass for these applications.......
I really like the idea of a remote, humid hide location, connected by PVC. Got some indoor room for placing this interesting project I suppose, once it's complete?
Nice design work! Please post up some pictures of your progress when you start putting this thing together.
This site could really use a Do-It-Yourself section of the forum, for Q&A and documenting interesting building projects like this, man....... 
Nope. No signature for me today, thanks.....
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 4:41:50 PM
Posts: 260,
Visits: 308
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Thank you! There will be silicone on all exposed parts of the melamine. Im just especially worried about cutting it as i only have a circular saw. I will have to be careful to cut straight! Im hoping on starting next friday (not tomorrow). I figured out it would only cost about $150. There will be pics when im finished!
135g Aquarium
1.0 Columbian Boa (Boa constrictor imperator)- Father
Critter Keeper
1.0 '08 Ball Python (Python Regius)- Boobs!
40g Breeder
1.0 Beardie (Pogona Vitticeps)- Mr. Tough Guy
29g Oak
1.0 Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)- Tucker
0.1 Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus)- Ms. Smith
*Coming soon- Convict Cichlids*
Large Rubbermaid Bin
Colony of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa)
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