New rack idea. Hoping to build come spring.

Wanted to incorporate a cage for my boa on the bottom. Overall it's 72.75" wide x 17" deep x 45.75" high. It fits 6 - 41 quart tubs for adult corns and the bottom cage is 6' wide x 17" deep x 24" high for when Gauge is grown up. I plan to heat everything with 11" heat tape and a separate thermostat for the boa cage seeing as his hotspot is required to be higher than a corns. I also plan to put casters on the bottom for easier moving. The front has a 4" litter dam and I plan to put sliding glass doors on the front that can be locked closed.

I'm curious if that would be enough space for him of should I make it deeper because everywhere I look boa cages tend to be 24" deep. The lack of knowledge on Gauge's exact species perplexes me too.

Also any other ideas would be awesome. Here's the cut list: (everything in inches out of 3/4" melamine)

3 - 72.75 x 17 (inner shelves)
2 - 74.25 x 17 (top and bottom)
2 - 17 x 44.25 (side walls)
3 - 17 x 6 (inner supports)
1 - 4 x 72.75 (litter dam wall)
1 - 74.25 x 45.75 (back wall)

Also curious how much this would all cost. Trying to figure it out in my head is making my head spin. Lol. I think 3/4" melamine in a 4'x8' sheet is about 15 bucks here. (or so I have been told) Thanks for reading and any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to build this come summertime when the weather is nice and my corns should be ready for new containers by then.

I can't give you any advice but I think that will look awesome. *dreams of a nice rack of her own*

Haha, thanks. My biggest concern right now is if I need support somewhere along the middle of the large cage on the bottom. I don't want it to bow down or anything from the weight of the tubs on top of it.

What if you reversed the design...had the larger cage on top and the smaller at the bottom? Then you'd have the structural support from the divided enclosures.

Hmm, that's an idea. It would just feel weird having the tubs so close to the floor. Or do you think that would be okay?

Just put an extra pair of wheels in the middle of the cage, it will support it just fine. But the invert idea is a winner also!

Looks like a nice design. You'll definitely want it supported along the bottom of the rack/top of the large viv. At 72" it will sag for sure!

Hmm, I'm starting to think about possibly making it out of plywood so it is stronger and then sealing it. I might put some nice tile on the inside of the display cage to make it look pimp too. So many thoughts and ideas that I don't know what would work best.

raynefyre said:

Hmm, I'm starting to think about possibly making it out of plywood so it is stronger and then sealing it. I might put some nice tile on the inside of the display cage to make it look pimp too. So many thoughts and ideas that I don't know what would work best.

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Even with plywood you'll want a support. Wouldn't be hard to do. Just incorporate it in the front and rig it up so it has two doors with the support splitting the doors.