Custom Vivs questions

[whatisntseen]

I realize these mustve been asked a bunch of times, however I used the search tool and am still left asking things such as:

- whats the average price of melamine for say a square foot (couls be a differnt amount)
- what did you pay to make a large custom viv
- glass, acrylic, or plexiglass?
- what tools were used
- any good links for custom viv pics or guides
-is about an 1in thick melamine good for a base and sides??

That's about it I believe.
Thanks for any help I get..

 

[Lennycorn]

http://arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml

This might help.

 

[Kvlt]

this thread might also be a little help:
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168

 

[Piper]

Here's a few prices on Melamine boards from Home Depot.

12" x 48" x 1/2" $8.47 Home Depot - Floor & Walls Dept. Colors: White, Black, Brown
4' x 8' x 3/4" $27.95 Home Depot - Building Supply

 

[whatisntseen]

thankyou all. much appreciated

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

We built three of these for about $200...

- Plywood
- Tileboard
- Paneling
- Glass
- Hinges/Hooks
- Vents
- Lighting

Two of these racks cost me $100, but I don't have the paneling on them yet...

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

I also wouldn't recommend melamine or a low grade plywood. The plywood will warp and the melamine is super heavy. You'll just be spending more money down the road replaceing them.

 

[KornKrazyKrissi]

I'd love to see the plans for those if you have them. My honey is good with wood...maybe that's how I will lure him into my corn addiction!

 

[shrimply]

If you go for glass please don't go cheap and buy regular stuff. It is safer for both you and your pets to but toughened safty glass.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Their's no need to use safety glass with cornsnakes...Larger snakes like boas/burms, yes...but not corns...

I have never had a single issue useing regular glass or plexi.

 

[shrimply]

Well I smashed as sheet of glass over three leos in the reptile shop and boy Am I glad that it was safty glass. I would worry much more about the glass comming off the runners and smashing on a rock or branch inside the viv. Or say you fall into it.

Just something I personally wouldn't want to leave to chance. Even if the snake can't break it you can!!!!

 

[Piper]

Good point there

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

If a responsible adult is handling a custom built cage that uses common glass/plexi, the likeliness of it breaking is minimal. If the cage is built properly, the glass will not "come off it's runners." Also, why would you be falling into a reptile cage???

 

[shrimply]

Acctually it is not that hard for glass to come of it's runners. I may not be a 'responsible adult' as you put it but I am a responsible child and all it takes is a peice of wood chip in the runners to knock the glass of. I have done it once at home but luckily the glass didn't smash. When it happened at the reptile shop the guy wasn't at all angry as the exact same thing had happened to him the week before. And these wern't custom made so you don't get much better put together than that. If the runners are built so the glass can easily be slotted in then it is hardly difficult to imagine that it can come back out again.

I have also heard a rather nasty story of a young girl who went right through a home made tank that was sitting in their living room when she was playing with a friend.

I find it extremely insulting that you should think that becuase I am only 15 it means that I am more likely to smash a sheet of glass than an adult. Exspecially taking in to account it wasn't even my viv.

I see no reason why you wouldn't pay that little bit more to make accident less likely.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Not every cage is made useing runners. I don't use runners for the specific reason you stated; of bedding getting stuck down there. Though a shop vac usually cleans up that problem fairly well. I've also, as I stated never seen sliding glass come off its runners if the piece is made properly.

Have you ever broken plexi? It doesn't shatter into a ton of tiny pieces like common glass does. It bends to allow for some pressure if someone happens to "fall into it." However, I would not suggest plexi for most lizard cages, it would get scratched up by claws.

Please show me where I was talking about sheets of glass and someone underage more likely to smash it.

 

[shrimply]

I have no probs with pexi glass just regular glass. I wouldn't even consider it though as It would scratch far to easily in my opinion. I think for it to come off the runners it needs to be the right shape. Usually it just jams the doors but if it slopes right the glass goes up and over without you noticing. Just my bad luck I guess.

And sorry about the whole thing about younger people being more likely to smash glass I wasn't having a very good time when I wrote it and misinterpetted what you said. I had just flooded the living room after the tempremental external filter underneath my fish tank chose to stop working. Imagine two huge sython tubes flooding the living room with 60 gallons of water. Not pleasant. the telephone was ringing, my mum was hovering and and my sister was yelling. Just one of those moments.

Again I am very sorry.

 

[Lennycorn]

Hey blckkat,
I'm been in construction a long time and your Viv you built look very professional. I think you did a great job on them. How did you "treat" the insides??.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Thanks. The inside is lined with tileboard and the corners are sealed with white silicone.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I used the real good Birch plywood (3/4"). A lot more expensive, but it's good stuff. I then used melamine for the flooring. Plexiglass for the front. I also lined the inside with contac paper because I liked the way it looked more than the bare wood. Total cost was ~$250 to build two of these:

This one has two cages, the other one has the same outside dimensions, but has three cages that are not as tall (if that makes sense).

 

[diamondlil]

Amazing homemade vivs, have seen some plans online too that I am going to tackle when my snakes are bigger........but have a daft question. how do you use heatmats with viv? currently their tubs are set above the heatmats for air circulation. Do you build false bottom to each viv? Really don't want to change to heat from lights unless I have to