• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

how are you guys heating your cages? also stain bad?

Grimaldi123

Grimaldi123

New member
Joined
Jun 20, 2009
Messages
85
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
philadelphia, PA, USA
hey guys 2 questions im hoping you can help me with during my custom cage building project. first being: is wood stain bad for snakes? basically the enclosure is all wood with a glass front and about 20 3/4" holes drilled in the wood in various spots around the cage. will the stain bother/hurt my reticulated python? next question is how are you guys keeping your temps hot enough on these large cages. the enclosure measures 6'longx2'6"widex 3'6"tall. it will house an 11 foot tiger retic. basically this is what i have for heat... 2 ceramic bulbs in the top (150 w each) and a heat pad on the floor thats roughly 16" x 16". when i put my thermometer on the hot end im getting 80 and on the cold end 74. obviously i need these hotter and am stumped on the best way to do it. please any help with both of these questions would be more than appreciated.
 
Wood Stain;

The stain will only minimally protect the wood against the damp/hot environment (which is present inside a cage). It does soak into wood, giving it some resistance to water. However, it does not provide the necessary protection. You'll have to apply lacquer to actually seal the wood.

Personally, what I've always done is...cut out thin sheets of plexi and attach them on the inside (sealing the corners with caulking). Its less messy that way :). I have no idea if the chemicals/fumes from lacquer will negatively impact your animal. I would assume no (once it dries up)...however I have never researched that, so I cant give you a definitive "yes" or "no" answer.

Heating;

Unless you have cut outs on the top of your cage, then you'll probably want to stay clear of using ceramic bulbs altogether. Keeping them on the inside of the enclosure could cause problems. You don't want your retic to be in direct contact with such heating elements...they can cause some really nasty burns. Radiant heat panels ( such as these... http://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat_panels/ ) would be a better choice.

Glass Front;
(I know this wasn't solicited but I'll talk about it anyway)

Make sure the glass is very strong (taking into account the large and powerful animal that you'll be housing). Having a snake breaking through the glass can cause it potentially life threatening injuries. I've always used thick plexi doors for any caging that I've built.

Good luck on your project and update us by posting some pictures when you're finished. :thumbsup:
 
thank you so much for the helpful input! ive had snakes my entire childhood but have only more recently (within the past 2 years) gotten very serious about reptiles so i am relatively new and still learning so much every day. the glass in the front is 3/8 tempered glass which is thicker than a cars side windows (which are ridiculously strong) so i think im good there. thank you a bunch for all the help again i really appreciate it!
 
another idea

hello, what i did for my rescues of big pythons is build a frame from 2x4's and get melamine from lowes (which is in your bath tub) its waterproof and doesnt mold. i seal it up with bathroom caulking/silicone. i let it sit for 48 hrs. so absolutely no fumes. i hope that gave you some more possibilities for your enclosures. please post pics of your retic. they are so beautiful. cheers! mike
 
Back
Top