Enclosure: Build or buy? - Experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

Enclosure: Build or buy?	Reply
by DubVeeJames on April 13, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
I have a 30 gallon aquarium Id like to use as my snake cage but i think every snake Ive had before managed to escape from it eventually. The store bought lids just didnt do the job. I need a cage that is 100 percent secure. Im planning on building a tight, locking lid for it myself. Can anyone give me advice on how to do it, or would I be better off just saving up and buying an enclosure online?

RE: Enclosure: Build or buy?	Reply
by vemon on April 13, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
What I have done for my hots (Elapids & Vipers both) is constructed a lid out of 1x2s that sits snug in the recessed lip of the top of the aquarium. I cover both sides of the lid with 1/4" hail screen or some people call it hardware cloth. I attach the screen using a hand powered staple gun. Once constructed I secure the lid to the aquarium using two nylon ratchet load straps each one going all the way around the cage on each end. To actually pull or push the lid into the recessed lip. I ALWAYS screen both sides of the lid ESPECIALLY WITH PIT VIPERS. We keep a few 4-5 foot crotalus species in aquariums for display and I built the lids out of 1x4s instead of 1x2s due to their being so much longer I wanted to create more space between the screens that cover each side of the lid to prevent anyone from being tagged due to putting their hand on top of the cage. Basically the larger the snake, the longer the fangs,= more space between the screens. In our time with keeping hots NO ONE has ever bit through the top of an enclosure and we have NEVER had any hots escape!!! The items listed in this reply can easily be obtained at your local lumber yard ( Lowe's, Home Depot etc). I hope this helps. Ben D. Vanecek

RE: Enclosure: Build or buy?	Reply
Anonymous post on April 13, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Whats nylon ratchet load straps?

RE: Enclosure: Build or buy?	Reply
by oOCrotalusOo on April 13, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Nylon Ratchet load straps are nylon straps with ratchets for binding down a load. :)

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