Pythons-Reticulated - New enclosure

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Mollies keeper Cphill58 OwnerSince2010 Mollies keeper Mollies keeper Cphill58 Mollies keeper JeffK

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#2227080

Mollies keeper
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New enclosure

I built this enclosure for housing my son’s retic. It’s constucted from 2" sheets of styrofoam bonded to thin sheetmetal on either side. It is 9’ long by 30"X30". each door is 44" wide.
I painted the outside wit a faux stone paint, (which I scraped a lil off in moving it aroud before it cured, Iguess I ought to touch it up, but it’s not as noticable as in the pictures)

Inside it has 3 deep dome light fixtures, 2 white lamps and 1 red night lamp, 2 17" strips of heat tape, daisy chained side by side, 3 12X18" vents, and a small xeon over head light on the cool side. I’m thinking it’s a pretty cool looking enclosure as well as great for the snake.

06/29/11 08:07pm

#2227120

Cphill58
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Message To: Mollies keeper In reference to Message Id: 2227080

New enclosure

That’s an amazing enclosure....styrofoam amd sheet metal I would like to know more of that method.

I know the paint you are using ...doesn’t it call for a clear coat also afterwards...I tried the same type of paint and it came off very easily until I clear coated it...9.00 a can for STONE TEX and a bit more for the clear.

I think I spent more on paint ...lol

06/30/11 12:02am

#2227129

OwnerSince2010
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Message To: Cphill58 In reference to Message Id: 2227120

New enclosure

If you could write a tutorial on how to build a cage like that, I can almost gaurentee it’ll be pretty well used :) amazing looking cage.

06/30/11 01:55am

#2227183

Mollies keeper
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Message To: OwnerSince2010 In reference to Message Id: 2227129

New enclosure

obtaining the material would be the sticky point. The material is used for paint booths and refrigerated enclosures. My brother had squirelled away several 10 foot by 5 foot sheets of the material, so the basic enclosure was virtually free, other than the screws to assemble. We cut the blanks and used 4"X6" mobile home siding channels to connect the pieces together. It’s incredibly strong, relatively light for it’s size, and exceptionally well insulated, as well as water proof.

06/30/11 03:57pm

#2227184

Mollies keeper
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Message To: Cphill58 In reference to Message Id: 2227120

New enclosure

The paint seems to be ok since it has cured, as well as it is on a 34" high stand (btw the stand cost more in materials than the enclosure, and probally weighs considerably more) The sheet metal had a powder coat finish prior to painting, and i did’nt prime it at all. It remains to be seen if I lose any more finish. I hoping it will withstand the limited exposure it gets to any further contact.

I thought of documenting the construction process with photos, but got too involved in the actual construction to do that.

I may build another smaller enclosure, and will do that if/when I do.

06/30/11 04:07pm