Things You'll Need
- 1 piece of 1/2- to 3/4-inch plywood, 36 to 48 inches by 24 inches (back)
- 2 pieces of 1/2- to 3/4-inch plywood, 18 to 24 inches by 24 inches (sides)
- 2 pieces of 1/2- to 3/4-inch plywood, 18 to 24 inches by 36 to 48 inches (top/bottom)
- 1 piece of 1/2- to 3/4-inch by 1-inch by 36- to 48-inch wood (cross-brace)
- 1 piece of plexiglass, 36 to 48 inches by 24 inches (front)
- 4 self-adhesive rubber furniture feet
- 2 metal or wood floor vent registers with screws to attach
- 2 metal butt hinges
- 2 metal sliding bolt latches
- Box of 1 1/2-inch galvanized wood screws
- Box of 1/2-inch pan-head screws
- Self-adhesive contact paper to cover one side of each wood piece
- Caulk gun
- Tube of tub/tile caulk
- Power drill
- 1-inch spade (flat) drill bit
- Screwdriver bit
- Jig saw
- Scissors
- Sandpaper
- Cloth rag
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Utility knife
- Under-tank heater (UTH) large enough to cover one-third of the cage bottom
- Branches or vines (real or artificial)
- Foliage (real or artificial)
- Shredded newspaper or other moisture-holding substrate
- Reptile cage thermostat
- Reptile cage thermometer
- Reptile cage hydrometer
Instructions
Cage Assembly
Measure or trace out a hole for the vents in one upper quadrant and the opposite lower quadrant of the back, outlining them with a pencil.
Drill a hole in the center of each vent outline with the spade bit. Drill from one side until the tip of the bit appears on the opposite side of the wood, and then drill from that opposite side to complete the hole.
Insert the jig saw blade into each drilled hole and cut out each vent hole. Sand away any rough edges or spots on all pieces of wood. Use the cloth rag to remove the sawdust.
Attach the contact paper to the interior sides of each wood piece, smoothing out any bubbles. Cut the contact paper out of the vent holes with the utility knife. Use dark rather than light contact paper to better simulate the snake's natural surroundings.
Drill pilot holes at most every six inches along the side and bottom edges of the back, along three edges of the bottom and corresponding edges of the sides. Attach the bottom and sides with the wood screws to make a three-sided box. Attach the cross-brace at the top of the front. Make sure all the contact paper faces inward.
Caulk the five seams of the box. Insert and secure both vents.
Drill pilot holes in the plexiglass and attach it to the front of the sides, bottom and cross-brace, using the pan-head screws.
Drill pilot holes for the hinges in the back and the top. Drill pilot holes for the sliding bolt latches in the sides and the top. Verify alignment as you go so the hardware will work smoothly. Attach the hinges and bolts.
Attach the rubber feet and the UTH with a thermostat to the bottom of the cage. Place the thermometer and hydrometer inside the cage. Once the caulk has dried, decorate the cage with climbing branches or vines, foliage and substrate or water. If desired, paint the outside of the cage with no-VOC paint. Place the cage where the snake can get light as needed.