How to Build an Arboreal Snake Cage

Arboreal snakes require cages with plenty of vertical structure.

Arboreal snakes require caging that is similar to a setup for terrestrial snakes---except for the height and accessories. These avid climbers require taller cages with plenty of branches for climbing and perhaps shelves for perching. With a little planning, you can easily build an arboreal snake cage that is visually appealing, inexpensive and lightweight. Your cage should be as tall as your snake is long (or as long as it will be when fully grown). The cage should also be as wide and deep as one-half to three-fourths the length of your snake.

Things You'll Need

• Framing boards (2x2 inch)
• Thin, high-grade sanded plywood (pine or birch - approximately 1/2 inch thick)
• Decorative molding (e.g., picture frame molding ~2.5 inch wide)
• Saws (Jigsaw and hand saw or circular saw)
• Wood screws
• Screwdriver
• Finishing Nails
• Hammer
• Plastic sliding glass track
• Liquid nails
• Plexiglas
• Razor knife
• Drill
• Small cabinet knobs (2)
• Small rubber washers (4)
• Polyurethane paint (green color is good)
• Stain or varnish
• Branches (diameter at least as large as the snake's body)
• Lighting, heat lamps and other accessories
• Expansion foam sealant

Instructions

Building the Cage

1. Draw a plan for your cage, complete with measurements. Will the cage sit on the floor or on a table? Plan accordingly--plan to frame the cage with 2x2-inch framing boards and cover the frame with plywood.

2. Frame the cage out of 12 2x2 inch framing boards--connect the boards using wood screws. Add additional horizontal supports halfway up the sides and back of the cage.

3. Cover the top, bottom, back and sides of the frame with 1/2-inch thick sanded plywood--attach the plywood to the frame using finishing nails.

4. Add a corner shelf to one of the back corners. Cut a triangular (right triangle) piece of wood, and cut a 2x2-inch square out of the corner. Place the board in the corner and secure it to the horizontal supports with nails.

5. Install the sliding plastic tracks for the doors. Attach the tracks to the upper and lower horizontal framing boards on the front of the cage using liquid nails. Secure the tracks at each end with a finishing nail.

6. Create doors by cutting two pieces of Plexiglas to fit the height of the cage front opening--each piece should be a few inches wider than half the width of the opening so they overlap when installed. Score the Plexiglas with a razor knife, place a pencil under the cut line and gently apply pressure on each side to break the plastic cleanly. Carefully drill a hole in each door where you would like to place the knobs. Attach the cabinet knobs to the Plexiglas, placing a rubber washer on each side of the Plexiglas to protect it from cracking. Insert the doors in the sliding track to test them and trim as needed.

7. Cut the decorative molding to frame the front of the cage and cover the framing boards--cut the ends of each molding piece at a 45-degree angle for a "picture frame" effect. Attach the molding pieces (4) to the front of the cage.

Finishing the Cage

1. Remove the sliding Plexiglas doors so that you can paint, stain and decorate.

2. Drill or cut holes for wiring for the lights and heat source. Drill a row of holes across the back of the cage near the top for ventilation--be sure that the holes are not large enough to allow the snake to escape or you will need to cover them with screen wire. Sand any rough edges carefully.

3. Paint the interior of the cage with two coats of polyurethane paint. Be sure to paint in a well-ventilated area and allow paint to dry between coats. Use green paint for a natural backdrop or a brighter color to add drama.

4. Finish the outside of the cage with polyurethane stain or varnish. Allow to dry between coats and allow the entire cage to dry and air out thoroughly before continuing.

5. Install lighting fixtures and brackets. Seal holes around wiring with expansion foam sealant, allow it to dry then use paint to cover if necessary.

6. Add branches to the cage--create a "pathway" that the snake can use to climb, by zig-zagging and angling the direction of the branches. Nail the branches to the framing boards so that they provide a secure climbing structure.

7. Add soil or aquarium "astroturf" substrate to the cage. Re-install the sliding doors. Add any final touches to the cage such as a water dish or hide box.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of building the frame, purchase a cabinet or bookshelf with a sliding glass door. Remove shelves, paint the inside with polyurethane, and add a 1 x 2 inch board at the bottom front to keep substrate from getting into the door track.

• Be sure to place the branches carefully so that the snake cannot get too close to the heat lamp or climb onto the fixture itself--this could cause serious burns.

References

• Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection: Reptile Housing: Size, Dimension & Lifestyle
• Herpo: Cage Building Materials
• Herpo: Glass or Plexiglas?
• Herpo: Paints and Sealants