Draining a mesh cage?

I'm sorry for making another draining thread, but I searched and didn't find anything similar.

I'm thinking of getting a mesh cage for my jackson's except I can't figure out how to make sure I can drain the water properly. I was thinking of doing the following:

- drilling holes into the plastic bottom of the cage.
- build a small stand to sit the cage on, with some sort of funnel to collect the water towards the center, which will drain into
- a bucket or other container like that which will sit under the entire thing.

I will use some excess mesh to line the bottom of the cage so the insects can't fall through, but that's the basic idea. I'd like to know what everyone things and if anyone has anything to suggest or recommend.

Thanks!

thats a good idea and your cham will appreciate it
i poked a few holes through the plastic bottom liner of my mesh cage and the entire cage is resting on two supports on either side with a tray placed underneath to catch the water so that it can easily be removed to empty. but if you could build a stand so that all four sides of the bottom of the tank are supported it would be better since my cage likes to wobble a bit.

i hope summoner12 wont mind me sharing his pics with you, but he had a great drainage setup in this thread: https://www.chameleonforums.com/too-much-water-tank-31131/index2.html

Yea, I might have to do something like that, because the cage I have currently is not working out for me! My apartment has carpet floors, and it doesn't take long for the tray to overflow, so by the time I notice it I have delicious dirty cham water making a nice yellow stain on the carpet lol.

i got some 1x1 7/8 wood cut it into 12" sections and used it to lift the floor of my cage which i put a clear potted plant drainage tray undder the center of the hole in the floor. The weight of the two potted plants in the cage keeps its bent/bowing toward the center and gets the water to run down the hole and into the tray.

It keeps alot of water in there... kind of. I have to empty it every day but i have no problems during the day with overflow and i mist the crap outa my little guy

when i got home ill try and post a picture for you

I did something a little different. I took the plastic bottom out completely. I have Rhino racks (http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1288130&CAWELAID=109385295), but in plastic, and I have my cage just sit right on top of that with Al screen between the rack and cage. I had to make the screen a little larger the the cage and bunch it up a little so no bugs can get out. Then I hooked up a cheep shower curtain up underneath the rack with zip ties and made it pretty right and high up. Poked a hole in the middle and positioned a bucket underneath it, and empty it every second day. Seems to work perfect for me and when he poops I just get my pesticide sprayer out, and pump it up really good, then blast the poop right threw the hole of the screen into the bucket.

This would work well with any kind of rack that has enough support to hold the plants, and your cage.

If you have any questions just let me know.

-Matt

As long as when you build your stand, you take care to make sure it sits level, you will not need a funnel. The water will drain into a tub just placed right under the drain holes. Use an actual bubble level to verify everything is level...can't stress that enough.

Thanks for the tips!
In the few months I've owned my cham I've realized that his actual care isn't what's most challenging - it's maintaining the cage! Collecting and dumping the water alone is a huge pain for me haha. Hopefully these changes will make my life easier.