Help Building Custom Enclosure?

m1ndless

m1ndless

New Member
I am going to be getting a chameleon here in a month or two, and I am going to try building a custom cage.

My plan is to build a 18x24x48 enclosure out of 1.5X1.5inch beams.

What type of screen would be best? I want high visibility, but I want it to be cricket proof. Suggestions?

Also, I was thinking of trying to make a slope at the bottom to collect the water, with a hole in the middle with some screen over the top so no crix get out, but how would I go about this easily? I was thinking just a V shape with two pieces of board?

I am looking for any suggestions from those who have built this type of enclosure before, thanks!
 
m1ndless said:
I am going to be getting a chameleon here in a month or two, and I am going to try building a custom cage.
My plan is to build a 18x24x48 enclosure out of 1.5X1.5inch beams.
Click to expand...

I'd make it bigger, if you can.

m1ndless said:
What type of screen would be best? I want high visibility, but I want it to be cricket proof. Suggestions?
Click to expand...

I think coated wire is best.
Dense screen blocks UVB. Screens catch toe nails. Screens can break down under heat. Crickets can chew through most screens.

I do not think chicken wire nor hardware cloth are good choices.

I've used peg board for the back and sides of several cages, with coated wire tops and on one side, and acrylic /wire fronts.

m1ndless said:
Also, I was thinking of trying to make a slope at the bottom to collect the water, with a hole in the middle with some screen over the top so no crix get out, but how would I go about this easily? I was thinking just a V shape with two pieces of board?
Click to expand...

You can get trays meant for shower stalls. With drain covers.
Fiberglass, glass, plastic, pond cloth - lots of options. You only need a very slight slope - a big V could result in the chameleon getting stuck?
 
I second that, (not to offend, just advice for a fellow chameleon lover) I hope you got your little guy a source of water... more plant life, more hiding spots, more ways to drink, allows more humidity to last, more ways to get around and excercise more. Big cage for such a little guy. Get some of those bio vines for your little one, I'm sure he'll want to climb more than what you provided him. Not just screen clinging...
 
sandrachameleon said:
I'd make it bigger, if you can.



I think coated wire is best.
Dense screen blocks UVB. Screens catch toe nails. Screens can break down under heat. Crickets can chew through most screens.

I do not think chicken wire nor hardware cloth are good choices.

I've used peg board for the back and sides of several cages, with coated wire tops and on one side, and acrylic /wire fronts.



You can get trays meant for shower stalls. With drain covers.
Fiberglass, glass, plastic, pond cloth - lots of options. You only need a very slight slope - a big V could result in the chameleon getting stuck?
Click to expand...

How big should it be?

Where can I get the coated wire, and how much does it cost?

And where would I get a tray meant for a shower stall, I do not understand what you mean?

I priced out the wood today, it should only cost about $30 for the wood, but I am not sure how I should make a door exactly?
 
Last edited:
m1ndless said:
Is your cage cricket proof? I was thinking something like that, but not two doors, just wider and taller with one door, looks nice, exactly what I want to build.

What type of screen did you use?
Click to expand...

it is cricket proof.how tall are you going to make it. my chams living space is 4feet tall and 8 feet wide.i'm going this weekend to the san jose show to buy a female and i will pu a divider in the middle.
 
I made my indoor enclosure (Post a while ago with pic(Jabbas palace finally done)With removable screens mounted on the outside of the cage and on the inside I put green plastic fence so no toenails would be lost and so crickets could not get out. Check out he pick on that post above.

Matt
 
I would agree that Aluminum wire is the way to go, is cheep looks good cricket proof.. and strong to climb on...I use Luaun back walls stained and multi coasts of polyurethane to keep it nice and water proof.. here is a pic of my enclosure for my Veilds...
DSC_0377.jpg

DSC_0380.jpg

DSC_0381.jpg
 
Ren said:
I would agree that Aluminum wire is the way to go, is cheep looks good cricket proof.. and strong to climb on...I use Luaun back walls stained and multi coasts of polyurethane to keep it nice and water proof.. here is a pic of my enclosure for my Veilds...
DSC_0377.jpg

DSC_0380.jpg

DSC_0381.jpg
Click to expand...

that is a very nice set up how much did that cost you to make.love that cage nice job.
 
How much is the wire?

This sounds like it's going to be pretty cheap, since the 2x2 beams are only $2.
 
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