Cage rusting?

[Cainschams]

How often do you guys have to replace your aluminum screen cages? I am going to start working on a new set up and have a few issues I need to take care of first. I had 2 aluminum cages (fresh air habitat) and it seems after oh a year or so, not really sure they started to rust and rust bad. I still have them but dont use them because it cant be good to run your water over rust before your cham drinks it. Just wondering what the turn around on your cages are and if maybe the ones from lllreptile are any better. I will be getting a mist system and have a good amount of water going through the cage. I almost feel that I should just go to my buddies house and create a custom multi cage enclosure. The ones I make here work but I need this to be perfect and I dont have the tools necessary to make it 100% perfect, but my friend does Any input would be appreciated.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I thought only Iron and Steel rust. I thought Aluminum did not rust, and that if it corrodes you cant hardly notice since it looks the same and the aluminum oxide actually protects the aluminum from further corrosion.

 

[Cainschams]

You know! I thought the same too! But both the darn things rusted. I dont feel like going out to the garage right now to get a pic but its definatly rust I dont know if I can put the link up so take it off if so.

This is what I bought. Screen, screws and parts of the frame have rust or corrosion Makes me think.

I did completely scrub them and got all the corrosion off and it came back real fast. And Im supposed to be a guy

http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/fresh-air-screen-habitat.htm

 

[gregdabender]

I have 3 of those Zilla cages and 2 of them rusted...I replaced them with the ones from LLL...no rust so far.

 

[kylerenz]

With those fresh air cages I am pretty sure the dumb as$es use steel rivets to hold them together which totally negates the point of having the aluminum. You are both right that aluminum does not rust. I have had the problem with one of those cages before. LLL reptile or FL Chams or other breeders that build cages are great places to find quality cages

 

[Cainschams]

Hah. And I was judging my manhood Dont mess with me like that Sandra!!!!!!

How long have you had the lll cages?

 

[kylerenz]

I have had one LLL cage for three years now and the only thing wrong with it now is that I took it off my misting system and there is now a hole in the top that serves as an escape hatch for crickets. They are sturdy and they are easier to put together than the fresh air ones in my opinion. The only downside is the pvc bottom is white which stains easier. I prefer the green that tyler used to make at blue beast reptile. Too bad he is out of the cham business now and only makes tortoise cages.

 

[Fred]

Fl Chams have great ALL aluminum cages!!

 

[Fred]

No PVC, easy lower flap at bottom for quick clean access, check them out, they're on his homepage

 

[Fred]

http://www.flchams.com/cages.asp

 

[kylerenz]

It looks like they have PVC bottoms to me. I am pretty sure it says PVC bottom on his page

 

[Brad Ramsey]

It looks like they have PVC bottoms to me. I am pretty sure it says PVC bottom on his page

They do.
I have an enclosure from Mike.

-Brad

 

[Cainschams]

Thanks guys. Wow. 25 each shipping!! LLL has cage packages which I need around 8 but I wonder what the shipping will be on that.

 

[Fred]

Sorry, I was picturing PVC PIPE in my head, yes the tray is PVC, my husband replaced ours

 

[Drone]

Just in case someone wasn't clear
Iron (Fe) (which is a compenent of steel ) readily reacts with water (H2O) and carbon-dioxide (CO2) to form rust (Fe2O3).

Aluminum is not included in this process and cannot "rust". As someone mentioned earlier the steel rivets can, while aluminum can react with the oxygen in the air to form Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3), which forms a protective layer that prevents further corrosion.

Stainless steel (which is steel that includes cromium, which creates a cromium oxide protective barrier) is commonly used, though if a cheap grade alloy is used, it can still be subjet to degredation. For example, the "stainless steel" hinges on one of my aluminum cages are starting to "rust".

Hope that clears up anyone's missconceptions they may or may not have had.

Also, if someone has a source for that green pvc material, or the name of the cage builder out here in California that uses it, it would be appreciated. the Kammers source theirs from someone who makes them (at a reasonable price) and his business card was included with mine. I have lost the name of the web site and can't remeber for the life of me what it was but it included "cage" or "cages". I guess there is someone in Pasadena who may or may not be the same person who makes them as well.

 

[TylerStewart]

I've got several massive sheets of the green PVC here (as well as blue, yellow and black), just don't have the enthusiasm to offer to cut it for all you guys LOL.... I use it for my tortoise cages now.

The Fresh Air Habitats are made in China with steel screening (not aluminum). The frames I believe are aluminum, but the screening itself is steel. Hinges are another common part that tends to rust all the time. The ones I used to offer used stainless steel hinges which are quite a bit more expensive than LLL's, but they are the low ball price for a reason