Custom cage help. Dimension and other tips.

[purplebiotch]

Hi I'm thinking of building a cage my self and I had a few questions.

1) is 18 inches deep 5-6 feet tall and 3 feet long ok or is it not deep enough for a fully grown panther?

2) what should I use to keep the wood from rotting?

3) what makes the best screen ( I would like to be able to see through it enough because the Cham I'm looking at getting is gorgeous. But still be fine enough that food can't escape. ( would window screens be ok if I cut the screens out and attached them to the wood)?

4) what makes the best flooring? And if PVC is it where can I buy good green PVC?

5) is it more cost efficient to build a cage or buy one?

 

[purplebiotch]

Please help!!!

 

[kokom05lb]

Well idk about panthers but I would recommend at least 24" wide.
Wood I was told to use Minwax acrylic its in a blue can.
I use pet screen cause I don't like aluminum. But I've been told that hardware cloth is the best.
I'm still exploring the best use would be for flooring. The cage I threw together was just for experiment. I plan on building a better nicer one when $$$ comes in.

To me I prefer to make my own cages. You can build and customize the way you want. But everyone has their own opinions hope that helps

 

[dom1959]

they will help...
dimensions seem ok(bigger is better)

i being no expert think there is "treated wood" that is best with moisture.

i looked into building mine but when i saw a 2x2x4 for $75 at a reptile show i decided to buy.

 

[kokom05lb]

Don't use treated wood it can harm you and your reptiles

 

[poppototamus]

well, i've only built one cage for my first chameleon which i acquired back in september, so i admit, i am kind of a noob. that being said, the cage is working out really well, so i feel fairly confident sharing my design. I had a bunch of two by fours laying around so i used those to make the frame, the doors, etc. then i stained the wood with Minwax wood stain, it took two coats. Then to make it waterproof and safe for a chameleon, i sealed over the stain with two coats of Minwax water based polyurethane. i really recommend taking the time to sand the wood before applying the poly though because i rushed it and got a lot of bubbles which don't look so nice. i bought a roll of aluminum house screen at home depot, it was pretty cheap. i cut pieces that were about an inch larger all around than each of openings in the frame, then i folded about a half inch of hte screeen over along each edge like i was hemming a pair of pants because i figured it would be stronger that way when i stapled the screen to the frame. to make things neat and tidy i cut thin strips of wood out of my two by fours, stained and sealed them and used furniture tacks (small nails) to nail them in over the exposed edges of the screen. the bottom of my cage is a piece of plywood for strength with a plastic tray from a dog kennel which fits perfectly and catches all the moisture. I set the cage doors on the front so that there's a four inch gap between the bottom of the doors and floor of hte cage. I used a two by four and some cheap latches to make a cover for this gap, and now when i want to empty and wash the tray i just take this cover off and the tray slides out. if any of these details sounds like something you might want to try, let me know and I will post some detailed pictures for you.

 

[purplebiotch]

Yes actually I do like the idea where at the bottom the opening so you can just slide out the tray and also could you post pictures of the hem you were talking about?

Also on average is more cost efficient to buy or make a cage?

 

[SMCNARY]

I have done both,it is close on the $ depending on what you want. Look at LLLReptiles 24x24x48,you can find on the site sponsor link. Another wood option is to use 1/2 to 3/4 inch square wood sticks you can get at most hardware/lumber stores. Simply copy the Lll cage design but using the wood.treat the wood just as others have already said,use aluminum screen if you don't want feeders to get out. Crickets can chew through other types of screen! Wire cloth is better for adult Panther chems to climb on but the feeders get out. I swear I think these cage builders stole my design as I was building cages just like the Lll cage out of the square sticks 20 years ago except I never thought to make a bottom door like they have lol If you do want to build out of wood and would like some ideas send me a pm and I will give you my cell # as it would be a lot better if I could just talk you through it and could save some time as well as frustration

 

[nick barta]

To buy or build

I have built dozens of cages over the last 25 years of keeping chams. The enjoyment of building is an individual like/dislike, but let me share some thoughts.

If you have the tools, skills, and desire, build the enclosure. As stated previously, the cost to build or buy, either way, is a wash. When you go to sell, you tend to get more value on bought cages, most cham keepers will build their own if they don't buy new or used enclosures. Home-made cham enclosures tend to go into the garbage...

Wood and water really don't work well together IMHO, and I have done many designs of enclosures to try to get them to coexist. Mold is not what you want hidden in the joints, entering your chams lungs, and yours as well.

Your cham will do well in a 24x24x48 screen cage, you don't need a 3 foot wide or 5 foot tall enclosure. The LLL cage is the cheapest for a 24x24x48, at $89.00 right now (+shipping costs), but for and additional $26.00, the Penn PLax 24x24x48 is a far better cage at $115.00. The Penn Plax cage has an added metal bar on the back and 2 sides at 24 inches up, which makes it much sturdier than the LLL cage. The Penn Plax cage also has a opening in the back to run your watering system inside the cage, which takes away some of the top clutter. The best part is that the front door has better locks, and is plexiglass, you can really see the interior. I bought my 2 Penn Plex cages at Chameleons Northwest, one of our sponsors.



Nick Barta