mychamtini112012
New Member
I was wondering how many people have made their own cages, how big they made them, and around how much it cost to make them.? 
DIY enclosures.?
- Thread starter mychamtini112012
- Start date
Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
Here is what I made for my Jackson's chameleon:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thank-goodness-9-ft-ceilings-111618/index2.html
Lots of work but lots of fun, too. It took about 4 weekends total.
Cost? About $400 in supplies I think, including cabinet, plants, wood, hardware, screen, etc, maybe a little more. I already had some plants, the mistking, lots of vines, and other cage accessories. I stole the sticks from some random yard on the side of the street
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thank-goodness-9-ft-ceilings-111618/index2.html
Lots of work but lots of fun, too. It took about 4 weekends total.
Cost? About $400 in supplies I think, including cabinet, plants, wood, hardware, screen, etc, maybe a little more. I already had some plants, the mistking, lots of vines, and other cage accessories. I stole the sticks from some random yard on the side of the street
mychamtini112012
New Member
Um when I click on it it goes to something completely different.? Lol.
mychamtini112012
New Member
Hmm....it goes to some post about what chameleons are the most colorful and nicest.?? That's weird.
iTsJusTMe
New Member
https://www.chameleonforums.com/panther-enclosure-completed-114746/
This is my enclosure I built myself. Honestly if you have the space for 2x2x4 it might be cheaper to buy one. I built mine because I didnt want a cage sticking 2 off my wall where its at. I spent prob $120 for everything screen, frames, screws and plexiglass bottom. Bottom was the expensive part 
good luck.
This is my enclosure I built myself. Honestly if you have the space for 2x2x4 it might be cheaper to buy one. I built mine because I didnt want a cage sticking 2 off my wall where its at
. I spent prob $120 for everything screen, frames, screws and plexiglass bottom. Bottom was the expensive part good luck.
NorCalAnthony
Avid Member
Here's my build thread for my last cage https://www.chameleonforums.com/diy-chameleon-mansion-build-102657/. It ran around $400-500 because I used solid oak and some other things that I probably could've done differently/cheaper but it came out great and was a lot of fun to build.
jackschamnewbie
New Member
about $250
I am about to make a detailed walk through of the materials used, where to get them and how I assembled them. I had a few ideas that I have not seen much discussion about that saved me quite a lot time and money. I still have some rough edges and loose ends that need finishing touches but all in all it is reliably functional.
Any way, I've attached a handful of pictures that give a rough idea of how it will look when finished.
Oh, btw you should be aware that this set up is only capable of 30"width MAX and 30"+ with additional parts that do not come with the stand. The stand I used is a 30$ pvc patio rack available at home depot and lowes and assumably most hardware stores. Which I am currently developing a method to screen the rack itself while keeping electrical components safe and away from the water. The enclosure and light sockets came in a kit together on amazon for 85$. These two items saved the bulk of the final costs as I have wasted a few hundred building wood or aluminum cages. Aluminum window frames and pvc coated screen are preferred by a lot of this sites members but extremely difficult to build...I enjoy the convenience of the the lower flap for easy substrate removal/sanitizing plastic. However the more experienced chams owners like to build out of 1x1 or 1x2 siding material and clamp it between a piece of flat trim with staples or screws. I assume an extra set of hands and wood working tools are a part of most diy cages. I do not have those luxuries.
This is far from perfect as I will probably have to spend another 100 on an additional enclosure whenever my babies quit getting along, however this would be excellent for housing a single cham in 30x30, which is arguably NOT an ideal size for an adult. or ideally 30x"48" if you can afford the extra legs to increase the height.
I am about to make a detailed walk through of the materials used, where to get them and how I assembled them. I had a few ideas that I have not seen much discussion about that saved me quite a lot time and money. I still have some rough edges and loose ends that need finishing touches but all in all it is reliably functional.
Any way, I've attached a handful of pictures that give a rough idea of how it will look when finished.
Oh, btw you should be aware that this set up is only capable of 30"width MAX and 30"+ with additional parts that do not come with the stand. The stand I used is a 30$ pvc patio rack available at home depot and lowes and assumably most hardware stores. Which I am currently developing a method to screen the rack itself while keeping electrical components safe and away from the water. The enclosure and light sockets came in a kit together on amazon for 85$. These two items saved the bulk of the final costs as I have wasted a few hundred building wood or aluminum cages. Aluminum window frames and pvc coated screen are preferred by a lot of this sites members but extremely difficult to build...I enjoy the convenience of the the lower flap for easy substrate removal/sanitizing plastic. However the more experienced chams owners like to build out of 1x1 or 1x2 siding material and clamp it between a piece of flat trim with staples or screws. I assume an extra set of hands and wood working tools are a part of most diy cages. I do not have those luxuries.
This is far from perfect as I will probably have to spend another 100 on an additional enclosure whenever my babies quit getting along, however this would be excellent for housing a single cham in 30x30, which is arguably NOT an ideal size for an adult. or ideally 30x"48" if you can afford the extra legs to increase the height.
