Hardware cloth or window screen for large enclosure outdoor enclosure

[KCcham]

Hello everyone! I am getting ready to build a large ( 8' tall 12' long 4' wide) enclosure. I am not sure what the best material would be for this??? I have built several smaller cages with window screen, but am not sure if maybe the hardware cloth might be a better choice? What are your thoughts about price and ease of construction with each???

Thanks for your input.

Jeffrey

 

[lslcronk]

I have no idea but I too am very interested in opinions on this cuz I am in the process of building a cage as well! Thanks for asking!!

 

[Action Jackson]

I recently built an outdoor enclosure that measures 12'x7'x7' tall. I used 16 gage 1/2 PVC coated galvanized welded wire. It was expensive but with a cage that large I would've had to put in a lot more bracing in if I used thinner wire. Hardware cloth is uncoated galvanized wire and the consensus is that it not ideal because it has zink in and on the coating which is toxic and could cause problems for your Chameleon. That said, I have kept Chameleons in galvanized screen cages for years with no harmful effects as far as I could tell. I would think window screen would be hard to use on a cage that big. It just depends on the look you're going for.

 

[DeremensisBlue]

Hello everyone! I am getting ready to build a large ( 8' tall 12' long 4' wide) enclosure. I am not sure what the best material would be for this??? I have built several smaller cages with window screen, but am not sure if maybe the hardware cloth might be a better choice? What are your thoughts about price and ease of construction with each???

Thanks for your input.

Jeffrey

I have used aluminum screen, plastic hardware cloth, PVC coated hardware cloth, and the galvanized 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth. All work well. Here's some notes.
Aluminum screen pros: you can let flies go inside and they won't get out. You can take pictures through the screen. Cons: medium and larger chameleons can't climb it and it requires much more support structure. Easy to puncture and you'll be repairing it often. I use for smaller cages and when I am housing live bearing females outdoors.

Plastic hardware cloth pros: easy to work with, reasonable cost, can span four feet. Chameleons can climb on it. Doesn't rust. Can be attached with tape gun. Easy to cut. Cons: plants growing through will stretch it out. Can't take pictures through it. Feeders get out.

Galvanized pros: doesn't rust. Can span longer distances and maintain structure. Cons: pain in the butt to work with. I hate this stuff. Will not use again. It did the job well, but I hated working with it and lost blood.

What species of chameleon will you house in this enclosure, how many, and what feeding strategy will you use?

I highly recommend large outdoor enclosures and use them extensively!

Bill

 

[KCcham]

Thanks for all the input! I have 3 panthers one make and two females. I cup feed sometimes, but would also like to throw some crix in there so I might go with the window screen.

 

[mrfixit01]

I'm in my first cage build so this interests me also. It will be an inside 2x2x4 cage but I was going to do the screen outer shell and hardware wire inner skeleton for the cham to climb on. Now I'm worried about the zinc thing. Suppose it could be sprayed with plastic coating before assembly.

 

[Fearaffect]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/fearaffect/610-cage-making.html

I've listed a screen place that has super screen....tear resistant, only thing is u need to put your heat lamps slightly away from it and not on the screen like u can do with aluminum screen.
Hardware cloth is susceptible to crickets chewing thru it.....

 

[Seeco]

Galvanized pros: doesn't rust. Can span longer distances and maintain structure. Cons: pain in the butt to work with. I hate this stuff. Will not use again. It did the job well, but I hated working with it and lost blood.

Bill

I second that. I say use PVC coated hardware cloth and then add a layer of charcoal aluminum screen to the outside!

 

[DeremensisBlue]

Thanks for all the input! I have 3 panthers one make and two females. I cup feed sometimes, but would also like to throw some crix in there so I might go with the window screen.

You'll find that in a large enclosure that any terrestrial feeders will quickly disappear without beng eaten - especially nocturnal ones! You'll have to continue to bowl feed crickets and roaches. But flying insects are great!