home made cage

[nhayes1]

I have a wood curio cabinet that I was thinking would make a nice cage set-up. It has glass panels on 3 sides that could be replaced with screen. It measures 22W x 50H x 15D. My little guy is 5 months old right now but do you think it would be big enough for him as an adult? also wondering about the wood being around all the moisture...... Any thoughts?

 

[carol5208]

I imagine the curio cabinet wood is finished and sealed already?. I know my wood branches have to get changed out periodically because they mold from the mistings, moisture, humdity etc. I also think 15 deep is kinda narrow. Not much room going that way. The height is great and the width is ok but I don't know about the depth. Adult cages are usually 24 X 24 X 48 so you are close except in the depth. That 9 inches adds alot of space! Just my opinion!!! Don't know about the wood rotting either from all the moisture.

 

[reptoman]

what kind of cham is it?

 

[carol5208]

what kind of cham is it?

One important question I forgot to ask??! DAH!

 

[nhayes1]

He is a panther

 

[carol5208]

That's what I was thinking, either that or a veiled because that is the two most common on here but it could have been a little pygmy also! I still would like to see the cage have more depth but that is just me! I mean it is doable but just not enough room as far as I am concerned!

 

[reptoman]

Panthers get to be at least 20 inches head to tail so it may be a little cramped for them to turn around. You could always build out the back and keep the look of the curio in the front. Might make for a nice display cage. Post pics when you get a chance. I would like to see it. thanks

 

[lisa h]

Is the cabinet solid wood, or the veneer type stuff? If it's solid wood it should work fine (I'm speaking of construction, not to whether it's appropriate to the size of the cham). If it's that press board stuff with veneer, you should probably scrap the idea because the water will wreck it in not too long a time, and you'll have wasted both your time and money. Just my thoughts.

 

[DEVO]

Well if it is solid wood like(pine,maple,oak,tek...)in my opinion its possible to do something with it and well worth it if you have wood working skills are know someone with skills.1st problem,its not deep enough so you must take out the 15 inch sections(side frames and the side moldings)connecting the facade and doors to the back of the cabinet,be verry careful not to damage the facade and back sections.The top and bottom bords are useless take them out.Now simply replace the 15 inch sections(frames and moldings)with 24 inch or deeper sections of the same wood,in adition you will need to cut 3 extra frame sections to solidify the top and bottom where the bords use to be(1 section on top connecting the middle of the facade to the back of the cabinet and 2 sections at the bottom)now you will have a(22wx50hx24+d)classy chameleon cage frame.

 

[DEVO]

Next the 2nd problem is the original wood finish of the cabinet is not good for a chameleon enclosure,you will have to sand the original finish to the bare wood using a 120 grind sand paper also sand all the new sections to perfection,then stain it using a waterbased stain like(saman waterbased wood stain)its none toxic to animals and finish the job with 3 coats of exterior waterbased clear this will protected your wood fron water damage(sand slightly with a 220 grind sand paper between each coats of clear to remove all the inperfections,install your screen use(petscreen) and use aluminum screen on top of your cage for the lighting systems and you will have a verry nice loocking chameleon enclosure worth a lot of $$$$$ yeahhh.

 

[DEVO]

Ho yeah!I agree with Lisa if your curio cabinet is built with cheep press boards water will wreck it in no time,but if only the top and bottom boards are built with press boards then go for it you will have to scrap those boards anyway.

 

[DEVO]

Ho!Not again!Sorry about the mistakes,english is my second language.1rst reply(board not bord)2nd reply(grid not grind)sorry about that!!!!!