My first cage

[davemailcall]

Ok, here is my cage. I have to add some more vines and fake plants to the top portion of my cage, but I don't have the cash flow to do it just yet. I think most will agree that there is plenty for now. Her little egg laying bowl is all the way in the back at the bottom for anyone who wants to know. I also put in a picture of Chloe just for fun. She looks pretty happy I think.

For all you critics out there...I'm not the best carpenter or painter, but for my first cage, I think it came out well.

Please bring on the comments!
For Aqua, and all those that want to know how I did it, continue on:

I bought about 6 2x2 boards at 8ft lengths. I also bought 2 1x2 boards at 8ft lengths for the door. I didn't really need all the boards, but I bought extra in case I goofed....and I did a few times. Trial and error! I first built the left and right sides at 24x48, then I cut 6 24(about...I think it was a little less) inch pieces to connect the sides and to add extra support. Notice at the middle of every side (including the door) I put in another brace. Once you do the sides, its up to you to decide how wide you want it, just keep in mind that the door will take 2inchs off each side on the front, depends on how much viewing space you want.
The bottom is just a piece of plywood that I cut to fit, there is also a brace underneath it to support the plants. The back is a solid piece of wood also cut to fit.
On the roof, I put in two braces to support the weight of the lights and would help prevent bowing of the mesh.
Also on the top, I cut some triangles to fit where I could staple gun, glue or screw plants or whatever into and make it generally easy on myself. In the middle on the back (you can see in the pictures) I also cut a larger triangle for my water feature (Yes I know many people hate them) with a hole for the cord out the back.

Sorry for the length, but only the people who want to build one needed to read the details! If anyone has questions, feel free to ask. It took me 3 days to build about 6hrs a day. (vacations rock!)

 

[Aquaseafoam]

Wow, I think that looks great!
She looks very happy as well, she is going to love the new cage. And look at all that dense vegetation!
Thanks for posting. This is almost exactly what I want to construct- and the first cage may very well be like this the drainage thing is making it more complicated this will just have to be his outdoor cage

 

[Julirs]

I would get some vines and foliage closer to the top, they need to get pretty close to the UVB(depending on the bulb) to get use out if it.

 

[Dean Pulcini]

The cage looks good nice job.

 

[LaserGecko]

I say that looks like a darned nice new cage!

Great job!

 

[Vegas Chad]

*OT* Sweet, another Vegas person!

 

[ChameleonsTree]

Ok, here is my cage. I have to add some more vines and fake plants to the top portion of my cage, but I don't have the cash flow to do it just yet. I think most will agree that there is plenty for now. Her little egg laying bowl is all the way in the back at the bottom for anyone who wants to know. I also put in a picture of Chloe just for fun. She looks pretty happy I think.

For all you critics out there...I'm not the best carpenter or painter, but for my first cage, I think it came out well.

Please bring on the comments!
For Aqua, and all those that want to know how I did it, continue on:

I bought about 6 2x2 boards at 8ft lengths. I also bought 2 1x2 boards at 8ft lengths for the door. I didn't really need all the boards, but I bought extra in case I goofed....and I did a few times. Trial and error! I first built the left and right sides at 24x48, then I cut 6 24(about...I think it was a little less) inch pieces to connect the sides and to add extra support. Notice at the middle of every side (including the door) I put in another brace. Once you do the sides, its up to you to decide how wide you want it, just keep in mind that the door will take 2inchs off each side on the front, depends on how much viewing space you want.
The bottom is just a piece of plywood that I cut to fit, there is also a brace underneath it to support the plants. The back is a solid piece of wood also cut to fit.
On the roof, I put in two braces to support the weight of the lights and would help prevent bowing of the mesh.
Also on the top, I cut some triangles to fit where I could staple gun, glue or screw plants or whatever into and make it generally easy on myself. In the middle on the back (you can see in the pictures) I also cut a larger triangle for my water feature (Yes I know many people hate them) with a hole for the cord out the back.

Sorry for the length, but only the people who want to build one needed to read the details! If anyone has questions, feel free to ask. It took me 3 days to build about 6hrs a day. (vacations rock!)

you need to get some vines right up to the top and you are going to ruin your floor if you are really using enough water...I would prop that cage up on table and get one of those shallow tubs they use to mix cement in at homedepot and put the cage right into it and poke a hole and put a big bucket right underneath it.

 

[Smitty]

you need to get some vines right up to the top and you are going to ruin your floor if you are really using enough water...I would prop that cage up on table and get one of those shallow tubs they use to mix cement in at homedepot and put the cage right into it and poke a hole and put a big bucket right underneath it.

I would like to echo this. When I first build my cage (yours looks a lot better than mine!) I didn't realize just HOW MUCH WATER was needed to keep the cham happy. I'm in the process now of re-doing the bottom and I think this will work much better. I totally forgot to take step-by-step pictures, but I will post the final floor just before adding to my cage.