New Screening

[Motherlode Chameleon]

For those of you that custom make your own cages here's a new type of screen to consider. It is called Pet Resistant Screening and it is a plastic coated fiber glass screen material. I'm experimenting with it now and it seems much less damaging on nails and snout if you have got a chameleon that climbs screen walls or nose rubs (pardalis or melleri). It is reported to be very durable and is fine enough mesh that house flies cannot escape. Good luck if you decide to work with this material.

 

[phussman]

I really like the fiberglass mesh... Way better on chams feet but in my past experiences crickets will rip it to shreds...

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I really like the fiberglass mesh... Way better on chams feet but in my past experiences crickets will rip it to shreds...

That's what is interesting about this new mesh. The plastic coating is more durable and I'm hoping (especially after seeing this screening) wont be shredded by insect as is if it was the normal fiber glass. There was a kind of plastic coated hardware cloth that is similar to this new mesh that worked, except the last time I saw it, it was unbelievably expensive.

 

[phussman]

Yeah for sure... After thinking about it I actually do think the platic is going to make a huge difference...keep us posted on how it holds up... If it does I would have no problem tearing out the screening on my custom cages to replace it with that screening... Of course I'll be cursing your name the whole time I redo the cages

 

[Trundy]

I have a cage made with this screen... The one thing that I do not know is how it will hold up with a light on top of it. Its a bit darker too... Which I think will have its positives and minus'... Itll prob make the cham feel more secure. while it is not as pretty to look at from across the room.... This one is going to come down to personal preference... A tip though.. expirement with the different guage spline than you use w aluminum screen... Price wise its comparable to aluminum at lowes & Home Depot...

 

[EvilLost]

What is the price point on this product?

You said it was fine enough for fruit flies....but that picture the mesh looks really wide...at best I'm guessing you are referring to D.Hydei (1/8")? The pic may be misleading but that doesn't look as narrow as No-See-Um mesh (which stops D.Mela's at 1/16")

I have yet to personally need any screen for my cham but I certainly do use no-see-um mesh in a lot of my other tanks/applications and that stuff is rpetty thin!

 

[alexbrock]

this should be the standard screening on all cages. hopefully manufactures switch to this soon! (wishful hoping)

 

[Trundy]

Yeah for sure... After thinking about it I actually do think the platic is going to make a huge difference...keep us posted on how it holds up... If it does I would have no problem tearing out the screening on my custom cages to replace it with that screening... Of course I'll be cursing your name the whole time I redo the cages

The good news is ... It's MUCH much easier to do than aluminum... It doesn't crimp and cuts really easy... Make sure to use a new razor blade to trim it otherwise you'll end up w/ stray fibers on the edges...

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Yeah for sure... After thinking about it I actually do think the platic is going to make a huge difference...keep us posted on how it holds up... If it does I would have no problem tearing out the screening on my custom cages to replace it with that screening... Of course I'll be cursing your name the whole time I redo the cages

Yeah LOL. I'm going to keep you posted. I have a restoration and a couple outdoor screen cages to build this summer.

EvilLost It is fine enough for house flies. Fruit flies can escape.

 

[EvilLost]

@Trundy: when you are using thinner mesh, you should generally use thicker spline. For aluminum screen I use .125" spline but for no see um or other thinner materials .140" is def better

hard to tell how thick this screen is from teh pic tho

 

[Trundy]

What is the price point on this product?

You said it was fine enough for fruit flies....but that picture the mesh looks really wide...at best I'm guessing you are referring to D.Hydei (1/8")? The pic may be misleading but that doesn't look as narrow as No-See-Um mesh (which stops D.Mela's at 1/16")

I have yet to personally need any screen for my cham but I certainly do use no-see-um mesh in a lot of my other tanks/applications and that stuff is rpetty thin!

In my opinion... Not as fine as no-see-um ... and maybe a bit finer than aluminum..

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I have a cage made with this screen... The one thing that I do not know is how it will hold up with a light on top of it. Its a bit darker too... Which I think will have its positives and minus'... Itll prob make the cham feel more secure. while it is not as pretty to look at from across the room.... This one is going to come down to personal preference... A tip though.. expirement with the different guage spline than you use w aluminum screen... Price wise its comparable to aluminum at lowes & Home Depot...

Have you got any pictures and how has this material held up for you outside?

They where charging about $2.00 a foot at my local hardware store. It would probably be much more affordable at Home Depot and Lowes.

 

[Trundy]

Have you got any pictures and how has this material held up for you outside?

They where charging about $2.00 a foot at my local hardware store. It would probably be much more affordable at Home Depot and Lowes.

I havent kept anything in it as of yet... Once I built the cage I realized I wanted something larger so I built 3 larger cages... I'll go throw a light on top of it though and take a pic next to a reg screened cage.. Also .. outside.. I am not sure how the color will hold up , since it is plastic/pvc UV rays will most likely fade it.. but thats just a guess..

 

[Trundy]

The first pic is to show what I was talking about , how it is a little darker. That is a pretty high powered light and you can't see through this screen like you can w others. Like I said it has its ups and downs. The top peice of screen is aluminum.

The second pic is one of my other enclosures for comparison.. weaker lights but you can see through very well

3rd pic shows the difference in visibility between the pet screened panels and the aluminum screened panel

4th and 5th pic are of each type of screen. Looking at them closely I dont think you gain much in this aspect.. but you dont lose anything either.. Both are less fine than No-See-um but both are good ebough in my opinion... Hope this helps

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

The first pic is to show what I was talking about , how it is a little darker. That is a pretty high powered light and you can't see through this screen like you can w others. Like I said it has its ups and downs. The top peice of screen is aluminum.

The second pic is one of my other enclosures for comparison.. weaker lights but you can see through very well

3rd pic shows the difference in visibility between the pet screened panels and the aluminum screened panel

4th and 5th pic are of each type of screen. Looking at them closely I dont think you gain much in this aspect.. but you dont lose anything either.. Both are less fine than No-See-um but both are good ebough in my opinion... Hope this helps

The first screen with the new mesh I'm a fan of. It looks to give the chameleons more privacy and still is transparent enough to achieve good visibility.

As for the spot lights on the cage I probably only use tube lights or other lower intensity lights. Spotlights could warp the plastic layer possibly. You where saying that on the top panel it was made of aluminum screening not this new mesh (assuming not to warp the top panel.)?

 

[Fearaffect]

Yea this is the same stuff as the Super Screen that I buy. Easier to spline and doesnt tear.
Only prob. is using a hot lamp on top.....melts it quickly. I use aluminum for the tops still.

Pretty cheap at this link:

http://www.metroscreenworks.com/shop/bulkscreenrollssuperscreen-c-88_1.html

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Yea this is the same stuff as the Super Screen that I buy. Easier to spline and doesnt tear.
Only prob. is using a hot lamp on top.....melts it quickly. I use aluminum for the tops still.


You can get it for as low as 1.30 ft at this link.

http://www.metroscreenworks.com/shop/bulkscreenrollssuperscreen-c-88_1.html

For hot weather species that require a heat or basking light it seems an aluminum screen or hardware clothe top panel is required. However if you are making a cage for cool weather chameleons tube lights on top of a cage made from this material seem to work out OK.

Thanks for the link! I'm going to check except I think the mesh you are posting is not the same type that I have posted.

 

[jessica]

I've used this screen on 3 cages. I havent had any problems with crickets chewing through it or basking lights melting it. The chameleons cages I've used it on havent had any issue with loosing nails and they climb all over it. Good stuff!

 

[gaxmode]

Its not new. I used it 3 years ago when I built my first cage and honestly it makes viewing your set up much harder.. it appears really dark.. which sucks because itsa good screen otherwise especially if u have cats That claw at tthe cage.

 

[Trundy]

@Trundy: when you are using thinner mesh, you should generally use thicker spline. For aluminum screen I use .125" spline but for no see um or other thinner materials .140" is def better

hard to tell how thick this screen is from teh pic tho

Just saw this... You are correct.... I wasnt sure which guage spline was for which screen .. Thanks