Screen to use for custom enclosure

[Dunnigan]

Im getting ready to build a bigger enclosure for my veiled. i have some fiberglass screening at my house left over from re-doing the porch and was wondering if the fiberglass will irritate the cham.

Or better yet what is the best kind of screening to use?

Im going to make the skeleton out of PVC and sew a zipper onto part of the screen to allow access into the cage.

 

[Tatooineboy]

Take pictures while constructing it so we can see the progress you're making

 

[Dankmeleon]

the nice cages are made with some sort of metal or aluminum screen

I imagine fiberglass would be okay to use, until the protective coating starts to show some wear and it starts coming apart though, I don't know for sure.

I'm sure they use metal because it has more longevity and durability, but its also prone to rusting from seasonal wear

 

[Aquaseafoam]

I think crickets are able to chew through fiberglass screen. So metal screen would be better if you have free range feeders.

 

[mdrossncsu]

the nice cages are made with some sort of metal or aluminum screen

That's what I made mine from. You can buy rolls of all weather storm window replacement screen from most hardware stored. Its usually anodized aluminum so you can be sure crickets can't eat through it and it won't rust.

 

[Dunnigan]

hanks for the info!!!

I just finished making the skeleton I think I went a little over board with the size (5 high x 4 wide x 3 deep)

I'll post pictures later or tomorrow.

 

[Arrow]

PVC cage.

Hi Dunnigan. I took the plans for a PVC cage from the Chameleon forums.
If you do a search you will find a great post, on how to make one. I used the plans to make an outdoor enclosure. I used 1 inch pipe, and the screen is the green bird enclosure stuff (on sale right now at Home Depo). The hardest part was finding the velco clasps for the door attachment. If you are going to place anything on top of your enclosure, think about a cross support section, at five feet, you are going to need the support to keep the PVC tight against what you will use for screen. If you run into a problem, post away, it took me two weeks and five trips to HD to get everything I needed to finish. At one point I thought I was building the Winchester Mystery House....

 

[DarkRapture]

the nice cages are made with some sort of metal or aluminum screen

I imagine fiberglass would be okay to use, until the protective coating starts to show some wear and it starts coming apart though, I don't know for sure.

I'm sure they use metal because it has more longevity and durability, but its also prone to rusting from seasonal wear

aluminum does not rust. it 'oxidizes' - turning into a white powder.

 

[mdrossncsu]

^ Rust is oxidation (Though technically only of Iron)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust

Interestingly enough; aluminum and some other metals (nickle) are intentionally oxidized in order to prevent further oxidation. This is known as "anodizing."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodized

Also oxidation plays a very important role in semiconductor fabrication.

-Matt