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jaredshermanderson
Guest
I have a screened cage and it's starting to rust. Is this a problem? How do I stop it from rusting more?
espressodude
Member
What part of the cage is starting to rust? Is it the screen, the frame or both.
Most if not all screen cages to my knowledge are made out of aluminium which doesn't rust it corrodes. Rust = brown iron oxide, Corrosion on aluminium = white chalky build up. What usually happens is the water gets under the paint and then like a cancer it spreads. Once it spreads far enough it usually starts to release and fall of as chips of paint. If you look closely at the effected areas the paint will not be smooth. As far as a health risk to you cham, I doubt that he would eat the paint chips. I also doubt that you would leave them in the cage for any length of time with out cleaning them out. Now as far as the fix goes, there's only one way that I can think of. You have to sand the effected areas and repaint them. SORRY! I recently bought a used cage that was in bad shape so I disassembled and primed and repaint the whole cage. You can just address the effected areas of course matching color is always a pain. Satin paint is probably going to be the best sheen match.
Most if not all screen cages to my knowledge are made out of aluminium which doesn't rust it corrodes. Rust = brown iron oxide, Corrosion on aluminium = white chalky build up. What usually happens is the water gets under the paint and then like a cancer it spreads. Once it spreads far enough it usually starts to release and fall of as chips of paint. If you look closely at the effected areas the paint will not be smooth. As far as a health risk to you cham, I doubt that he would eat the paint chips. I also doubt that you would leave them in the cage for any length of time with out cleaning them out. Now as far as the fix goes, there's only one way that I can think of. You have to sand the effected areas and repaint them. SORRY! I recently bought a used cage that was in bad shape so I disassembled and primed and repaint the whole cage. You can just address the effected areas of course matching color is always a pain. Satin paint is probably going to be the best sheen match.
Texas Panther Man
New Member
Let me guess. You have a repti-breeze right. Almost everyone that has one has rusted areas. If its really bad I'd just replace it with an LLL cage. By the time you buy paint and sandpaper you'd be well on your way toward buying a new cage. Or look in the classifieds there are always ppl selling used cages in good condition.
espressodude
Member
Listen to the Texan he speaks the truth, the only thing he didn't mention was all the time and work involved. Like I said I just repainted a small cage and I probably spent about 2/3 what a new cage would have cost. The only thing is I used a really good oil based paint for the finish and it will hold up really well. I also have enough paint left over to paint 3-4 more cages if need be.
Texas Panther Man
New Member
Yeah espresso I was gonna do the same exact thing as you til i did a quick add up on material costs. I just ended up using my repti-breeze as an outside cage for sunning. It may look ugly as hell but it does the job for the few hrs it gets used here and there. 
creddjobs
New Member
Dont mean to bring this old thread up but I got a question. I am facing this "rust issue" It is a reptibreeze cage and Im getting the brown rust at the top where the dripper sits. I wonder will this affect my cham, as for as health wise? Can the rust cause issues when he is drinking like adding "rust" particles? I know that sounds dumb but i'd rather be safe than sorry.
