Supplies Needed To Build Own Cage

xoiceox

xoiceox

New Member
Next week my dad and I are going to build Sobe a new "bigboy" cage.

1) What kind of wood do you have the best experience with?

2)What dimensions do you recommend?

3) What do you use for the bottom of the cage?

4) What kind of screen do you recommend?

Any other in sites to how to build a perfect cage and what type of supplies aren't toxic to him would be greatly appreciated!

p.s. The cage will be in my room (haven't decided what the cage will be on tho)
 
Why would you like to build one?
Cosmetics?
Drainage?
Are you short on room and need a custom size?
You can buy a nice one from LLL for 79.00, which you already know.
The amount of labor to build a custom cage can end up being hours.

I have built two by myself, and wasnt very impressed with either.
I'm not short on carpenty skills either.
It's more of just not having the correct tools.
I'll post some pictures of the cages I'm having built by my old high school construction class.
They are freaking sweet!
All of them are 20x20x48, they have a sweet drainage system(like lennys mansion), aluminum screen, stained with dark walnut, cedar shingle roof, and have bathroom glass on two sides for a visual barrier.
 
So no one told me what type of wood or plastic for bottom (if any) or screen.. I really would love some advice plz
 
still need help bud?Who need to buy one theyre very easy to make can u read a tape measure? If yes go to lowes bud not only do they have LOTS of plants but all the building supplies is in aisles 15 12 and somethin else lol. I spent lots of time in there today.I got very nice brass fixtures like hinges and knobs.The wood i got it 1"x2". Make sure to get good varnish. I got spar varnish its a marine varnish.You can also use tiny nails or screws. I chose good nails because IMO screws even if you predrill the hole if u miss alittle u split the wood.Nails work nicely.They have very good screen its called pet-d-fence.All you have to do bud is use your imagination lol walk through home depot,lowes or menards its fun and make u look manly hahahaha.
 
I built this one for ~75 clams. I drew up plans and them picked all the stuff up at the Depot. From soup to nuts lookin at about 3 hours. depends on how many drinks you've had :D

IMGP7093-1.jpg
 
silentvoice19 said:
still need help bud?Who need to buy one theyre very easy to make can u read a tape measure? If yes go to lowes bud not only do they have LOTS of plants but all the building supplies is in aisles 15 12 and somethin else lol. I spent lots of time in there today.I got very nice brass fixtures like hinges and knobs.The wood i got it 1"x2". Make sure to get good varnish. I got spar varnish its a marine varnish.You can also use tiny nails or screws. I chose good nails because IMO screws even if you predrill the hole if u miss alittle u split the wood.Nails work nicely.They have very good screen its called pet-d-fence.All you have to do bud is use your imagination lol walk through home depot,lowes or menards its fun and make u look manly hahahaha.
Click to expand...

I'm a 20 yr old chic! hahaha Don't wanna look manly! :p Thanx for the advice tho :)
 
She ended up getting the LLL Alum cage... Was still on sale... and A GREAT deal. Yeah I use this one and is totally awesome. Still think it might be selling at the sale price if anyone is interested.
 
I built my own for the sake of the enjoyment of building something, and hand crafting it to my satisfaction. I will not be making another custom cage, i knew going into it that I would spend more than just picking up a screen one from LLL.

With that said, it was very rewarding knowing that I am personally creating the home for my cham, and for me was just FUN overall. If you just want to have a little project, and not really on a budget.. then go for it! If you are kinda hurtin on cash, and trying to save money, you will most likely end up spending more. I had plenty of trips to the hardware store that just started racking up the money :(

https://www.chameleonforums.com/svens-castle-lots-pics-10677/

edit: added a link to the picture thread of my build. You can get some ideas on what I did for the drainage. So far it has worked out PERFECTLY, and exactly how I planned. If i had to re-do it, i might change the material it drips down on to, but it still gets the job done correctly (some minor warpage on the material from the weight of the plants - I would get more of a plastic based floor instead)
 
Last edited:
I just got back from Lowes... Good news :) I got the supplies to build a stand for his 24x24x48 :) And I bought some pieces to make a drain :) (I'm going back to get the ficus)


Driving home in the 90 degree heat with the windows down is not fun lol It was fun tryin to fit the wood into my lil 2 door haha

Here are some pix of what I got!!!

DSC07447.jpg


DSC07448.jpg
 
Oh and when I get the ficus. They have a tall one with a twisty branch thats like $20 or the smaller 2ft high ones that are like $9.... They told me that the smaller one won't get tall... Is that true? B/c his cage is 4ft high, i need it to be taller!
 
i bought mine when it was 2 feet tall and its about 4 feet now.
it also is about to die and i need to get it out of the cage and into
the sun, but i have to wait for the weather to break.
it will grow, i dont know what they are talking about.
well it will grow if you take care of it.
 
DSC07455.jpg

DSC07456.jpg




This is where it's going to be in my room! I am building a stand for it, so yes it will be up higher! Tomorrow I plan on getting the ficus and hopefully installing the drain so that I can move SoBe in :)

xoxox
 
thats pimp, now when you leave u gotta put on the discovery channel, or some turok on the 360 so the chammy can get his origins on, bra for shure that would be narly dude!!

tubular!!! im gonna put up a flatpanel now, thanks for the idea. im prob. gonna record some jungle footage and let her go vegi style.
 
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