wire cages?

[hollycham]

Hey you guys, got a question for you all...does anyone have like wire cages for their chams instead of screening? If so i was wondering if 1x1/2 or 1x1 would be to big of openings for the chams or if i should use 1/2x1/2? and also if anyone has these types of cages could u post pictures? Me and my fiancee been going back and forth how to build Fred and Wilmas final homes!

 

[camimom]

First, love the names.
Second, you can use wire, but keep in mind that the bugs can get out.

I dont use wire, ( I actualyl dont use a cage for that matter )
but as long as the wire is coated so it cant hurt their feet, i dont see any issues.

 

[hollycham]

Yeah that s what we thinking about using a thicker gauge like a 16 gauge so it is much thicker and not so thin so we make sure it doesnt like dig into their little feet. My fiancee is worried about the big cages being in screen because of the five cats they might think it s a climbing toy for them lol.
my only other worry is if the cham will be able to get out of the holes?
He was looking at using galvanized wire

 

[hollycham]

First, love the names

Thanks so much it took a while but we finally came up with them but im excited to go down south and get wilma this weekend!!

 

[camimom]

Yeah that s what we thinking about using a thicker gauge like a 16 gauge so it is much thicker and not so thin so we make sure it doesnt like dig into their little feet. My fiancee is worried about the big cages being in screen because of the five cats they might think it s a climbing toy for them lol.
my only other worry is if the cham will be able to get out of the holes?
He was looking at using galvanized wire

Personally, i would use rubber/plastic coated wire... like some baby gates or whatever.

if its an inch hole, the cham can probably get out. but half inch, no way.

I would use something like this.
View attachment 47531
its metal, but coated in rubber or plastic. this way the feet are safe.

 

[carol5208]

First, love the names

Thanks so much it took a while but we finally came up with them but im excited to go down south and get wilma this weekend!!

check out my album. I have a large outdoor cage made of chicken wire, but keep in mind that it is outside and I do not feed in that cage. Keeping that kind of cage indoors, feeders would easily escape.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Personally, i would use rubber/plastic coated wire... like some baby gates or whatever.

if its an inch hole, the cham can probably get out. but half inch, no way.

I would use something like this.
View attachment 47531
its metal, but coated in rubber or plastic. this way the feet are safe.

Ive used that exact wire for outdoor caging in the past. Its excellent for outdoor use. Indoors I would go with a smaller sized mesh. Back before screen cages were commercially produced we used this black plastic coated wire that came in 1/4" openings. Unfortunately smaller feeders could still escape. But bigger feeders like adult roaches or grasshoppers couldnt squeeze out. Your gonna have to try to cup feed or hand feed if you use that green wire. And even then you'll have escaped feeders occasionally. The mesh screen is really the best alternative to keep your feeders confined to the cage only.

 

[camimom]

Ive used that exact wire for outdoor caging in the past. Its excellent for outdoor use. Indoors I would go with a smaller sized mesh. Back before screen cages were commercially produced we used this black plastic coated wire that came in 1/4" openings. Unfortunately smaller feeders could still escape. But bigger feeders like adult roaches or grasshoppers couldnt squeeze out. Your gonna have to try to cup feed or hand feed if you use that green wire. And even then you'll have escaped feeders occasionally. The mesh screen is really the best alternative to keep your feeders confined to the cage only.

I wasnt recommending the size, just using as an example of the coated wire. lol.

 

[carol5208]

Ive used that exact wire for outdoor caging in the past. Its excellent for outdoor use. Indoors I would go with a smaller sized mesh. Back before screen cages were commercially produced we used this black plastic coated wire that came in 1/4" openings. Unfortunately smaller feeders could still escape. But bigger feeders like adult roaches or grasshoppers couldnt squeeze out. Your gonna have to try to cup feed or hand feed if you use that green wire. And even then you'll have escaped feeders occasionally. The mesh screen is really the best alternative to keep your feeders confined to the cage only.

the cage was a gift to me otherwise I probably would have gone with that type of coated wire. The thing is EVERYTHING in Florida deteriorates in the hot sun. I would think the coating would do the same. You cannot believe on how fast things, fade and fall apart with the humidity and the heat. Things that you think would be just fine and they don't last.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

It gets as hot here in summer as Fl carol. We used that coated screen for at least 2 summers before it had to be replaced. Then it was more because of aesthetics than anything. The coating did fade in color but it didnt deteriorate or start coming off the screen itself. Lets face it after 2 or 3 yrs any cage starts looking ragged being outside in the elements that long. If the cages are going to be used inside this type screen will last for the life of the cham if kept outside over 50% of the time and you'll prob have to re-screen the cage after a few yrs to keep it looking nice....

 

[hollycham]

Yeah we were thinking 1/2 x 1/2 in mesh size but having a plm finding someone that carries it that small... i for the most part only hand feed him or he cup feeds right now too but once in a while i throw a few loose crickets in too but they usually dont last but a few minutes in there lol ... he has a pretty heafty appetitie like my teenagers!! I love your outside cage carol it is awesome... im hoping in the future for something like that at our new house once we buy ( hopefully very soon we re looking )!!

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hey you guys, got a question for you all...does anyone have like wire cages for their chams instead of screening?

I used to use really large bird cages. worked great
like screen, wire cages do not retain humidity or heat well.
wire cages allow more UVB to penetrate than screen
bugs can easily escape from wire cages, so only slower moving bugs should be free-range fed unless you are watching to ensure faster moving bugs are eaten up quick. cup feed otherwise.

I prefer my home made combo cages (wood frame, painted pegboard sides and back, plexi front doors for high visibility, wire top)