Tickled pink about my new cages/setup!

ChameleonMom

New Member
I have been wanting new enclosures for my veiled's - their cages were sadly inappropriate for their body size, especially Isis who is turning 1 in November and growing big and fast. After much discussion with my hubby he decided that any cage I could buy - he could build better! Sure enough, 3 weeks after he began, so he finished!
002.jpg

The cages are identical wood/screen - 20"x20"x36" and are made of white pine which has been stained with an edible oil that I use to stain/oil my kitchen island/butchers block. The screen is coated aluminum. On the bottom hubby has put a 1" block of insulation on top of the wood, with the insulation having been sanded into a very gradual concave shape with a hole in the center for drainage. On top of the insulation he has glued linoleum down and then caulked around the floors' outer edges so it is completely waterproof.
003.JPG
005.JPG

I have always had drainage issues with my chams in that I didn't have any! On a daily basis I would haul out my chameleon dedicated 'wet vac' and suck out the water and wipe out the debris. I made things harder on myself than they needed to be so I asked hubby if he could solve this issue and come up with a system that would provide me with some much needed drainage. Having said that, I also needed drainage that wasn't 'open' in our house as I have a 4 year old son who will get into the water no matter how many times you say NO! To solve this issue my hubby 'altered' the cabinet that previously housed Isis' cage. The cabinet is wide enough to house both new enclosures AND provide a closed off area for a drainage system!
020.JPG
023.JPG

We only got things put together late this afternoon before taking my son out trick or treating, but I am SO happy! I'm going to spend the day tomorrow 'tweaking' things and watching my chams for any problems with the move to their new homes - I'm hoping the luxury of more space doesn't throw them off too much!!
 
Those are some very nice cages... i have the same problem with water... i need to get a cage that doesn't have a glass bottom... think i'll end up putting my crested geckos in it..
 
Very nice! I love getting to set up new cages! It's a lot of fun. Yours look very nice and professionally built, and you're going to love that drainage system! Good luck hubby. ;)
 
Very nice! I love getting to set up new cages! It's a lot of fun. Yours look very nice and professionally built, and you're going to love that drainage system! Good luck hubby. ;)

Thanks for the compliments, hubby will be happy! And funny thing ferret, I don't enjoy putting my cages together - sure plant placement is easy but I find that the vines really test me - they never bend the way I want them, I worry about basking gradients and just when I think I'm okay, my OCD kicks in and I discover something that doesn't sit we'll with me or my chams! My hubby seriously thinks I'm off my rocker most of the time - but we've been together for a long time so he's used to my idiosyncrasies!! :D
 
Very Nicely done! ;) Love the drainage as well as the overall look. Vines can be a pain, but looks really nice!
 
Thanks everyone! Three days in and my babies are very, very happy! Isis has been wearing her 'pyjama's' since yesterday - I seriously haven't seen her happier than she is now! Camo is still getting used to his, but he's old and cranky...and it will take him longer. Overall, its been a good experience...and not having to drain water every day has been a life saver!
 
I meant to say "Good job hubby" rather than "good luck"...that's what happens you post in the middle of the night. So glad theyre enjoying their new digs!
 
Where did you get those cages? They are beautiful ? My wife of 30 years might let me get away with more set ups around the house if they looked that nice:D You have done a nice job setting them up as well!!!
 
Back
Top Bottom