Posted by:
eric adrignola
at Mon May 2 18:31:39 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by eric adrignola ]
Problem with hardware cloth is two fold - bugs. They can get out, and IN. Mosquitoes can be a problem, as well as botflies. Also, hardware cloth tends to make itself more desireable to climb on than screen, and they can spend more time on it than screen. IT can also damage their feet. The wire cuts into the underside of their toes. PVC coated HC helps, but is expensive as heck.
I made one 12'x8'x8' several years ago. I put up6 4x4's for the corners and the middle, and some 2x2's in between to support the screen (48" wide). they loved it. NEver saw my male overheat - not even in th edead of August in NC - 99 degrees outside, and the sucker was at the top, basking in full colors. It NEVER got too hot for him, and he was a little guy - 13". As long as there was ventilation, he was fine. Also, the only water he got was from morning dew.
The best part of large outdoor cages is they give you the room to put the male with females. You get to see some amazing behaviors, and they actually co-exist very well , as long as they have space. The females would sleep next to the male, but move away in the morning.
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