Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all I am new to the forum and I wanted to pick all of your brains and see if you had any ideas for a beardie cage? I want something that is about 4' to 5' long and about 3' deep and about 18" tall, maybe two or three cages stacked on top of each other. I am going to build it myself and I just wanted to see if anyone else on here has homemade enclosures that they would share. I want to optimize light usage and heat. Also I might want to breed them in the future. All help is very much appreciated!!! Thank you!!

Logan Mills
USMC

Here's an idea!

The top is the snake cages but the bottom are the Bearded dragon cages with out the fronts I still need to update my pics. They currently look identical to the snake fronts.

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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

Hey Jeremy thanks for the reply. What kind of wood did you use? Do you have fixtures mounted on the tops? Do you have any plans or did you just build it? What tools did you use? Thanks again!

Logan

>What kind of wood did you use?

The fronts are solid pine, however my new fronts will be birch ply. (Yes Chris, Baltic Birch if I can find it!)

The cage carcass is made of melamine, thermal fused from a Cabinent supplier.

>Do you have fixtures mounted on the tops?

Yes, regular metal round with porcelain light fixtures. The wire goes up through the melamine and lies between the cages each is an individual cage, easier to move.

>Do you have any plans or did you just build it?

Yes, I have a spiral bound notebook with all my cage plans, however no scanner sorry.

>What tools did you use?

I used a table saw to cut all the wood and melamine stock. The fronts wer finished using a friends jointer and planner (soon to have my own).

I routed all the dado's for the top and bottom, including all the back panels as well. Other tools wer used such as my pneumatic nailer and a electric drill. I used a hole saw attachment for the drill to cut the holes for the vents and a wood boring bit for the wiring.

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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

Thanks again, I like the look of your cages. How do you suppose I could do it without a cabinet maker or whatever? Also what kind of vents do you have? Is that enough ventilation so that it is not too humid for the beardies? I have also heard different things about the basking lamp, do you use a special reptile basking bulb or do you use just a light with proper watts? Just wondering. What subastrate do you use in those cages? I was thinking of tile, have heard a lot of good things about it. What are the dimensions of these cages? You also have iguanas? I used to have a green iguana. Now I have a desert iguana. I have only had him for about two weeks but he is adjusting well. One of the cages will be for him. Thanks again for the reply!!

Logan

>Thanks again, I like the look of your cages.

Thanks!

>How do you suppose I could do it without a cabinet maker or whatever?

I just use the cabinet supplier I don't actually have them do anything, otherthan supply the melamine.

>Also what kind of vents do you have?

They are just plain vents from any hardware store, others have used soffet vents with great success as well. I use sliding bypass glass for doors the gap allows for airflow.

>Is that enough ventilation so that it is not too humid for the beardies?

I actually don't have any beardies, I was supposed to get some this year but my suplier held out for someone else. No biggy I got a bit more in the snake end. So the cages have not ever been used.

One did get used for my Rhino Iguanas awhile ago. I don't use water in the cages nor does my supplier who uses similar cages. The moist dirt in the nesting box supplies enough humidity they are arid species. Spraying the enclosure also adds enough humidity and the vents do a good job at moving air IMO.

>I have also heard different things about the basking lamp, do you use a special reptile basking bulb or do you use just a light with proper watts?

I use a lower wattage MVB in my lizard enclosures, or in those previously mentioned. My big Iguana Enclosure I use larger wattage bulbs. The MVB supply plenty of heat as well as UVB rays. I should mention my reptile room maintain an 80* temp nearly year round.

>What subastrate do you use in those cages?

Sand

>What are the dimensions of these cages?

About 2' x 2' x 4'

You also have iguanas?

Yep they are getting bigger every day and do nothing but eat and sleep. Wish I had that life! LOL

>Now I have a desert iguana.

Never actually had one of those but wouldn't pass one up should the offer arise. Post pics when you get a chance.

Good Luck Marine!
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-