Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking to build a monitor cage. What do you think is the best material to use. My second question is people have hollow logs, where do you find those and how do you clean them so nothing gets on the lizard. My biggest concern when building this is the doors. I thought about using just a regualar door but when you want to look in you can't, so putting the glass or plastic in. If anyone can give some instruction on that, I would appriciate it. Also do treat the wood?, and what do you use a sealing?

Thank you

Jeff
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
0.1 Green Burm
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

I dont keep monitors and never have so I'll do my best but keep that in mind.
I'd think that plywood would work well with some sliding glass doors. You could cut some holes in the top for heat and uv lamps if you need those.
You could probobly just use a clear urethane finish inside and out.

Hopefully some of that helps
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Jason

Do you know if they make the sliding glass doors, or how would you make the doors?
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
0.1 Green Burm
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

sliding doors are easy you just get some of the plastic track and have some glass cut for the doors. Just make sure to get the edges ground so they arent sharp.
Here's a link for the track http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2275&SearchHandle=DADBDCDHDADADDDGDJGCDJGDGBDDGCGCCNGGDHDBGGCNDEDDDBGCCNDIGCDFDBCNGDGDGCDIDIDDDJDGGCDHDIDBDADADADBDADADADBDJHAGMGBHDHEGJGDCAGHGMGBHDHDCAHEHCGBGDGLDADADADEDADADADADADADADBDFDADADADBDADADADADADADADADADADADADBDADADADBDJHAGMGBHDHEGJGDCAGHGMGBHDHDCAHEHCGBGDGLDADADADBDB&CFID=6596394&CFTOKEN=11571817
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Jason

If you're just building one cage it might be easier to go to a glass shop & have them cut the glass and provide the track. But, if you've got any future projects that you might could use the left over track for, maybe go with ordering the track and then have a glass shop cut the glass.

I priced sliding glass doors for burmese python cages I'm going to build. The price I was quoted was aprox. $4 - $5 per sq. ft. for tempered glass & metal tracks with wheels instead of plastic track that the glass slides within.

Have a good one!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

I haven't built a monitor cage, yet, but I'll be building a temporary one several months from now & I've thought a little about some of the things you're asking about.

What size cage are you thinking of building? Some people build lifetime cages that are just about size of a room or bigger, complete with 2x4 stud walls, ceiling, regular door and a large window.

If you're not building a room-sized cage, you could use plywood, MDF or melamine for the main material and use formica, FRP, or something silmilar to protect the bottom and lower parts of the walls. If you used some type of clear coating for protection you could find yourself doing a lot of touch-ups or re-coating from the monitor's digging.

I think you should stay away from using any plastic or synthetic windows, like: lexan, acrylic, etc..., due to how easy they are to get scratches from the monitor and/or cleaning.

As mentioned earlier, you can either order the track online and have the glass cut by a local glass shop or just get both the track & glass from the glass shop.

As for logs and limbs, sometimes they can be found at reptile shows, pet stores, etc... I've used driftwood that I found on lake shores. Some hobby/craft places carry these, too.

If the wood is small enough it can be placed in the oven to kill anything on it. For larger pieces I spray heavily with a mixture of about 5% bleach, 95% water, let it dry out and repeat the process several times over the course of about 2 weeks. Some mite-killing formulas might could be used, too, but I'd use something that was approved for reptiles.

This is just my 2-cents worth. I hope it will at least give you some ideas.

Take care!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

What species of monitor is this for and what do you want the cage to look like? Issues regarding material, sealers and doors really should be addressed after the species is selected.

Also, since some Monitors are large, the desired size of the cage and how mobile it will need to be should be considered.

Let us know.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Well, as for cage materials, plywood works best. Build the frame of your cage and fit in the plywood. You will need to cover the plywood in primer than a marine paint so it will last you a long time. Its fairly simple and all you need are some basic tools. As far as the hollow logs, I just found one in my yard. Just look around in the forest or wherever. It was frozen which helped in the first place but it is now sitting in a bleach bath. Be generous with the bleach and let it sit for a day or two. You will have to wait a few weeks after drying the log out so the bleach can evaporate and degrade. Soak the log in warm clean water afterwards to get as much of the bleach off. I only did this because the log was beggining to rot, you shouldn't have that many worries about bringing things indoors. Anyway I hope this helps.

I was still debating on what type of monitor to get. I was thinking Nile or Water, then I thought about it and was told maybe a Argus or Black Throat would be good. The cage size was was thinking about was 8 feet long by 4 or 5 footb wide and 4 or 5 feet high. Still thinking about it.
I would love to make a cage like what I have seen here. I probably will go to the glass store and have them cut it and fit the tracks, because I want the cage to look good. I would love to put a window in the front and then a side door but again the glass part I think I would mess up.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
0.1 Green Burm
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa