Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, I would like to build custom cages for my reptiles. I have never attempted to build custom yet so I have some questions/need suggestions.

First off, these are the animals I will be needing to build custom cages for:
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx
1.2 Bearded Dragons
0.1 Blue Tongue skink(20"-30" approx. full size,T. gigas evanescens)

My male beardie needs a new cage as soon as possible b/c he is almost to adult size. Rest of the herps are still pretty young.

I would like them stackable so I am thinking I would want to make all their habitats the same size. lxhxw= 4'x2'x2' is what seem to come up as acceptable for all(do you agree?? please let me know either way!). I would rather keep the beardies seperated b/c I don't want to breed them.

The more I look at ways to build the more confused I get(I haven't built anything before w/o having instructions handy!) I was thinking of just going to animal plastic or similar site and just ordering stackable cages(seems easier but wouldn't be as rewarding to me.)

Does anyone have any design plans/suggestions for me? I need to know what tools I need, what materials that would work best, etc . . ..

hopefully I don't come off as an idiot.

4x2x2 sounds fine, although it depends on what type of lighting you plan to use. If you want to have the capability of using 4' fluorescent fixtures then you might want to go a bit over 48" long for the inside dimension. Unless you plan to use mercury vapor lamps I do think that for the species you keep I would make sure to leave the option of 48" fixtures open. They bulbs are brighter and there are a wider variety of quality ballasts to maximize lighting.

Before I give any specific advice, give us an idea of what you want the cages to look like. A solid color? A solid color on the inside but wood grain on the outside? Or all wood grain? If so, what type of wood?

Also, do you plan to use MVB's or another type of light?

Regarding tools, you can build a cage for the species you keep with nothing more than a hammer if you have the wood professionally cut.
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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)

I use fluorescent lighting on all of them right now and would prefer to keep doing so. I would like two light sockets in each as well. So, perhaps going to 4'6"? or maybe even 5'? I just want to give them the best sized habitat that I can provide.

Generally, as long as it would look nice enough that I would want to display it in my living room, it would work. Most of my furniture is a lighter wood and that would look nice but even if it was black or cream colored it would work(even a mixture of wood and color-yeah, I'm indecisive . . . sorry). I'm just not sure what type of wood would look best and last too. It is really important to have easy access for maintenance(sliding doors on front seem to be easiest?)

As for the lighting, I've never used MVBs wasn't sure if I should try them or not. I have been mostly using Zoo Med bulbs(tight beam for basking w/Uro and Beardies and regular for skink).

I have some friends that might be able to cut the wood(or help me do so) but I may end up having someone cut for me.

Sorry, I missed this reply.

Respond to this message tomorrow and I'll respond in length.
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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)

Okay, I remembered to reply.

I think it's a good idea to keep the option for fluorescent lights, even if you do switch to MVB's. I do recommend MVB's simply because they produce so much light intensity and more UVA than tube lights. It is thought that these lead to much more active lizards and I agree with this.

At any rate, with melamine and MDF sheeting being 49" wide, you can crosscut it and make a cage with a 49" interior length, therby leaving enough room for most 4' light fixtures. This is what I would do and increase the front-to-back depth of the cage in order to provide more space. In general it is cheaper to add floor space by increase the depth rather than the length.

However, there is an exception, and that's the readily available imported baltic birch plywood that comes in 5' x 5' sheets. Nice stuff and priced very well for the quality. It is light colored and looks very good with a coat of blond, de-waxed shellac and a top-coat of waterborne polyurethane.

It will still be more expensive than melamine but it does look nice and allows you to make a larger cage with a 60" x 30" floor which is a very nice size.

But high quality melamine is also nice and comes in tan, black, and even maple grain colors. Hard to beat the price and quality of melamine despite its other disadvantages.
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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)