Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am currently moving into a new house next week and am looking at blocking off part of a room for our iguana. This was NOT originally part of our plan, we were going to take our large cage that my wife built and just set him up as he currently is now... however the former owner of our house put in custom stone work that is screaming "use me". My one concern at the momment is with the walls we are going to be building we will be constructing wood frame and then something covering it... what should I use? Current cage has plywood. We want to make the outside (facing us) look pretty standard - white wall floor to ceiling with window 1/2 way up for viewing. On the inside would it be best to use shower board or something like that?
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-0-1 Rescued Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-2-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet, Isis
0-0-1 Rescued Fit and Trim Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

Years ago I put in a temporary corner Iguana cage for a friend. I built 2x4 frames about 36" tall and lined the inside with tile board. The existing wall was also covered with tile board. I came up with some non-damaging way to hang it.

I would certainly use something a bit nicer looking than the tile board if doing this today. Maybe some of the nicer shower boards or possibly some of the more expensive fiberglass panels. Jeremy, aka Bighurt, found some of these last winter. Maybe he'll chime in.

We were able to leave the upper part of the cage open and the Iguana stayed put. Humidity was too low so if the cage had been more permanent we would have had to deal with that.

It was a fun project.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Malaysian locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Is the intended final outcome of the cage semi-perminant or perminant? Also how do you intend to heat/humidify the cage? What do you plan to do as far as substrate?

As soon as weahter permits I will be finishing my Iguana's new indoor cage. Like Chris said I went with FRP for the interior panels very durable and in the spring home remodel sales can be had for relativly cheap.

Long story short the cage consists of 8 panels skinned with FRP, the inside edges will be sealed with GE Silicone II and each cage will recieve about 12" of substrate probably a mix of dirt. Although my Green Iguana may just get cypress mulch.

For a pernimant structure green board is resilant to moisture however claws are another problem and substrate a complete other issue. However with a concrete floor a combination of green board for the walls with a FRP along the base like wainscoating will make for a durable cage. I havn't found anything yet that GE Silicone II doesn't stick to but I am sure there are something, so unless it doesn't work I would recommend that to seal all interior edges.

On a side note my Iguana currently occupies a room in my basement. For his pleasure its heated to around 90 with basking spots exceeding that, the floor is a lot cooler, vertical gradient. The main problem I have encounter are humidity and excess heat issues. Humidity is hard to maintain and well hot air rises and the hot air near the ceiling radiats to the floor of the room above. While this nice in the winter for warm floors in the summer this creates a controversial energy issue trying to keep one part warm and one part cool. hence the design of his new cage.

I hope my babbling helped, best of luck
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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
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.9 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Jeremy,

Didn't you find a company this distrubutes smooth FRP panels that are bit more decorative (more appealing colors, not so shiny, etc.?).

I thought that might be a good option for this guy, depending on how much of a built in look he wants.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Malaysian locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Yes, if he wants I can try and dig up the link.
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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
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.9 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Thanks for the fast responses! I do want it to look as built in as possible. As for the substrant, the floor in our basement is a sealent covered stone (the former owner a mason and has done some incredible stonework both inside and outside the house). I will post a picture as soon as possible to give a better idea of what I am looking at. There are vents near the floor and ceiling both and there is actualy a seperate heating unit for the basement. The whole thing was sectioned off into a "mother-in-law" suite containing two rooms and its own outside access and has a complete kitchen/eating area which is where we are looking at sectioning it off from. The ceiling is a dropdown paneled - business style that I think will offer an easy way to install lighting etc but I am concerned about the humidity's effect on the panels.
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-0-1 Rescued Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-2-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet, Isis
0-0-1 Rescued Fit and Trim Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

Bryan,

Seeing pictures will help a lot and I look forward to seeing them.

I would also be concerned about the ceiling panels. Not only due to the humidity, but also how much heat they can withstand. I'm sure there is a rating out there somewhere.

I would look for panels in the same size or panels that can be cut down to fit. Remove the current panels and save those for a time when you might switch back when selling the house, etc.

Then I'd seal the new panels with something that will make them vapor resistant and use them as long as there is a reptile in the cage.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Malaysian locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

I hadn't thought about the heat issue with the tiles... good point. Luckily the former owner left replacement tiles so I will be able to seal the ones not only inside, but also right outside of the cage area too!

I have a picture of the floor on here to give you a better idea of what I am starting with.

Thanks for the help!

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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-0-1 Rescued Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-2-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet, Isis
0-0-1 Rescued Fit and Trim Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids