Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What do you think of when you think of the perfect cage for your animals? List some features. Three things I like are:

Neat and attractive to look at
Easy to clean (self cleaning?)
Lightweight

Terry

1. Repels cats

2. Glass door or fixed glass front with door on top or back
(After many years of defending acrylic, I am now a convert - I think glass doors rule for some good reasons. Not all cages are suited for glass doors obviously.)

3. Can deploy overhead and/or undercage heat, depending on the species kept.

4. No leaks.

5. Strong enough for whatever deco is used, like rocks and branches.

6. Functional, useable decor taylored to the species. For example, rock crevices for snakes that inhabit rock crevices, branches for snakes that climb.

With fewer snakes to house these days, the idea of naturalistic cages intrigues me like never before. My rosyboas especially. I think some deep rock crevices along the back of a glass cage would be awesome for them. Bought some of that green foam to carve up.
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Mark

I don't think the perfect cage exists, although I think your criteria are a good start.

For display, I do tend to like cages to be at least as tall as they are deep. In fact I like the viewing area to be at least as tall as the cage is deep.

So if you have a cage that is 22" deep, for example, and you want a 3" tall upper lip and a 3" tall substrate dam then I would prefer that cage to be around 28" tall.

I also like a very open look to the front.

BTW, I did respond to your reply in that old post. Feel free to email me if that's easier then carrying on a thread from April.

np

Terry,

I got it and replied about 8:00 AM yesterday. If my reply hasn't shown up by now you should probably check your spam/bulk folder.

lightweight.
light colored--I hate that so many cages are black. Makes the room look depressing and gothic.
Easy to clean.
Easy to heat
logical dimensions--I hate it when I see cages that are oddly proportioned--like 5' x 20" wide...WTH?
Built by someone else I hate building! I'll do it, b ut I do hate it.
Stackable.
Front opening (even if not stacked).

Like Chris said...doesn't exist

But adding to your perimeters...

Modular - Want to be able to remove the bottom cage for whatever reason without disturbing the others. This includes electrically, mechanically and hydraulically if equipped.

Sliding by-pass doors - I have yet to find a setup in my tastes that it doesn't work.

Safety or Laminated glass - You drop one pane and you'll realize the plus.

Non-stick interior would be a dream...
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0.2 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Anerthrystic
0.0.2 Normal

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis

I agree with what everybody has said so far, especially Chris' point of height to view. And like Mark said, ability to heat from above or below. A taller wiewing cage could also do double duty for arboreal or nice height for rock work/branches for added dimension for use with more terrestrial animals. I found this pic somewhere and saved it to my favorites. I'd like to incorporate the use of the solid black Carlilse bus box underneath to simulate an underground burrow, keeping one side cool and elevated humidity and one side maybe heated and dry.

Suiting the needs of the inhabitants.

Easy to clean.

Simple to construct.

Large viewing area.

Bigger than the animal "needs"

There's a lot of things that can constitute a perfect cage depending on your mindset of keeping reptiles or what reptiles you keep.

The bigger and the more you can replicate their natural environment the better.

Nate

Took me a loooong time, even made a walkway. All I need are the glass doors, lol

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Mark

np

N/P
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0.2 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Anerthrystic
0.0.2 Normal

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis

haha! I believe THE absolutely PERFECT cage would be self-cleaning, self-regulating (heating, humidity, and reg temp to season), and self-feeding!! hahahaha! Wishful thinking, sorry!

I definitely have to agree with everybody here. Although, I personally would like 2 options on one door: sliding glass doors installed in a fold down door. The sliding glass just for when you want "Fluffy" to come out and play; The fold down for ease of cleaning and whatnot.

>>I definitely have to agree with everybody here. Although, I personally would like 2 options on one door: sliding glass doors installed in a fold down door. The sliding glass just for when you want "Fluffy" to come out and play; The fold down for ease of cleaning and whatnot.

But with sliding bypass doors you just lift up on them and out they come. Even most of the roller types perform in the same manner. Just those designed for jewelry cases of other display cases intended to secure the belongings prevent the doors from being lifted out.
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0.2 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Anerthrystic
0.0.2 Normal

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis