Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

You probably don't remember but I bought a baby Veild around 2-3 months ago. He is growing like their is no tomorow and it is time to move him to a new enclosure.

So this week end i got started on his new enclosure. His living area will be 24wx24lx48h, all screen expect bottom (pictures coming soon) I have everything figured out expect a couple of things...

1. I want to cover the bottom of the cage with great looking tiles/ceramic. I know how to do it and everything and it would be amazing for cleaning, but i was wondering if, suprinsingly, anyone here had problems with bottoms like that.

2. I am still on the ever lasting screen question. What to buy? I love 1/8 aluminium screen but it probably is too small for his toes/nails when he grows bigger. 1/4 is too big since crix can easily get out... and he doesnt seem to like bowl feeding..

any ideas?
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Gabriel - Montreal - Ding.
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Hi Gabriel,

were you the one with the "shaking cham" concerns and I sent you an article via email? If so, is the same cham? He is doing OK?

On the tile my only thought (and this is just a logistic thing whether for cham or your bathroom LOL!) would be: are you going to actually grout the tile? If so, would it hold too much moisture and become a mold/bacteria concern? I have no personal experience and I am sure others will answer, it was just a first thought.

lele

>>Hi everyone,
>>
>>You probably don't remember but I bought a baby Veild around 2-3 months ago. He is growing like their is no tomorow and it is time to move him to a new enclosure.
>>
>>So this week end i got started on his new enclosure. His living area will be 24wx24lx48h, all screen expect bottom (pictures coming soon) I have everything figured out expect a couple of things...
>>
>>1. I want to cover the bottom of the cage with great looking tiles/ceramic. I know how to do it and everything and it would be amazing for cleaning, but i was wondering if, suprinsingly, anyone here had problems with bottoms like that.
>>
>>2. I am still on the ever lasting screen question. What to buy? I love 1/8 aluminium screen but it probably is too small for his toes/nails when he grows bigger. 1/4 is too big since crix can easily get out... and he doesnt seem to like bowl feeding..
>>
>>any ideas?
>>-----
>>---------------------------
>>Gabriel - Montreal - Ding.
>>---------------------------

I am in the midst of building a cage myself. I just started the screen part for the door yesterday. I have to tell you, of all the difficult tasks I have encountered, I HATE screen! I wanted sooo badly to get 1/4" hardware cloth that is pvc coated. The holes in it are smaller b/c of the coating, toes don't catch, crix can't escape, and the plastic is soft on the feet. I found out I could only get it in 100 foot lengths, so I didn't get it.
INSTEAD I decided to get aluminum screen for the outside, and plastic hardware cloth 1/4" for the inside. Let me tell you. BAH! BAH BAH! It is VERY hard to get the screen on tightly. Very very very hard. A BIG pain in the rear.
So, my advice: If you can get the coated 1/4" hardware cloth, get it. It may cost more, but save the rest, someday you may use it. It is DEFINATELY worth it, IMHO.
~Lindsay

I am a picture framer so I stretch screen like I stretch canvas. I will try to explain without pics but it may be hard. I use a staple gun and I am putting it on one side like on a wood frame.
Center your screen over the wood frame. Start in the center of one of the longest sides. Put one staple in. Go to the other longest side, across from the staple you just put in. Pull the screen till you see a tightly pulled section or line going across and staple there. Go to one short side and pull right in the center of it. Staple there. Go straight across from it in the center of the other short side pull and staple right in the center. Now you should have screen stapled in the very center of each side. Go back to the very first staple you put in. pull and staple one staple on either side of it. Go to the second one pull and staple on either side of it. Keep working from the center twoards the corners. You have to turn the frame to the next side after you put in two staples so you are always working slowly from the center on out. Don't do one whole side at a time or you will run into trouble. By the time you work your way to the corners the screen should be pretty tight and look pretty straight. Hope I helped.

np