Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For the past week I have been doing a lot of research on the Bearded Dragon, (took me about a month to decide on this lizard out of all that are available for pets). I am a wood worker so I figure I can make the housing. So far my idea is as follows: 4’(L) X 18”(D) X 18”(H). The back and sides would be oak plywood with a melamine (Formica) side facing the interior of the cage. I would use ¼” glass for the front, and the top would be configured to accommodate a UVB and Heat light (both being the bulb variety). I would sure love to hear your comments on my current plan of action. Please let me know of any hints or tip on material usage or building technique. Any other comments on caring for a Beardie would also be greatly appreciated. I do plan to only have one dragon.

Thank you,
Jason

Sounds good, but be sure to add good venting for air exchange.

>>For the past week I have been doing a lot of research on the Bearded Dragon, (took me about a month to decide on this lizard out of all that are available for pets). I am a wood worker so I figure I can make the housing. So far my idea is as follows: 4’(L) X 18”(D) X 18”(H). The back and sides would be oak plywood with a melamine (Formica) side facing the interior of the cage. I would use ¼” glass for the front, and the top would be configured to accommodate a UVB and Heat light (both being the bulb variety). I would sure love to hear your comments on my current plan of action. Please let me know of any hints or tip on material usage or building technique. Any other comments on caring for a Beardie would also be greatly appreciated. I do plan to only have one dragon.
>>
>>Thank you,
>>Jason
>>
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Cricket FREE babies!

Yes, Beginners Basic hit on a good point. I made a 4x2x2 and can only use one of the Mercury Vapor Powersuns 100 watt in them as these melamine wood enclosures hold heat so well. I decided in fact to go with the one mvb powersun flood over the basking spot, which provides them with uvb/uva, and just used a regular shop fixture the length of the cage for a regular fluorescent light for light intensity. I'm sure you can work this out as well being handy with tools/wood unlike me, but with the powersun bulbs I could only lift the basking spot say 5 inches off the ground to reach proper basking temps in a 2 foot high enclosure. If I went with 18 inches high with the venting I used, and I did use nice size vents 16x8 on each end which I'll picture, The basking spot would have been on the ground, and most likely still to hot. Take note the mvb bulbs will hang a good 5.5 inches down from the top. Making it in a 18 inch design 12.5 inches from ground to bulb. If you hit mysticaldragon link below I think you can see a 4 foot finished, just not set up on the inside yet like they are now. In the four foot I did go with 2 ceramic incandescent fixtures but in the 2 years I've had it I never used 1 of the fixtures. Just one merc vapor 100 watt and a shop fluorescent.

This pic is actually of a 3x2x2 so it is lacking in this pic the shop fixture for the fluorescent I put in the 4x2x2, and sliding tracks, and plexi glass. Don't mind the hinge, just shows the inexperiance I did end up with sliders after all on both sizes. I made both 4x2x2 and the 3x2x2

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Mystical Dragons

I thought when you said you were going to provide uvb and heat bulb style. I thought you were talking about the all in one uvb/uva mercury vapor bulbs like the Zoomed Powersuns which only come in 100watt and 160watt types. Ok since your using regular bulbs for heat and a regular fluorescent for uvb you should have no problem keeping it 18 inches high. You'll just have to play with the wattage on the basking bulb until you can set up the basking spot as you wish. Sorry for the misunderstandings. With the all in one mvb you only have 100 or 160 to choose from so you really need to build with the bulbs heat, and size in mind.
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Mystical Dragons

Actually, to be perfectly honest i didn't know you could get the heating and UVB requirements all in one bulb. I like that idea better! (Obviously I need to do more research before cutting wood.)

Thanks!

Just to say, and you probably already know this, make sure evrytning in the encloser is safe. I wouldn't use nails, and make sure the top is screen (be sure it isn'tto fine of a screen, or the UV won't go threw). The dementions are great for ONE full size dragon, but if you get more, go to at least equivelant to a 55-60 gallon tank. And last, be sure none of the woods you use are toxic in any way (fumes most of all!).

You all make another excellent point! I was intending to vent the top with screen, but if I vent the sides only, I would loose less heat. Is venting only the side enough air flow to provide fresh air to the dragon?

Thanks!

My cages are only vented on the sides and have two small top vents. I am using the old slant front style Neodesha snake cages

I drilled extra holes all along the sides to allow air to flow through better.

>>You all make another excellent point! I was intending to vent the top with screen, but if I vent the sides only, I would loose less heat. Is venting only the side enough air flow to provide fresh air to the dragon?
>>
>>Thanks!
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

Cricket FREE babies!

I only vented the sides cause I was making them to be able too stack. I used 8X16 vents on each side, and it was sufficient for ventilation. I made a solid top with the lights inside the enclosure Like I pictured in the above post, so another tank could sit on top. I now have them stacked three high. They actuallly make vents 3 feet long by 5 inches high. If you wanted added ventilation you could put one of these across the back. That would be plenty ventilation.
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Mystical Dragons

Yes, it is, but I am not sure if the UV will go through a glass top. research, because i am not sure.

I was just reading this post and I was thinking of doing the same thing with Formica. What is considered to be toxic as formica or linolium are concerned. Are they safe to use or is there an alternative. Lastly, what would you attach it with, glue...what about the fumes? Any experiences with this method?

Thanks
Tom

I don't know about wood, but I do know glue. Silicon glue is safe after it drys, and I have used it many times sucsesfully. Nails are just not safe in general.