Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Smaug, I saw your cage, I think it looks awesome. I would like to build a new cage for my blue tegu, too. Could you tell me how you did it and what materials you need. I really have no idea where to start, I've never built a cage before, but yours looks great. Thanks!!!!

I agree. How about some info.

Hey All,

This was the first cage I built myself, and it definitely takes some time, cost, and trial/error to get it right. A lot of the tips I will pass onto you I picked up from the monitor forum, as the same general husbandry practices should apply. I'm not sure my cage is for everyone as it was quite pricey to build (~$500), and will require some more advanced carpentry skills, but it sure works nicely. Here goes:

1) I used melanie(sp?) panels as it was a cheap fast way to get waterproof sides, etc. The frame work was all done in poplar although a cheaper wood would suffice. I built a bathtub type bottom and sealed with silicon. (Waterproofed plywood or FRP will probably work better)

1.5) I made the cage to feature slide in sides and and easily unboltable frame (use big lag bolts). This is something to consider if you ever plan on moving or just moving the cage to another room.

2) The front sliding door is a four piece poplar frame bolted together with lag bolts and with two grooves for the (1/4) glass panels. Don't forget to seal the gap between them when you are done or you will have crickets all over your house!

3) The dome fixtures I got at homedepot (Get ones rated to 250W)and cut big holes for them in the ceiling and them bolted the domes directly into it. (No openings for hot air to rise that way.) I also took 1/4 " hardware cloth to cover the spotlights and keep an overly curious animal from getting burned. I used what is called a "t-nut" and some threaded post knobes to hold the light guards in so they can be easily removed for bulb changes.

4) I use cheap HALOGEN FLOOD bulbs from Lowes or Home Depot. UV is NOT needed if you supplement with Vit D3. I leave most of these lights on all the time (24hrs), and the hot side as a bank of two of them to get a larger basking area.

5) I built the substrate guard by screwing some plexiglass to the sliding door frame and the cage will hold up to 1.5 ft of substrate. It currenlty has about 10" of topsoil with cypress mulch on the top. (Deep substrate is really important.)

6) The planter is a half dome wall planter and Pothos plants will do great in a hot humid envronment as long as they are watered often. Use lots of cork bark for other hides.

7) The only ventilation is a series of 8 1/4" holes drilled in the cool side of the cage. This keeps heat and humidty high and I only need 75 watts of halogen bulb to keep the cage with a 135F hot spot and a 75-80 cool side.

8) Oh yeah, the cage is something like 6' long by 2.5' wide by 3' tall. (Just how it worked out...I would adivise someone else to go a little wider.)

9) The only problem I have had is condensation on the glass running into the wooden door track and causing some mold/mildew/rot. I would use a plastic door track next time to increase longevity.

Hope this puts some of you on the right track! I would take more pictures but alas the digital camera wasn't mine. Feel free to ask more specific questions.

Thank you,

Mike