Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im planning on building a cage for my veileds. I need to know what screening to use thats cricket proof? i want to do this right the first time.

just make sure you get aluminum screen, crickets can chew through fiberglass.

You should also make sure you get the correct size of screen, if it is too small of a mesh then it is probable that the chams toenails will be snapped off (and they don't grow back).

There is a certain type of screen that you are supposed to use, but I can't remember the name... something like PVC coated or something? Can someone else chime in here?

>>just make sure you get aluminum screen, crickets can chew through fiberglass.
-----
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charlie)
0.1 Corn Snake (Diamond)
1.1 Felines (Blacky and Princes)
1.0 Canine (Skeeter)
2.0 Cockatiels

Yes, PVC coated 1/4" or 1/2" screen is what you want.

I HIGHLY recommend Martin's Cages:

http://www.martinscages.com/products/cages/reptile/

They will custom make any size/configuration you want.
But if you want to do it yourself, stay away from mesh
(window screen). It does rip out toenails.

Basically IM only using the screen for the top (for the lights) and front doors on ea. inclosure. I want it to be able to ventilate. I was thinking about putting a sliding Plexiglas front door but wouldn't get the ventilation I want. I also want it to be cricket proof so they don't have a chance to get out. I believe 1/2" and maybe even 1/4" would allow them to get out. If anyone has any other ideas for substitues to the screen for the top and doors please do share. That's the best I could come up with.

the cage i have for my chameleon is 7' tall 4' wide and 2' in dept.
i use screen mesh that i bought from home depot. i have had no problem with nails breaking, but then i only have had my chameleon for 9 months. i dont let my crickets run free in the cage so i if he is eating them or not, and if not, the the crickets will climb all over him and start nibbling on him wich will stress him out. so i use a feeding cup which i clean out before feedings every day.

Hey check out this site:

http://www.mcmaster.com/ theres a ton of screen/mesh to choose from. You could use Aluminum but if you use a dripper over it in time you may see some rusting. I've always wondered if crickets can ingest some of the water coming off the rust and get poisioned by it, plus it might not be so great for the Cham either. I was recently talking with another Dart frogger about this very issue cause of the high numbers of Pin heads we have to produce. Stainless steel should be safer. Since you're building your own, you could do the best. There is another product called No-see-Um insect mesh. Its designed for even the smallest insects such as Fruit Flies. They have this tight weave on the site and REI carries it too. Let us know what you find out. Maggie