Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Almost done with my custom cage I'm building for my new ARU GTP!!

The dimensions are 24" all around. Staind Mahogony Wood Molding on top, and stained mahgony pine on the bottom. Im going to try and plan on making these to sell. Let me know what you guys think...

Still need to do list.

• Ventilaion holes
• Perch Holders
• Install Light
• Buy & Instal Heat Pannel
• Install Door
• Finish Stain

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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

Hey Oogieboogie,

I don't have anything aboreal but after seeing that setup I would be inclined to buy one just to be able to put that Viv in my house

Very nicely done. I'd be interested in hearing prices for one and possibly a nice tutorial series on how to work with Acrylics...LOL unless thats too proprietary to share.

Make sure you posts more pics when you get all the other items finished up...very nicely done~

Lee
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1.0 Fattail - Amel het Stripe
0.2 Fattails - Normal het Amel, het Stripe
0.0.5 Fattails Juvies - Amel het stripe
20 Corn Snakes (many different morphs)
2 tubs of Mealies, a ton of Roaches and too many crickets

>>>>Hey Oogieboogie,

I don't have anything aboreal but after seeing that setup I would be inclined to buy one just to be able to put that Viv in my house

Very nicely done. I'd be interested in hearing prices for one and possibly a nice tutorial series on how to work with Acrylics...LOL unless thats too proprietary to share.

Make sure you posts more pics when you get all the other items finished up...very nicely done~

Lee
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

*laughs* Thanks Lee.

Prices are yet to be figured out. It would depend on what would be included. For just the cage, wood tops/bottoms, perch holders would run somewhere around $275. Give or take some money.

Working with the acrylics is easy and tricky all in one. If you have the right tools (table saw, glue, clamps, framing stuff) its all pretty easy. The hardest part is getting the cuts right. Out-sourcing the cuts is the way to go! o) They charge you to do it, but its so much less work for you.

And ill gladly share any techniques I have. Im not one to be greedy or a jerk. If anyone wants to take their try at this then I would be glad to help!

Ill get pics up of the finished product very soon.
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

I especially like how the wood offsets the sterile appearance of the acrylic. You still get the 4 sides viewing of a typical acrylic cage but the wood "frames" your viewing nicely.

It will also add as a stabilizing element to the normaly unstable acrylic.

Again, nice job. You should write a post about how you worked with the acrylic. How you cut it, how you prepped the edges, solvent welded, etc.

NICE cage... I have to commend you for not only making a BEATTIFUL cage that I am jealous of, but to get Chris to say what he said is like Simon from American Idol telling you you are the best singer he has ever seen! LOL Chris is the best I have seen and has helped ALOT of people, including me! LOL THANKS Chris!!!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
NICE cage... I have to commend you for not only making a BEATTIFUL cage that I am jealous of, but to get Chris to say what he said is like Simon from American Idol telling you you are the best singer he has ever seen! LOL Chris is the best I have seen and has helped ALOT of people, including me! LOL THANKS Chris!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Thanks for the compliments Krystal! As for the chris/simon comments. Should I be worried? Simon only goes for the hot chicks! And while I was once a hot chick for holloween, its not on a regular basis!~! O)
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

LOL no worries, Chris is a nice guy, unlike Simon, Im not all that great looking either LOL.
-----
"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

hehe Not talkin about looks.... talkin about male/female *lol*
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

It works either way, just tryin to say he can't see us LOL and oogieboogie is NOT a gender specific name LOL, would be nice to find a good lookin fellow herper though LOL Guys like me then I say I have pythons and want gex and they tend to run LOL. Hummmm... wonder if theres a Mrs. Chris LOL
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

*laughs*

I can see it now....

Kingsnake.com ---- Where you can meet the love of your life and your marriage partner to.
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

Yeah LOL thats funny. Wish it was that easy!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I'm to old for you Krystal

I have no idea if Oogieboogie is male or female, but for the record I only prefer the latter

Oh yeah, there is no Mrs. Chris_Harper2 but there is a candidate. And she loves my snakes and the Bearded Dragon I gave her.

A male of the species!!!

No mistaking that one O)
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

**NEW on FOX**

Extreme Reptile Dating...
Bring your reptiles in and make a match...you never know, you might meet someone too...
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Coastal Carpet Python 0.1 (Lillith)
Albino Burm 0.1 (Kimba)
Columbian RedTail 0.1 (Squishy)
Kenyan Sand Boa 1.0 (Shai'hulud)
Common Snapping Turtle 1.1 (Sherman and Abrahms)
RES 1.0 (speedy)

Yeah thats great! LOL I went to my first show yesterday though and I was highly impressed with the number of females there, but there were some cute guys too, but my dad HAD to leave because the snakes were freaking them out, expecially the cornsnakes! LOL wuss.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

LOL that is GREAT!!! LOL I have no age limits Chris Well to some extent... but I am just kidding anyways, But I do wish it was that simple. Good luck with the possible future Mrs. Chris, and the beardie though LOL. Oogie, we should make the dating side of kingsnake J/K but I went to my first herp show today, I didn't stay too long because my dad was freaking out LOL but it was fun. I sold my Het. Albino Male Ball Python, I am going to miss him, but theres no point wasting him if I am not going to breed anymore. Well I'm out like a fat kid in dodgeball, I will talk to you all later.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

"Not going to breed anymore..."

I thought you were working towards breeding BP's. What's changed? Just going to enjoy them as pets?

Lyfestyle change, trying to work towards going to colledge and things of that sort. Trying to get a decent house and job before I start breeding. For now I will be just keeping one BP and possibly getting a couple leopard geckos just for pets. I have been doing so much work towards remodeling my house, trying to get school done with, looking for a new car, and obviosly looking for someone to share in all of this, there is no time to worry about incubation temps and things of that sort. They get fed, and their water & substrate changed, and once in a while are handled, but even that is pushing it and I have my sister-in-law help me often. I will eventually get back into it, but the timing isn't right.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I especially like how the wood offsets the sterile appearance of the acrylic. You still get the 4 sides viewing of a typical acrylic cage but the wood "frames" your viewing nicely.

It will also add as a stabilizing element to the normaly unstable acrylic.

Again, nice job. You should write a post about how you worked with the acrylic. How you cut it, how you prepped the edges, solvent welded, etc.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hey glad to hear you like it! I posted on the thread I made a LONG while back. Did you get an email notification for that? I was hoping you and the other two did. I might have to go email them the link to let them know.

And yes, I LOVE the wood. I think it makes the cage and sets it out from the rest of the cages out there.

You actually only get 3 sides of viewing Left, Right and Front. The back adn top are shiny black. I used black in the back because I felt it looked much more attractive, i did not like the see through back, Unless you have a pretty wall behind you, its ugly. *lol*

I must confess, all the cuts i outsourced. I contacted a plastic manufacturer and gave them the dimensions and BAM had my plastics. It saved me a TON of time and will help keep the costs down when i sell them since It requires alot less work from me. Although it did cost more money to have them cut it for me, but i think it was the way to go.

Eventually when Im done ill get everything together and give everyoen the low down.
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

I don't think I received that e-mail notification. I have a lot of trouble with messages sent through my account so I'm not surprised.

Hey, I don't blame you one bit for having your plastic cut. Many plastic shops have computer controlled routers that cost more than many houses. Why not pay a bit extra and have perfect square and exact cuts made?

Look forward to hearing more about your construction techniques. I'm especially looking forward to hearing if you did any additional prep work to the edges, how you solvent welded them, and what style of door you will go with.

I don't think I received that e-mail notification. I have a lot of trouble with messages sent through my account so I'm not surprised.

Hey, I don't blame you one bit for having your plastic cut. Many plastic shops have computer controlled routers that cost more than many houses. Why not pay a bit extra and have perfect square and exact cuts made?

Look forward to hearing more about your construction techniques. I'm especially looking forward to hearing if you did any additional prep work to the edges, how you solvent welded them, and what style of door you will go with.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I didnt get a notification either. I think its such an old thread there is no notification.

And that is the exact thinking that I went with on the plastics. I needed perfect angles and cuts. Figured that was the best way to go.

I didnt do any additional prep work to the edges. Should I have??? I wasnt aware I needed to. I used WeldOn 16 to fuse the edges together. Good stuff! Its awesome.

Its going to be an acrylic door on a 12" piano hinge with two or three closing hasps that closer over the side. I have the overlaping pieces by the door to ensure no *oopses* and escaped animals. O)

Any comments and suggestions are ALWAYS welcomed and encouraged. O)
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

Only suggestion I have at this point is to be very careful when you weld on the hinge. My first attempt at welding a hinge did not go so well. Someo of the solvent dripped out of the syringe when I was lining it up over the piece and got into the actual mechanism of the hinge. It seized up a bit and I had to sit there opening and closing the door hundreds of times so it would not do so completely.

Regarding prepping the edges, many people recommned sanding the edges and heating them up with a low temp torch. This makes them more clearn and better prepared for the solvent.

The company you dealth with many have done so.

More questions:

What company did you deal with? Local or order?

Is Weldon 16 applied with a srynge?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Only suggestion I have at this point is to be very careful when you weld on the hinge. My first attempt at welding a hinge did not go so well. Someo of the solvent dripped out of the syringe when I was lining it up over the piece and got into the actual mechanism of the hinge. It seized up a bit and I had to sit there opening and closing the door hundreds of times so it would not do so completely.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hahaha been there done that! I did that to one of the first hingest I applied. Luckily like you I got it to work.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Regarding prepping the edges, many people recommned sanding the edges and heating them up with a low temp torch. This makes them more clearn and better prepared for the solvent.

The company you dealth with many have done so.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ok ill look into that but the edges were pretty clean when I got them back. Ill ask them if they do any of that when I go and order again.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
More questions:

What company did you deal with? Local or order?

Is Weldon 16 applied with a srynge?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I used a Local company most definetly!! Shipping on the plastic is to much. Plus I like to be able to talk to them in person incase anything goes wrong. The company was called Plastic Manufacturing & Sales.

Weldon 16 can come in two tings I belive. It can come in a big ole paint can like bucket (not sure how you would apply it) and then in a squeezable metal tube. There is no mixing of any kind like with some cements or epoxy's. Weldon is not commercially available either so you need to order it online or find something like a plastic place to sell it to you.

It doesnt *glue* the plastics to gether but melts the edges and merges them together to form one piece so to speak. So when it dries the plastics are joined together. Really great stuff.
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

Most edges of acrylic is " flamed" with a torch this creates a glass like finish to the edges of the plexis etc. simply using a high heat torch and running it down the edges of the plei etc the radiant heat from the torch head will create a smooth as babies ( you know what finish) good looking cage ya have there.
one question and then a suggestion for you .

Q- will the trim boards on the top& bottom be stained on the backside ? if so i would suggest painting it black as it would be a better finish to the backside thats visible through the inside of the cage .

Also if you have a tablesaw you can pick up a map gas torch and a just a lil practice save yourself the money paying them to do the same thing because unless you are doing round corners then a table saw with a good plxi and a heavy paper coating you can do it your self and save a right smart amount of cashola lol as long as you do all SQ edges it woulnt take long at all to to cut & flame the edges
nice cage
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Buisnesses come and go everyday, what keeps you here is how you treated the customer the day before....

www.junglehabitats.com and www.junglehabitats.com/forums/portal.php

____

edited signature line

Edited on March 25, 2004 at 10:01:48 by phwyvern.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Most edges of acrylic is " flamed" with a torch this creates a glass like finish to the edges of the plexis etc. simply using a high heat torch and running it down the edges of the plei etc the radiant heat from the torch head will create a smooth as babies ( you know what finish) good looking cage ya have there.
one question and then a suggestion for you .

Q- will the trim boards on the top& bottom be stained on the backside ? if so i would suggest painting it black as it would be a better finish to the backside thats visible through the inside of the cage .

Also if you have a tablesaw you can pick up a map gas torch and a just a lil practice save yourself the money paying them to do the same thing because unless you are doing round corners then a table saw with a good plxi and a heavy paper coating you can do it your self and save a right smart amount of cashola lol as long as you do all SQ edges it woulnt take long at all to to cut & flame the edges
nice cage
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Do you have any pictures off hand of the edges that are flamed? It would be nice to see some examples before I go off flaming my plastic *lol*

The insides of the trim will be stained definetly. Very ugly if it were not! haha.

As for the black I see what you are saying, it would match the black back nicely as well. Ill dable around and see hwo things look though.

Im going to the local reptile swap in 3 weeks, "Lee Watsons Reptile Swap" and I am going to get a vendor table set up there and see if I can generate some buisness! I just gotta get cracking and finish up this cage. Still need to find cash to pay for everything though. O/
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

np

~
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0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~

.

It is going to have a hinged left side and locking hasps on the right side. It will open like a regular door would from right to left.
-----
0.0.1 Aru GTP (Still in Debate)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Kurt the Snake ~ Frosty McFry)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat (OogieBoogie)
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa (NoFingers McGee)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Saku ~ GracieJ)
0.0.1 Albino Ornate Pacman Frog (Jabba the Frog)
0.0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog (Hooter)
0.0.2 Emperor Scorpion (Cecil ~ Peoples)
0.0.1 Usambara Tarantula - (FBD - Fire Ball of Death)
0.0.1 Indian Ornametal Tarantula - (Still in Debate)
2.0 House Cats (Bill ~ Ted)

And a partrige in a pear tree...

~!Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design!~