Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all, I'm looking to build a cage, and I've got a couple questions. I'm looking to build a 2x6ft cage that is wood on three side, acrylic/plexi on the front for viewing and then screen up top. My questions are 1.) What is the best wood to use? I don't really want to spend too much, and I'd like it to last a while and insulate heat well. 2.) What do you use to heat something that size?
Thanks!
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April
1.0 Mali Uromastyx- Embrodak,
0.1 Saharan Uromastyx- Scheherazade
2.1 Mountain Horned Dragon- Beren, Luthien and Tinuviel
3.0.5 Hermit Crabs- Violet, Polly, Jennifer, Trogdor, Hedwig, Penelope and Sinistra
1.1 Five lined Skink- Leela and Fry
1.0 Bettas-Nuala

Hey all, I'm looking to build a cage, and I've got a couple questions. I'm looking to build a 2x6ft cage that is wood on three side, acrylic/plexi on the front for viewing and then screen up top. My questions are 1.) What is the best wood to use? I don't really want to spend too much, and I'd like it to last a while and insulate heat well. 2.) What do you use to heat something that size?
Thanks!
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Let's see....These are just my opinions of course, but I would highly reccommend melamine coated mdf vice regular wood, and also glass instead of plexi. I built a 78"l)x28"w)x36"h) enclosure with two 4'x8' sheets of melamine. One was black and the other mahogony. They cost less than 80 bucks together. The glass was free, but should be relatively cheap to find. I would use glass becuase of how easily plexi scratches and how much Uro's "dance" on the walls of their homes. I use 3 heat lamps for mine but I also have a 48" ballasted full spectrum bulb on for 12 hours a day and a Power sun UVB lamp used about twice a week. I can tell you more about how I built mine if you want, and/or I could e-mail you pics or give you a link to some. They're too big to post here. Hope at least some of that helps.
MM

P.S. I don't know why my open parens turned into those faces.....go figure