Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well im going to build my own cage to house a beardie.. im going to get a young beardie, But is screen an ok cage material.. or is there somthing else... Or will the basking lamp make the screen to hot, or is there some kinda material like it that i could buy?

My plan is to make a frame out 1"x1" strips of wood.. making a hinged door of course.. Then wrapping it up with the screen to make a cage ...

My question is just would this be fine, or should i use somthing else...

-- Paul

or would i be better off with somthing like this?

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=487454,487903

I like this idea better ...

-- Paul

Steel mesh should be ok, like anything else it is going to get hot. The screen on doors and windows, that is like a nylon, and may melt and hot temps. Your best bet is to contact a cage builder, or even a manufacturer, and see what they suggest. Overall, beardies do best in cages where ventilation is adequate, yet not obsessive. Unlike Chameleons, who need a lot of ventilation, a bearded is best off in a tank of enclosure that holds the heat in. Especially in AC, or in the winter time near a window.

So that link I gave showing that other users kinda of cage would be fine?

Should I add more vents than just the one in the back......should i put some on the sides too?

Thanks in advance,

-- Paul

Yeah that cage would be fine. As far as ventilation goes, it really depends where your keeping it. Too much is no good, for drafts have been noted to causes diseases. Not enough can result in overheating them, for the cage can get way too hot. From what I see on the picture, that vent in the back looks plenty big.