Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OKAY I WAS WONDERING WHAT THE BEST WAY TO BUILD A CHEAP BUT NICE CAGE WOULD BE FOR MY ROOM... POST PICS OF SOME HOME MADE CAGES SO I CAN GET SOME IDEA... THANKS

Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera, but I can describe somewhat how I build mine. Here's what you need:

Particle board (an 8x4 sheet is 20 bucks if you can get it home)
Plexiglas (get a little more than you actually need)
Wood for the frame (a couple nice 2x4's work great)
Plastic laminate (for the inside of the cage)
Pegboard (for the back of the cage)

What dimensions were you planning on? If an arboreal cage, I use some different materials for the insides.

I'll try and get a picture...
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Sean M

Currently have:
0.1 Antherystic Elaphe Guttata Guttata - Corn Snake
1.0 Elaphe Vulpina Gloydi - Eastern Fox Snake
0.1 Leucistic Elaphe Obsoleta Linheimeri - Texas Ratsnake
1.1 Morelia Spilota Cheyni - Jungle Carpet Python

Saving for:
Agkistrodon Contortix Mokasen - Northern Copperhead
Varanus Exanthematicus - Savannah Monitor

OKAY AND HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT MAKING THE CAGE?? IM PLANNING ON MAKING IT ABOUT 5 OR 6 FEET LONG AND ABOUT 3 FEET WIDE OR SO... LET ME KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT.. THANKS

I once made a cage that was 48x32x24 inches. That used a full 8x4 foot piece of plywood for the floor, ceiling, and sides, with a 2x4 foot piece of pegboard for the back and the door for the front. It was big enough for a 10 foot Burmese python.

I'd recommend that the cage be less than 28 inches in at least one dimension. Then it would be small enough to go through a door without disassembly when you move.

FWIW, there is a thread about building a six foot cage on the Cage and Habitat Design forum under Herp Issues on the main page.

Good luck.

Paul Hollander

If you want a cage that is "good", you are going to need to spend money on it. Expect at least $100. I'd say closer to $150. What I did was I bought one sheet of 1/2" birch plywood, cut it so It made me (2) 2x8 strips. I made those the top and the back. On the front I took some 4" wide whitewood (inexpensive trim). For the top I used heavy duty wire screen, not hardware cloth, you can find it in Home Depot in the millworks area. (doors/windows). On the inside you will need something that is water proof, so I reccomend FRP (Fiberglass reinforced plastic paneling.) It comes in a 4x8 white sheet, 1/8" thick. This will also be in the millworks area. I used an aquairum grade silicone caulk to do the joints with, and liquid nails paneling adhesive to glue it to the plywood. I ran the FRP along the bottom and back of the cage, and along the front bottom board , since that is the only one a substrate will be getting close to. FRP can be painted if the correct primer is used, I chose the Glidden Gripper paint, and a behr flat exterior paint. (I work at home depot by the way lol...no you don't get a discount...cheap asses. lol) I cut a groove in the end of each board and placed 1/4" acrylic plexiglass on the ends. I then ran a 1x2" across the top for the screen to be tacked upon. Right now i'm still in the construction process, but as soon as I get it complete I will have pictures.

All prices are approximate.

1/2" birch 4'x8" (1) - $35
FRP 4"x8" (2) - $26 x 2 = $52
Liquid Nails - $5
1/4" acrylic for sides - $10
3/8" lexan for sliding doors - $20
Aquarium grade silicone - $3
1 quart of primer - $8 (opt)
1 quart of black high gloss behr - $11 (opt)
Screen - $8
Trim wood - $15

These are rough prices, I got a lot of the lumber from my g'pa who has more than he knows what to do with, lol. Hope this helps.

I have a design here....

Another idea would go down to walmart or target and get yourself a bookshelf made out of formica. don't install the center shelf (or do if you want 2 cages), just the top and bottom, get some 3/8" lexan for the back and nail it on, seal it along hte wood with aquarium grade silicone.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

how did you go about making the door? was it a sliding door? any pics? thats the main thing im wondering about what to do... the door. and why did you make the back plexyglass too? what did you do for the floor to make it easy to clean when it gets water on it? would it be better to put a piece of glass on the bottom so it will be eaiser to clean?

the FRP is basically 1/8" plastic sheeting that's really cheap. it's used on resturaunt walls commonly, because if cooks throw up antyhing on the walls it's sprayed down and wiped off. and it's tough. that's why I said you really need that for the floor and along the sides (lower part at least), it will protect the wood.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

Normally I figure out how big the frame needs to be (say 2' long strips x 2'' tall x 7/8'') and cut the angles (normally 45 degrees). Then I run them thru the tablesaw with a 1/8'' sawblade so that the cut is in the middle (3/8'' off the gaurd).

Dunno if that helps... my dad might have his camera home tomorrow and I may be able to take a pic of my cages.

I built my big carpet python cage for $63 (46''x28''x28'')

Good luck
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Sean M

Currently have:
0.1 Antherystic Elaphe Guttata Guttata - Corn Snake
1.0 Elaphe Vulpina Gloydi - Eastern Fox Snake
0.1 Leucistic Elaphe Obsoleta Linheimeri - Texas Ratsnake
1.1 Morelia Spilota Cheyni - Jungle Carpet Python

Saving for:
Agkistrodon Contortix Mokasen - Northern Copperhead
Varanus Exanthematicus - Savannah Monitor

Check this out just modify the cuts to the size you need.

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/4x2.shtml
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0.1 Albino Cal. King (Fokker)
1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn (trouble)
0.1 Creamsicle Corn (Spot)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Bob & Margret)
1.1 Dogs(George and Ladybird) they are rescues.
1.0 Betta
0.1 Wife
0.1 Kid