Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Where would be the best place to buy the parts to make your own screened cages? What the best stuff for the bottoms? Looking to make my own Chameleon Cages.

Thanks....Lou

Hello,

If you have a Home Depot or Lowe's near you that would be your best bet. Most of the bigger home improvement stores or even a well-stocked smaller hardware store will sell hardware to make your own replacement screens. What you're looking for is usually in the same section as the doors and windows. You can buy the metal pieces that make up the frame with plastic 90 degree angle pieces to join them and then for durability you'll probably want to use metal screen. Metal screen will also make a stiffer screen panel too. Essentially you make the frame up and then lay out screen cut at least 1 1/2 inches larger than the frame and then you use a special roller tool [sold in the same section]to press the spline [the rubber ribbed cable-looking stuff sold with all the screen acces.] and screen into the groove in the metal screen frame. It takes a bit of practice to do it well, so buy some extra pieces of everything. As for the rest of the materials, judging by the chameleon cages I've seen, you'll just need to buy some hinges and small sheet metal screws in the hardware/fastener department. I've noticed some chameleon screen cages seem to use some small odds and ends to hold the doors shut. Weird little hardware like that is usually again in the hardware department and may be with the nuts and bolts or possibly with screen door and window hardware. Anyway, hope all of this helps you out. Have fun.
-----
Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois

I buy my materials from Conneticut Screen works the cost is about half of what you will pay for a commercially built cage
Conneticut Screen works

Thanks for all your help. This look like it could be fun.

Lou