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i was thinkin about building a custom cage for my b&w. would 8 feet long and four feedt high be big enough. i am also thinking about putting a waterfall in it to keep the humidity up and he will also have a custom sleeping area under the cage so i can know where he is sleeping. does this sound like a good plan?
also should i use glass or screen in the front of the cage?

ment to say 8 feet long and four feet deep

Sounds Greg Mike! First of all, send the plans over when you have them!!!! Terrific ideas Mike! I still need to build another cage myself for 2, plus hopefully a near future blue female........... 8' is plenty big enough, especially the ht. A few of mine are escape artists, as most tegus can be.
I like the idea of glass, though some may differ. The reason is two-fold against screen 1) lt. wt screen, they will tear it open 2) If a heavier gage screen or hardware cloth is used, it can definitely damage the tegus. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation as well, perhaps at both ends and on top. The back typically sit against a wall, thus blocking any vents which may be placed there.

The best of luck with it!!!

Greg

im going to start on the plans probably next week and i will put them up when i am done!! also ther are going to be other cages on top of it to house my bearded dragons and my uro!! so it will all be one big unit against one wall! and i dont think i will be able to build it until fall or early winter but i will post pictures when i start!

should i just use plywood or is there a special kind of wood i should use?

Hi Mike! I've used plywood (sanded on one side) and it has worked out okay. You might not get the real super smooth finish as with oak or birch plywood, though it still can turn out nice.
It all depends on the money issue at the time. Some have also used melamine board and like it, though I like a more furniture looking finish. One cage I have for them is just out of plywood and time was of the essence, so it is not my best work. I also have one out of oak plywood that turned out real nice for my beardeds. Hope this doesn't confuse you. Oh one other thing, whichever you choose, make sure yo uuse a water-based stain, poly, or paint. It's still durable and not even as close to the toxic vapors as found in oil-based finishes.

Take care!

Greg

4' is a bit high. Tegu's aren't much for climbing, but 4' wide would be great! 18"-2' is a good heigth, but I see you are going to put a waterfall in it. Definately a glass/arcylic front. A screen front wouldn't do well at holding humidity.
Just a suggestion, if you want good humidity in an enclosure, seal it all in, mount the lights internally (use a 3' ceiling for this, 4' would make it harder to provide a good basking area) and provide vents to allow air circulation though. For humidity in my enclosure, I use a ultrasonic humidifier I got at walmart, and attached 2" PVC pipe to the top of it, and it pumps in PLENTY of humidity.
I hope that helps

>>i was thinkin about building a custom cage for my b&w. would 8 feet long and four feedt high be big enough. i am also thinking about putting a waterfall in it to keep the humidity up and he will also have a custom sleeping area under the cage so i can know where he is sleeping. does this sound like a good plan?
>>also should i use glass or screen in the front of the cage?

ho do i upload photos?? it wont let me do it it keeps on saying there is an error. i drew up some quick plans to give you an idea of what the finshed products will look like!!!

it is not the best but it will work

on the top left i am going to have my uro in there.
top right i will have all of my breeder mice(i will make a diveder to have the females on one side and the males on the other after the females give birth)

in the middle will be the bearded dragons. the middle peice with the lights will be removeable and will be put in after breeding takes place

and on the bottom is where the tegu will go. the door will open like a normal door so he can walk around and one the bottom will be storrage or i will make it into a sleeping chamber for the tegu so i can check on him when he is sleeping w/o waking him up