Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I took the plunge and built a new cage for my Uromastyx this past weekend. It is not quite finished but I wanted to share what is done since you guys were so instrumental to my being able to build it! I am quite proud of the results so far, especially given that it was really my first furniture building venture!

Let me know what you think!

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~echarris/archcage/index.htm

Uro Cage

-----
1.0 Uro Archimedes
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

Pretty classy digs, very nice job with the woodworking.

BigT

What are the final measurements on it?
-----
Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

Take a copy of that picture to all the home improvement stores you visited and experienced sexism. Show that thing off with pride as it looks like you did an excellent job.

Some advice for the future as I'm guessing this won't be your last cage...

The back brace can be put on the outside of the cage if the looks bother you. My guess is that it will barely be noticable in a well decorated desert cage.

There are wood putties that take stains quite well. If you counter-sink the screws sufficiently and fill with putty the stained produce gives an appearance similar to the wood plugs you find on antiques. But honestly, I really like your color scheme and paint is easier to touch up.

Now the questions:

1) Final dimensions, but also, did you have all the panels (back, upper and lower lips, top & bottom) fit inbetween the sides or something else?

2) What type of paint did you use?
-----
Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

1 - Final dimensions on it are approximately:
48in wide by 24.75in deep by 33in tall (including casters, 30.5in without)

2 - In the future I may counter sink the screws more, that would have solved the problem I would have had with the staining.

3 - Because of the way I designed the bottom to go on, I had to put the back brace on the inside, but like Chris said, I don't think it will be very noticeable once I get all the lizard furniture in there.

4 - I am attaching a picture to the bottom of the post that should make it easier to see how the pieces went together. The 2 front pieces attached to the inside of the sides, but everything else attached to the outsides. The bottom is under the sides, the top, on top of them, and so on. I had the bottom cut 3/4 of an inch deeper than the top so that the back piece could rest on top of it, and still be screwed to the outside of the sides. In words it sounds complicated, I think the picture will make it clearer.

5 - For the inside of the cage I used oil based polyeurothane, for the inside I used water based interior paint. The normal standard kind. I don't think this will effect the lizard in any way since none of the interior portions are painted. Though a different brand than what I usually use when redoing furniture, it is the same type of paint. Is there often a problem with paint and the lizards?

Thanks again! It has proven to be a fun project and will be even easier the next time.

Elizabeth

-----
1.0 Uro Archimedes
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

Very nice job, you should be proud. Clint