Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well Randy and Chris it is ver nice to meet you both.I am Chris also and I am from South Florida.First off I would just like to THANK YOU! for all the information and questions and advice you both have given to me I apperciate everything Thank you Randy Thank You Chris and Thank You to everyone else =).

Ok now.I am going to say this now I would like to get this Figured out and done so we will do that.Ok someone told me to do this he told me it was cheap and easy to do.I would like to know if there would be any problems with this.Take a peice of Mahagonay(excuse spelling lol)wood that you can get for like 3-17$ for a large sheet and take a peice of acrylic or plexi glass or somewhat along that line and take aluminum for the rest of it I forgot what it was called Alumin edging or something but ummm I think thats was about it.

But The Idea that I like Is A Enclosure ok..and I am not sure about the materials and things but Like I said I am on a bit of a budget soo yeah lol...anyways.A cage that I can put lights inside of the tank and The Collard not to hurt itself and Maybe some Rock wall ledges maybe not the whole thing but some of them and I have a Stand for this that a 55 Gallon will fit on perfectly.I want it the enclosre.I have never heard of the Melamine or at least like seen it or felt it or anything like that but I hope you get the idea...Just let me know if you dont post any questions..O yes and maybe have a Window in the front or have the whole front exposed and Have the hinged top!

THANKS!
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1.1.0 Leo Geckos

1.0.0 Collard Lizard

>>Ok now.I am going to say this now I would like to get this Figured out and done so we will do that.Ok someone told me to do this he told me it was cheap and easy to do.I would like to know if there would be any problems with this.Take a peice of Mahagonay(excuse spelling lol)wood that you can get for like 3-17$ for a large sheet and take a peice of acrylic or plexi glass or somewhat along that line and take aluminum for the rest of it I forgot what it was called Alumin edging or something but ummm I think thats was about it.

My gut reaction is that this does not sound inexpensive. Aluminum angle is very expensive per foot as is plexiglass or an acrlyic of similar quality.

Forget about the aluminum frame for a minute and focus only on the acrylic. It will be more expensive than either 1/2" or 3/4" laminated plywood or 3/4" melamine. Moreover, it will be very susceptible to warping when exposed to thermal gradiants. Acrylic is a great material and has numerous applications in herp caging. But it's trouble with thermal gradiants makes it a poor choice for Collared Lizards which require hot basking areas.

The cheapest way for you to build a cage for a Collard is out of melamine as it will require very little finishing work.

If you don't know what melamine is then scroll down through several posts on this page and the previous one. You'll find at least a few pictures of white melamine cages.

I do not recommend a hinged top. Easiest cheapest way is a sliding door. Only caveat is you may have to plug the gap in the bypass area to avoid food items escaping.

Light fixtures can be mounted directly to the ceiling. The dangerously hot ones that the lizards may come in contact with can be made safe via bulb guards.

Regarding the previous thread, I highly recommend you make the interior dimension of the cage 49". It will make it much easier to attach 4 foot light fixtures to the ceiling - something that is very helpful for diurnal lizards.

And as long as you're at it, go ahead and make the cage just a bit bigger than the 55 gallon stand you need. My bearded dragon cage sat on a 55 gallon stand for a couple of years and was both longer and wider than the stand.

If you want, I'd be happy to make you up a "cut-list" that you could take to a cabinet shop who would do all the cutting for you. All you would need to do is assemble the cage, attach the glass track, and install the lights. You'd also have to add ventilation of your choice.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

This cut list is basically the biggest cage one could make from one full sheet of melamine. At least one with approximately a 2'x4' footprint.

Two pieces at 3" x 49"

Three pieces at 22.5" x 49" (all cross-cuts)

Two pieces at 22.5" x 24"

What you would end up with is a smaller, white version of the cage pictured below. The size would be 50.5" x 22.5" x 24"

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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Forgot to mention $$. Provided you already have the lights and heating elements I believe you could build this cage for under $100. But I'm never very good at keeping track of total cost.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)