Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If I make my own cage, what would be the point of adding screen sides to it? The screen is REALLY expensive, I don’t have to worry about things getting in (small children, other pets, etc.), and I put the crickets in a cup so they can’t get out. Does screen have another purpose that I’m just not realizing? I would put wood in for one or two of the sides, since humidity is a problem here. But do I need to cover the other sides with screen? I doubt she would get out, since she would have no reason or want to. Thanks.

Screen is so that your cham can't get out, and f you are putting in 2 sides of weed then they would be pointless since there would be nothing keeping the humidity heat in, even thugh it may not seem like it the scrn does hlp with that.

Also screen isn't that expensive,i purchased this black coated fiberglass screen for about 6 bux which is about 3'x12'
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0.2 Cats (Moora and Twitch)
0.1 Dogs (Maria)
soon to be 1.0 Panther Chameleon (Yoda)

If screen is too expensive, try hardware cloth... one that is nylon-coated (I'm thinking it's nylon, tho at this hour, I'm not too confident in my memory, plastic COATED in any case... Don't get one that is plastic as it can melt from the lights) coz hardware cloth is sharp when not coated. It's a bit less expensive, but only at the smaller hardware stores near here, HD & Lowes only sell it in a large roll for about $10 or $12. Some smaller hardware places have it by the foot, so you can only buy as much as you need.
And don't underestimate your cham's desire to roam. I always find my female across the room when I leave her cage door open to let her get exercise.

Thanks. I didn't know that screen would actually help with the heat and humidity. The only screen I can find would total to about $80 for the amount I need. Did you find yours at a hardware store? If so, was it one of the big chains like Home Depot? Thanks again.

i got some big rolls of hardware cloth from home depot. i needed two of the biggest rolls they had and i cost me around $25 i think.

-jon

ya I got mine from Home Depot. I dont understand why it's so expensive for you. I got mine near the back. I think near flooring supplies. There were a bunch of screens and I got the black coated fibermesh. But just to be safe I'm gonne put some green gardening plastic fencing on the inside for my cham to climb on. (If you chack on screameleons.com it's he green thick wires they have inside every chams cage) This is just so the don't hurt themselves on the mesh becasue when chams climb in the mash they tend to "file down" there nails and also could pull thee nails out, which don't grow back.
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0.2 Cats (Moora and Twitch)
0.1 Dogs (Maria)
soon to be 1.0 Panther Chameleon (Yoda)

Thanks guys I really appreciate your input. It's been really helpful. I'll check back at Home Depot, they might have gotten some new shipments in. When I found the hardware cloth before, I couldn't find any of the plastic coated kind. But I'll check back. Thanks again.

I found my plastic-coated hardware cloth at a tiny little hardware store, and had trouble finding it at HD. If you live in a more rural area, or live w/i driving distance of one, the best time to get the stuff is late winter/early spring, as a lot of people are patching up or making new domestic animal enclosures... I happen to live in the middle-of-no-where farming & livestock counrty, so it's almost always readily avaliable in the smaller stores. Good luck with HD!