Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am about to build a 6x3x3 enclosure for my savanna. i was at home depot and they had a plexiglass like material cut into various size panes. the labelling said it was "virtually indestructable" which is always good. but the thing is these panels were only about 1/4 inch thick and they were very flimsy. i was wondering if these panels would be good enough for that big of an enclosure? i dont think they would be and i would really like an all glass enclosure(except for the top) which would be sturdier but more costly.

Ask SHvar, he seems pretty handy with a hammer. Great cage design he has. Looks strong and sturdy.

>>Ask SHvar, he seems pretty handy with a hammer. Great cage design he has. Looks strong and sturdy.

I do beleive i sense a small amount of sarcasm in that last post, i could be wrong, but probably not.
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"cant we all just get along?" rodney king.

Nope, your just jealous. You wish you cage was that nice...seriously.

yeah, jealous that i paid all that money for a big cardboard box on steroids.
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"cant we all just get along?" rodney king.

if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Oh, its broke if you cant see that, you must be related to helen keller
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"cant we all just get along?" rodney king.

i am blind....why is that funny...I do have a big sav though and he sees good....he is the one who told me

>>i am blind....why is that funny...I do have a big sav though and he sees good....he is the one who told me

i bet your sav is overweight too, just a hunch
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"cant we all just get along?" rodney king.

nope...he is 3' and weighs 25 lbs....

>>nope...he is 3' and weighs 25 lbs....

and he grew to these monstrous proportions in only a yeah.
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"cant we all just get along?" rodney king.

actaully he was in a 3x8 stock tank and fed a diet high in mice, crickets, eggs, bacon and soemtimes toast.,....this is how he got to be this size in 11 months, 3 days, 22 hours, 13 mintues and 10 seconds.

oh, i feed mine turkey gravy and grits, i might try your diet though, sounds closer to the atkins diet.
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"cant we all just get along?" rodney king.

Good grief... why dont you two stop bombing this guys thread. I would like to know about cage building too... not waste my time looking through your bs.

What size plexi glass sheet are you using? Because 1/4" is pretty thick. I've used 1/4" before as large hinged doors and worked pretty good. The major complaint I have with plexi glass is that it scratches easily and you have to keep it cleaned and polished to keep it clear, unlike glass which you can let go and then scrub it back to perfection. I built my first enclosures with plexi for cost reasons but now I would gladly pay the extra money for glass the longevity and beauty are superior to me. Good luck!

thanks for the info, i will probably go with glass for my enclosure now

I have used that plexi on my sav cages. It works pretty good. I do brace it in the middle with a 1X2 board. I wouldn't use the thin stuff with my albig though.If you need to cut it have the store do it or you can use a fine tooth sawblade turned backwards in a skillsaw. Cut slow or it will chip.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

ok really, that stuff is ok if you are only using it for smaller areas, the front of my cage is 32"high and 8ft long i have it split in two, the only real problem i found with it is when you are screwing it to the frame of the cage if you over torque it, it cracks very easily and you ahve to pre drill everything. I used it and it is holding up fine against adult albigs so i would use it again. The only other thing is that it is kinda costly.

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"cant we all just get along?" rodney king.

Its 10ft by 5ft by 4ft, with 2 ft deep of dirt, and a 3 level basking spot made from 3/4 inch plywood. The cage is 22/32nds plywood with FRP lining it and sealed with silicone 2, it also has a 54x36 inch double pane vinyl replacement window for a door.
Those are all 45 watt outdoor floodlights.

Ive used melamine its strong as heck, heavier than you would ever imagine it to be and only "water resistant", it sooner or later gets through and rots apart especially if the monitor is strong enough to tear through the surface as Ive seen happen on one of Sobeks cages.
Ive used plexiglas, the less cleaning of it the better it scratches easy. If you use thin stuff it can crack or break when you least expect, but thicker stuff is very very strong.
Wood, or OSB has to be covered or coated to protect it from monitor claws, water, mold, etc.
For lining it, FRP is the best to line it with, strong, waterproof, etc.
Ive looked at 4x8 sheets of vinyl to line cages with for less than half what FRP costs but I dont think its as durable to weight, heat, claws, water, and time. Its also not as easy to work with because its flimsy.
Paint, sealant, etc etc, I dont like using it where they come in contact with it, they can tear it up, and its now useless. Paint, Ive used it out of their reach, but only indoor semigloss or satin latex or acrylic paint, that wont be in contact with anythinbg that will harm it, or on the outside, I stiil allow it to dry for 2 weeks minimum before putting the animal near it.

I use GE silicone 2 as it cures very very fast in all corners to make them waterproof, it seals great, is inexpensive, can be replaced easily, very little acetic acid fumes (vinegar).
I know someone who used a 4x4x8ft monitor cage for a fish tank for a few years before they got a trio of ackies to put in it. It was plywood, and FRP with silicone 2 sealing it, it never leaked in over 8 years of use. he still uses it today, as a matter of fact he builds reptile cages to sell if you are more inclined to buy them instead of build one. good luck and build one, its a great experience and fun, even for those of us who arent so good with saws, and cutting straight lines (Ill admit, im terrible at it), Im good with that rechargeable drill though, thats a plus, lol, and lots of drywall and wood screws, besides silicone can hide many mistakes.