Alright... i don't have a chameleon yet but once i set up my cage and can maintain the right temps i will get one... i plan on building a large chameleon cage myself. Normaly i could just use metal window screening... but i have heard that can damage claws, but if i was to use plastic screening the crickets inside would eat through it (i've considered the feeding dish option but would rather have my chameleon hunt like in his natural habitat) so my plan would be to put first a metal hardware cloth with half inch square holes, then have an outer layer of metal window screening to keep the bugs in with about an inch of space between it and the hardware cloth. I cannot see any problems with this but i want some experienced opinions before i go ahead and do it, or if anybody has other ideas im all for hearing them
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Building my own cage QUESTIONS
Replies (5)
I wouldn't use fiberglass screening because it can become dry and fall apart in time and crickets can chew through it. Also aluminum screening to screen doors, files the chameleon's nails down so that I would try to avoid also. If you can find thicker aluminum screening that should be fine. So I think you have the right idea. What is the screen with half inch holes made from?
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Experience and appreciate nature's creation.
www.zenexotics.com
careful with hardware cloth. I've had chameleons cut themselves on the wires. Never had problems with screen - they don't climb on it as mucha s hardware cloth. Try to find the pvc coated hardware cloth, that's the best stuff, though it's hard to find and not cheap.
ok... if i do go with hardware cloth ill make sure there is no sharp wires or edges... if there is somthing that is the same as hardware cloth but rubber or plastic ill look into it. Ill post some pictures of the cage when its done
Keep on mind it's not sharp edges that did the cutting - it's th ewire itself. The wires simply cut through the skin of the feet like the wires of an egg slicer. Now, I have never had a problem with my veilds on hardware cloth - just deremensis, which are soft footed. But others have.
theres a diy section on building a cage on my site in my sig. building a cage is a whole lot cheaper than buying one.
-jon
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1.1 veiled chameleons
0.0.1 normal cornsnake
2.2 leopard geckos
