Before I get started I need to make a couple points. First, there are many ways to do things. I am simply going to share how I work through the process of building a cage. I do not claim my ways of doing things are any better than anyone else’s. I decided to do this because every time I build a new cage people ask me all sorts of questions about methods and material I used, and most of these times I am unable to explain, in any satisfactory manner, what I did. Therefore, since I recently decided to start another project, (this one is going to be big) I would simply share my process with anyone who may be interested. Then, when I’m done, I could put it all together and say, here, this is how I built this. Finally before I begin, I must also say that for me there are two completely distinct parts of cage building, the outside and the inside. Some people may see the inside part as simply “decorating” and not building at all. Much of my decorations, or furnishings if you will, are actually built in. It possibly takes me twice as long to build the inside of cages as the outside, or frame.
The first thing I need to do in order to build a cage is come up with an idea. This usually starts with deciding what species I want to house. I say usually because there have been times where I came up with a specific environment I wanted to create, and then I research what species would live well in the cage after it was built. For this specific project it is a combination of both. Let me explain: Over my 20 years of keeping and breeding reptiles, one thing has become very clear to me. The more space I provide to my reptiles, and the more attention I pay to environmental details, the more behaviors I am rewarded with observing. So, over the last few years I have been downsizing the number of species and specific animal I keep. Basically, instead of having four 2x2x4 foot cages, with four different animal, I now prefer one, or maybe two animals in a 2x8x4 foot cage.
Recently I have decided to downsize further and keep only two species; one, my favorite snake, the green tree python, and my favorite lizard species, water dragons and basilisks (ok, I know I said only two species, but I simply can’t separate water dragons and basilisks in my own head).
With all that said, here is my idea: build a large, naturalistic walk-in enclosure for water dragons and/or basilisks, with large water area and plenty of live plants. Ok, step one complete, I have my idea. See you next time.
Paul Kemes
I'm sure your plans will help and inspire others to build custom cages for their pets. I know that's the way I'm going.