| What kind of materials should you use when | | | | a smooth finish. You can also use thinner sheets as it |
| constructing a reptile cage? This question was posed | | | | retains its rigidity. Some people recommend wearing a |
| to me once by someone wishing to build their own | | | | mask when cutting or routing MDF as it can be dusty. |
| reptile cage. They were particularly asking about pine | | | | Pine or Cedar: Neither of these timbers should be |
| and cedar as they had heard these were no good. | | | | used to construct a cage. Making the whole reptile |
| But it did raise the question about what are the best | | | | cage from the pine or cedar has potential health |
| materials. | | | | problems for the animals. These woods emit aromatic |
| All-glass, tubs, melamine cages, screen cages, there | | | | hydrocarbons that can damage the health of the |
| are many different types of housing systems for | | | | animals and cause various symptoms. There is |
| herps. Take your pick, depending on the adult size of | | | | probably little issue using as the woods in framing, as |
| the animal, how much room you have to spare, and | | | | the wood has often dried out a lot and released |
| how much money you are willing to spend! | | | | much of the volatile material, or at the very least, |
| Aquarium tanks: Good choice for keeping snakes | | | | the rate at which it is released is very slow. |
| under 6 feet, amphibians, turtles, and basically | | | | It also is recommended that you do not use pine or |
| anything requiring a swimming pool or some humidity. | | | | cedar as a substrate. Pine and cedar wood shavings |
| If a screen top is used, there will be enough | | | | used as substrates have a very high surface area |
| ventilation to keep a sand boa or leopard gecko or | | | | and so the hydrocarbons are released much more |
| any desert animal in it. If higher humidity is needed, | | | | readily, making them potentially toxic, especially as |
| the screen top can be partially wrapped with Saran | | | | the animals like to burrow and immerse themselves in |
| wrap, and the tank can be treated as a tropical | | | | their substrate material. |
| garden; put soil in it and plant some plants to raise | | | | PVC Tubing & Mesh or Plexiglas: These materials |
| the humidity! Also very good for small lizards and | | | | make excellent larger cages for animals such as |
| gheckos, aquatic turtles and some marine lizards | | | | monitors, larger snakes, chameleons and iguanas. |
| (although the tank will need to be large enough). | | | | They do tend to lose a bit of heat but any large |
| Viewing is unrestricted, the tank can be easily | | | | enclosure will require some effort to maintain a higher |
| cleaned, it will not get scratched, and temperatures | | | | temperature. Lighting at the top and some at the |
| are easier to maintain. They are very cumbersome to | | | | sides (if needed) will create a sufficient heat gradient. |
| move around, especially big ones, or fully-loaded ones. | | | | Short of building a large frame with glass and a large |
| They need to be on a solid table or stand and if you | | | | door, this is the most economical way to make a |
| do want to move them, the stand will need solid | | | | larger enclosure if you do not have woodworking |
| castors. Many lizards such as water dragons should | | | | tools. |
| not be kept in glass tanks, as they do not | | | | Overall, if you want to construct your own cages for |
| understand glass and will continuously ram into it. | | | | most reptiles, you are probably better off using |
| Tanks should not be considered for chameleons; | | | | plywoods, melamine and MDF types of materials for |
| cages are better. | | | | most of the cage. There does not at this stage |
| Plastic/Rubbermaid tubs: The feeding trough sizes are | | | | seem to be any identifiable health issues caused by |
| great for turtles! You can half-fill them with water, | | | | these materials. Another benefit with these materials |
| pile rocks in a corner for the basking area, put a | | | | is their insulating properties. Glass is not a good |
| lilypad or two in it, and have your own indoor pond | | | | material for most reptile cages (except aquatic |
| complete with turtles! For the more common sizes, | | | | species) as it loses heat rapidly. Many glass terrariums |
| the sweater boxes and shoe boxes, any non-aquatic | | | | have an open top with no seal and this also causes a |
| herp can be kept in them. In fact, these are used in | | | | high heat loss. This means the glass cages are more |
| breeding racks and in households with too many | | | | expensive to heat if you use certain types of heat |
| herps to be able to have the amount of tanks/cages | | | | sources. |
| to keep them all in. Not good for arboreals, as they | | | | The front of the cage can be sliding glass, Plexiglas or |
| cannot climb. Perfect for use during the quarantine | | | | a constructed glass door. A pine, oak or similar timber |
| period prior to introducing a new animal to an | | | | frame at the front will give the cage a more |
| established collection. These restrict viewing, and are | | | | professional and decorative appearance. |
| generally limited to hatchling animals. Good to use as | | | | If you paint your cage, remember to let it dry out |
| an emergency/isolation enclosure. | | | | for a minimum of 2-3 days to release as much of the |
| Melamine cages: Melamine is the stuff many | | | | volatile material from the paints. 5-7 days would be |
| countertops are made of. They resist moisture well, | | | | even better. |
| so rotting is usually not a problem. They're easily | | | | It is a good idea to make the base of a wooden |
| cleaned as well. Custom-made enclosures are | | | | reptile cage from melamine and use Silicon to seal |
| sometimes made of melamine, and you can build | | | | around the edges, to prevent moisture penetrating |
| furniture-quality enclosures yourself. These can be | | | | the melamine or plywood sheeting. |
| made to fit a leopard gecko or a fully grown green | | | | There are hints and tips on applying Silicone and other |
| iguana. With a glass front, these enclosures hold | | | | building ideas in the "How to Build Reptile Enclosures" |
| humidity incredibly well. | | | | booklet. |
| Wood [plywood] cages: Same as for melamine, | | | | A base of vinyl flooring can also be used if you are |
| except much cheaper and easier to work with. Both | | | | concerned about water penetration into the timbers. |
| enclosures, if ordered from a custom builder, can | | | | Be sure to seal it with Silicon and seal the holes |
| cost a great deal depending on size and material. | | | | where temperature probes are passed through. |
| Marine grade plywood is useful for very high humidity | | | | You can also coat the MDF or plywood interiors of |
| cages - especially if coated with 2 part epoxy paint | | | | the cage with 'Contact', a plastic sheeting with an |
| (make sure the paint is not toxic). | | | | adhesive backing, in any colors you like, before you |
| Screen cages/Reptariums: Excellent for anoles, | | | | assemble the cage. This will remove the need to |
| chameleons, light-bodied snakes, and young water | | | | paint the cage inside, reducing fumes, and also |
| dragons. The major disadvantages are that the | | | | provide a water proof seal for the MDF or plywood. |
| largest size is only 29" x 29" x 72", humidity is very | | | | Contact comes in a range of colors and is very easy |
| difficult to keep up, and strong animals could knock | | | | to apply cut and apply. |
| them over or even move them. This is a great idea | | | | There is much to be gained from building your own |
| for an easily-transported cage for small animals. | | | | reptile cage. It is good fun and will give you, as a |
| MDF or craftwood: Same as for Melamine but also | | | | reptile owner, a great deal of personal satisfaction. |
| much cheaper. Good for use in combination cages ie | | | | Before you do go out and purchase a reptile, take |
| Melamine base with MDF sides, back etc. It can be | | | | some time to research what is the best sort of cage |
| painted, has good thermal properties and if used in | | | | for your pet. You should be aware that many reptiles |
| conjunction with a coating material such as Contact, | | | | will grow considerably over time and you may have |
| will hold humidity well. Excellent to work with and has | | | | to build a number of cages. Good luck and enjoy. |