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