| These reptile cage making tips are not | | | | castors on it. Alternatively, place it on a cupboard |
| comprehensive by any means but they will hopefully | | | | that has castors and can be moved. |
| help those of you who want to build your own snake | | | | One of the hardest parts is getting perfect right |
| or lizard cage. | | | | angles and nice straight cuts on large MDF or |
| The first, and one of the most useful tips is: | | | | melamine sheeting should you choose to make your |
| If at any time you feel frustrated or stuck, walk | | | | cage from these materials. One way around this is to |
| away and think about it for a while. | | | | get the timber accurately pre cut from either where |
| Rather than persist, I have found it is better to give | | | | you purchase it or from a local cabinet maker. They |
| yourself a break for a bit. Often the solution to the | | | | may charge you a few dollars but it is well worth it if |
| problem will come to you when you least expect it | | | | you do not have the tools at home for accurate |
| or you will be more relaxed to tackle something that | | | | cutting. Clamps and timber pieces with electric or |
| have found difficult. | | | | hand saws will work but you only need a clamp to |
| It is important to know the needs of you reptile | | | | slip or go a bit awry as you cut and the edge will be |
| before you start even designing a reptile cage. | | | | awful, or worse still, the piece has to be thrown |
| Ask yourself questions like:o Is it an arboreal | | | | away or the cage resized. |
| enclosure or terrestrial or a bit of both?o Does your | | | | Before you start making it, are there some tools you |
| herp need lots of water?o Would it do well with a | | | | need to borrow or purchase? If are unfamiliar with |
| sandy cage or desert vivarium setup?o What sort of | | | | tools, do you need someone to help you? Make sure |
| substrate is best?o Do you want sliding doors, | | | | you know how to handle a particular tool. If you are |
| perspex doors - drop down or swinging or a wooden | | | | uncertain, get someone who knows to show you. |
| glass/perspex combination? Each of these has | | | | Chisels, drills and electric saws can all be dangerous if |
| advantages and disadvantages. Think about how you | | | | you do no know what you are doing. |
| would like to access you herpo Do you want | | | | Plan the assembly. Does something need to be done |
| openings at the top or sides as well? | | | | before something else? In what order will you put |
| Another question you need to consider is what | | | | the pieces together. Does something need two |
| materials will you make the snake or lizard cage | | | | people to make it easier? It is better and less |
| from? There are quite a few choices and you need | | | | frustrating to ask for help and make a task more |
| to spend some time find out about this. | | | | successful and easier rather than doing it alone and |
| Have a reptile cage plan and draw it up. It may take | | | | making a mess of it. |
| quite a few sketches before you get it right or | | | | The order of putting things together is not always |
| satisfy yourself that it is what you want. Draw your | | | | intuitive. Making large vent holes is easier with the |
| final cage from different angles. Use a ruler and pencil | | | | cage in pieces than after it is assembled. For small |
| to make accurate pictures of your reptile enclosure | | | | vent holes, this does not matter. Another example is |
| so you get your measurements correct. Drawing | | | | if you have a top door, putting a UV light in before |
| from different angles, eg side view, front view, top | | | | attaching it, and other doors makes it easier to |
| view, back view will allow you to not only get your | | | | attach. If you intend to paint the inside, it is |
| measurements correct but helps to give you visual | | | | sometimes easier to do so inside before you |
| cues when you start making it. | | | | assemble it. |
| This also has the advantage of reducing the materials | | | | Are you going to paint your reptile cage? If you |
| costs as you know exactly what you need. It avoids | | | | make if from MDF you probably need to paint it but |
| making multiple shopping trips - although, I always | | | | if it is made from laminates, than there is no need. If |
| forget something. | | | | you are going to paint it, will you spray paint it or |
| Make a list of materials you need from your | | | | paint it with a brush? Are you going to line the inside |
| drawings, including sundry items like screws, glue, | | | | of the cage? If so, what with? When should you do |
| nails, hinges, sliding rails, vents etc. This is useful for | | | | this? |
| when you go shopping. | | | | If you do paint your reptile cage, makes sure you |
| Determine how you will set up heating and lighting for | | | | leave adequate time for the paint to dry between |
| your snake or lizard enclosure. | | | | coats. Give more than one coat and leave the paint |
| For example:o Will the lights sit above the herp cage, | | | | to dry for quite a few days at the end before you |
| above a mesh or a circular hole or will they be fitted | | | | house animals. This makes sure that the fumes are |
| inside the cage to allow stackingo Do you need to | | | | removed or reduced to an acceptable level. |
| stack the reptile cages or allow for the possibility of | | | | If you want to decorate your reptile cage, what are |
| stacking?o Do you need protective coverings for the | | | | you going to do it with? If you intend to put a rock |
| lights?o Are they purely for basking or do you need | | | | wall in it, you will have to make it a bit wider than |
| UV lighting and if so how long will your cage need to | | | | you would otherwise to allow for the wall. If you |
| be? If you do need UV light, this can impact on door | | | | want to have branches in your cage, you need to |
| locations should you want an opening at the top.o Will | | | | make sure you can install and remove them easily. |
| you make your own heatmats? What sort of | | | | How will you attach them in order to do this? You |
| temperature control will you use? | | | | need to treat any timber you use in the cage to |
| Will your reptile cage be moveable? If not there is no | | | | remove parasites and unwanted visitors. |
| need for castors, or it can be places on top of | | | | Making your own cages can be a rewarding, fun and |
| cupboard. However, if the cage needs to be moved | | | | satisfying experience provided you spend a little time |
| from time to time it is useful to put heavy duty | | | | planning and above all, don't rush it. |