| Would you put together a model plane without look | | | | Once you have a clear idea of what you want the |
| at the finished plane or looking at the plans? Does a | | | | finished product to look like and how large it will be |
| builder build a house without a plan? | | | | you are ready to plan how you are going to |
| The answer to these is pretty clearly no. A | | | | construct it. At this stage, having a plan, however |
| homemade snake or other reptile cage is so much | | | | rudimentary, is important. Once you have a plan in |
| simpler though, you say. I can just put it together as | | | | place you can think through the issues. In many |
| I go. Not so, my young apprentice. There are many | | | | cases it will allow you to remove the problem before |
| pitfalls awaiting the inexperienced. Simple things you | | | | you even start, as the plan often reveals an error or |
| can miss. Silly mistakes you can make, and believe | | | | issue. Naturally, the more detailed the reptile cage |
| me, it is very easy to make them. There are a host | | | | plan, the more you can make allowance for possible |
| of things that can make a simple cage take much | | | | issues. It can also eliminate waste and save money |
| longer than it should plus some possible costly | | | | as you only purchase the correct amount of material. |
| mistakes. | | | | Having a plan is useful as it allows you to see and |
| If you have never kept a reptile, then before you | | | | understand how the cage will be constructed. You |
| even plan a reptile cage, you need to do some | | | | can work out how you may want to alter the plan if |
| research on what sort of cage your retile will need. A | | | | you feel the need to change. |
| snake will need cages of certain dimensions; lizards | | | | And finally a plan is essential for the construction |
| will need other dimensions and arboreal species yet | | | | phase. What goes where, what is the order of |
| another type of cage with different dimensions. | | | | construction, what size should this piece be and so |
| It’s also helpful if you know how large your | | | | on. |
| pet will get so you can plan ahead. | | | | When building a reptile enclosure if the plans are |
| Another benefit of a plan is it helps you to think | | | | detailed enough you will find that you constantly |
| about your pet reptiles other needs such as heat | | | | refer to them. This also helps minimise costly errors. |
| mats, basking lights, UV lights, misting systems, | | | | Using a plan, whether is be yours, a purchased plan |
| substrates, decorations such as artificial walls, artificial | | | | or someone else’s, will save you time, money |
| trees and branches, and how these can be made and | | | | and effort and produce a much better results for |
| placed in the cage. | | | | you and your pet reptile. |