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Out of random curiousity, I went looking online for DIY reptile cages... and came up blank...

The best I came to was a site that was SELLING instructions. But since I'm paying for internet service... I want my plans free; just my like my banking account, email, and MP3's (j/k)

anyway, anyone have or know a site that has plans. I know I could just go out to a hardware store and pick out stuff and build one, but I would like other's ideas and plans.

Things I want to knowand to keep in mind:

-How to keep costs low
-Best way to make a door
-This may be for a cornsnake, so it needs to be secure
-How to do this with a few tools (screwdriver, glue gun, hammer, etc... I don't have a circular saw in my appartment )
-I want the enclosure to be open and viewable. I don't just want to cut out a square hole in a rubbermaid tub and glue plexi-glass on it... too easy and not what I want.

I'm pretty good with dimensions and adjusting things to fit my specific needs and I can say I'm psuedo-handymanish , so I don't exactly need someone holding my hand, but I just want some ideas and good starting points.

Thanks

-Jorge

Last edited by racso at 29-Dec-2005 23:11

I think I have plans for one in an old book somewhere around here... yeah ummm this might be difficult to transfer... It uses wire mesh as well as glass on one side. There is a little bit of soldering involved... let me know if you're interested in it.

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well right now, my rough in-my-mind plans are building a wooden frame, and attaching wire-mesh to it with a staple gun. This plan does allow for a door also, so it does work for me for the most part.

My friend and i took and old cabinent and turned it into an enclosure for his blue tounge skink.

It was a nice oak cabinent, about 24x24, we took our all the sides and just left the wooden strips that normally cover the corners, then , we bought sheets of glass, sealed them in with silicon, and put a latch on the front. We left the top open then eventually put wire mesh over it so the heat lamp would happen to fall in by accident.

There was so much room (it was about 36 inches high) that we acueally built a second story inside the cage with a ramp.

He still uses it today, and it was pretty inexpensive. The door is impossible to open when the lach is in place.

Just an idea, it looks good and it works!

Hey hows the vet job coming along anyways? (and the tank with the goby?)

Nick

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

I'd use something else for the sides if you're planning on housing a snake. They're very good at finding holes and will work at the loose spots until they escape.

You may have to get a metal track for the doors unless you're going to use hinges, which i suggest if you're going to house a snake as well. The space between the pieces of glass could also prove to be an escape route.

Have you looked at pre-made cages to get ideas? There are some really neat ones out there made by Vision. I've used these personally and they're pretty neat

Just get your hardware store to cut some custom wood (make sure you seal it) or white board to size then put a sliding glass door on the front. Close up the gap in between the glass with a strip of glass or clear plastic. Buy some air vents, wire up your light fitting..it'll cost you less then $60.

I wouldn't use the wire mesh idea..nose rubbing, draft, heat loss etc..

Reptile enclosures are probably the easiest things to make..I don't understand how people would pay so much for them.

I know snakes are good escape artists, I currently have one and I was going to base my cage's design off of his. I'm going to "test" my cage by seeing if I can fit a pencil through any area, and use resonable force.

Like I said, I can get a rubbermaid tub, cut a big hole in it and cover it with plexiglass, but that ain't too pretty. And for future posts, yes I know the dangers of pine and cedar and will avoid them.

Thanks for everyone's replys thus far.

~Jorge