Started my cage

heebie_geebies · 08-10-04, 11:18 PM

Good day!

Well 19 more days until I get my cham from the Red Deer show. I figured it was about time I started his home. I was originally going to have a 4'x2'x4' cage. But while shopping at Home Depot, I did a quick "hold together of the pieces" for trial size. That thing would of been way to huge for the apartment I share with the fiance and her cat. So I down sized it to the highly recommended 2'x2'x4' cage. I got the top and bottom pretty much done tonight. Should be all done, but I found out the stapler I borrowed doesn't quite make it throught 1/4" laminated hardboard. More shopping is required to finish the rest of it.

The roll of mesh I got is "Multi-purpose net" from Home Depot. The holes of the mesh are 3/4"x1" and it is made of UV resistant plastic. Are the holes too big for a cham? I am getting a veiled, probably a juvenile. My other option was the similar plastic 1/2"x1/2" mesh, but I would think that is a bit of overkill. My door design can only accomidate plastic as the mesh needs to hinge as well. Metal mesh would end up snapping after X number of cycles. So metal hardware cloth won't do me any good. Any opinions before I open the roll, making it harder to exchange?

I attached a picture of my progress for your comments. It seems pictures are quite popular.

Matt.B · 08-11-04, 02:21 AM

Congrats! lol I would try to make a door frame out of some wood then staple the mesh to the frame and attach the frame the the rest of the enclusure with some 50 cent hinges(sp). I cant beleive its only 19 days away. I guess I better start my enclosures soon. im getting a male and a female the male will be in a 6X3X3 (I know over kill lol) and the female will be in a 6X3X1.5.
Matt

heebie_geebies · 08-11-04, 07:38 AM

I will try and describe my situation a bit more.

There is going to be a 1"x6" wooden trim wrapped around the top and bottom, then up the back sides of the cage. On one side, that wooden trim will make the frame as part of the door. The mesh is going to be 1 piece that wraps around the 3 sides. Kind of hard to explain, but as I tell the fiancé, "It's all in my head". So with the one piece mesh and mitered corners on the wooden trim/door, there is going to have to be two hinge points. There is one point for the wood and another for the mesh.

I whipped up a picture in Paint to kind of illustrate what I mean. It is looking from the top down on the hinging corner. The green are is the floor. The red is where the mesh will go. Then you can see the 1"x6" wrapped around all of it. I also coloured in yellow the two hinging points for the mesh and the wood. If the mesh were attached to the door, it wouldn't open fully as the mesh would have to stretch or break.

I will take pictures when it is done. What are your opinions on the mesh holes being 3/4"x1"?

Thanks

Matt.B · 08-11-04, 07:53 AM

I have no idea what you are saying lol but it sounds good. um about the mesh I dont really know " but if im right the crix might get through. cant really amagine it so im not 100% possitive.
Matt

K1LOS · 08-11-04, 01:48 PM

crix can definately get through that, maybe even young chams. What are you housing in this? what size will it be when you get it? Are you intending on cup feeding? What is that mesh made out of? Wire mesh's can damage cham's nails. I recommend "Pet Screen". Trust me you'll be in and out of that hardware store a whole lot between now and when you finish. I was there everyday probably. Good luck.

Geoff

heebie_geebies · 08-11-04, 02:33 PM

K1L0S: I was going to try different types of feeding, to see what works for him and me. Your other questions are answered in my first post. And like most guys, I don't mind hardware store shopping. It's up there with Canadian Tire and Princess Auto shopping!!

So when I started researching the materials for the cage, I looked at the Pet Screen. It looked as though a cham's nails would get caught in that. But then again, I don't really know. So I went with the plastic mesh. I figured it wouldn't catch the nails and allow for good visibility, obviously not thinking about them crickets. *Insert Red Forman insult here*.

How many people use the Pet Screen for their cham? Any problems with nails/toes?

Oh yeah, Matt. The first picture was with the door closed. This is with the door(s) open. If you don't see, I'm not worried. As I said, it's all in my head. It's just them voices keep interupting me!!

Collide · 08-15-04, 06:04 PM

Sorry iv taken soo long lol, i think the netting/mesh he was talking about was this stuff

it is great asside from i dident like this guy climbing on it the mesh seemed too this and i was afraid it would cause foot deformatys, I think what u got was smaller mesh then this though. He is now in another cage as he started to climb all over on it and i dident like it.

How is the cage comming along now?

Brandy

heebie_geebies · 08-15-04, 10:36 PM

It’s been a bit slow so no new pictures. I've been busy playing ball and golf. But I did score an 18" flourescent fixture for $12 (I will be picking up the bulb at the show). I just seen a digital thermometer/hygrometer at Canadian Tire for $30, so that will probably be something I will pick up. I always like gadgets. And I just picked up some mesh today, $7 at Peavey Mart for a 7'x21'!!! The mesh was originally for covering strawberry patches to keep the birds from picking berries. It is very fine "gauge" with holes 3/4"x3/4", but it sure is strong (almost cut my fingers trying to rip it). Crickets will most likely sneak through that size, so I am thinking about doubling it up and staggering it to divide the hole size in half. We'll see if that will function properly once I get ready to put the mesh on.

That's it for the update. I will be getting a lot more of it done this week. As it is, there is only one more weekend that I can work on it. Then the following weekend I'm headed to Red Deer with money in hand.

12 more sleeps!!!

meow_mix450 · 08-15-04, 10:42 PM

Theeres always problem with mesh cages, i like the metal ones with big holes but crickets can get through, the ones with small holes that are aluminium isnt that great either cause there isnt a way you can put plants up without damaging the screen, the nylon screen we all know what happens, crickets bite through, so i havnt found anything that is perfect

Meow

heebie_geebies · 08-16-04, 07:32 AM

Yeah, that it was I figured. That's another reason for my slow progress. Too much shopping for the perfect mesh. One big bonus is I will have enough mesh that I will have plenty of replacement material.

heebie_geebies · 08-21-04, 11:23 AM

Well it is progressing.
Got the main frame of it done. Have plants ready. Lights to be installed. Devise how my drip system is working. Caulk it. Then install the screen. I think that is all I have left. I will figure it out as I get to it.

I also picked up a digital thermometer/hygrometer with Min/Max memory. It also has a second temp sensor (going to be in the basking spot). It was $20 at Zellers. So I set it up and last night it dropped 10°F to 70°F. So my temps are good. The humidity was 32% / 50% min/max with just the plants in there. So I think that is a good starting point. The dripper and regular misting should bring that right up.

Anyways, here it is.

Gotta go buy more stuff.

meow_mix450 · 08-21-04, 09:08 PM

not bad, but is white stuf wood? if so wont it warp and rot? Maybe a layer or something to protet it, jsut a thought. But so far it looks great. Good work. One more thing just curious how you gonna make a door

Meow

dave68 · 08-21-04, 09:13 PM

Great Plant!

heebie_geebies · 08-22-04, 12:48 PM

Yep, the white stuff is wood. But it is laminated. I just have to seal the edges and nail/screw holes and water won't affect it. The door, well, I tried explaining it above. It's something that will make sense when I am done. It is mainly going to be the 1"x6" trim that is yet to go on. I will post pictures.

And the plant, there is two of them. The second is on a cardboard box for picture purposes only.

Less than a week to go!!