My Bearded Dragon Custom Cage

geckodude · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 04:45 AM

This is my first attempt at building a cage. I used amazingly simplistic plans, and such. I used leuon (sp?) for the sides, 1/4" glass for the front, and pine for the edges. The top is hinged in two segments, and screened.
6'x2'x20"

geckodude · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 04:53 AM

The cords in the back are from the indoor/outdoor thermometer that I use to keep tabs on the gradient. The grey thing in the back is a hide, I bought a big reptile water dish, used, from the pet store for 10 bucks. I cut a hide hole in it, but he never goes in there anyway. I'm going to hopefully be adding some flora to the environment, as well as a rocky background so the wood in the back won't be so blatant. I used a mix of pea-gravel and "Desert Blend" for the subtrate. The bins off to the side are just the superworm bins I have.

geckodude · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 04:54 AM

Here is a picture of it taken right before I put the hinges on, and moved it to the office.

xxxjustinxxx · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 04:57 AM

dude that looks really good!!!

futureCROChunter · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 05:34 AM

Yea, nice cage!! Great job!
Did you put poly on it to seal the wood?

Just to let you know, the substrate you are using is not safe for you dragon. Petstores will say things like calci sand, and desert blend and stuff are digestible but it isnt, its been proven by man vets and herpotologists. And the gravel is not safe either because your dragon may eat one and swallow it and that will cause major problems! Impaction! The only really safe LOOSE substrates are alfa pellets and wheat bran.

geckodude · #6 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by futureCROChunter

Yea, nice cage!! Great job!
Did you put poly on it to seal the wood?

Just to let you know, the substrate you are using is not safe for you dragon. Petstores will say things like calci sand, and desert blend and stuff are digestible but it isnt, its been proven by man vets and herpotologists. And the gravel is not safe either because your dragon may eat one and swallow it and that will cause major problems! Impaction! The only really safe LOOSE substrates are alfa pellets and wheat bran.

Yeah, there's triple coats of poly on the wood. And, I have his food in a dish when he eats it. The walnut stuff hasn't given me any trouble yet, and I haven't been able to find the specific type of vivarium sand I've been looking for. And I would never put a reptile on wheat bran... that's kinda wrong. Especially if they ingested it. It could expand internally, and reptiles can't expell gas the way humans can in most instances. It could cause him to internally explode. But, thanks for your concern!

PythonGuy24 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 06:11 AM

That cage is awesome. You don't have any heat problems with the screen top?

nycsfinezt61189 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 06:25 AM

i think screentops are only a heat problem if u use undertank heaters. The heat comes from the light and goes straight down.

PythonGuy24 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 06:35 AM

NicoleRussell · #10 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 01:37 PM

I use vitasand and it has been wonderful.

Dragon-Keeper · #11 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 07:25 PM

thats erally cool, I was thinking of making a similar cage, but I havent got the money for materials. What did you use to seal the wood again? and the mesh at the top is just like screen door stuff?

futureCROChunter · #12 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 08:23 PM

Sand in general is very bad! It clumps up inside of the dragon and causes impaction! Vitasand and Calcisand are the worst of the sands because it gums up and leads to many many problems! Sand just doesnt cause impaction but also is very dusty and will irritate their eyes!
Bark(wood chips) are very bad as well too!
And you arent going to notice changes in your beardie right there and then, it builds up over time and will kill you dragon. And just because your beardies food is in a dish doesnt mean he/she cant still(or hasnt!) ate the substrate! If you haven't noticed, beardies taste their environment with their tongues. When doing this they might only get a pinch full of sand into their body but that is pinch full that builds up to a cup full and causes impaction.

I'm sorry for going off track here, that is a very nice enclosure and you did a great job! But I'm trying to help and maybe you can take the impaction thing into consideration and make a move to better the safety of your dragon.

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