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Posted by bexley on November 12, 2002 at 15:29:20:
In Reply to: Re: Back again with another question : ) posted by stardust127 on November 12, 2002 at 11:28:26:
The heat lamps and flourescent lamp sit on top of the enclosure, on wire cooking racks. I cut holes in the top to match the size of the light fittings, just a little bit smaller, and the racks stop Tempest from getting up into the lights. I used cable ties to secure them to the top, every few inches, and its quite strong. I do plan on making the back panels removable so there's just the mesh there for the summer, and I'm thinking of also making a set of mesh doors for the front. I found heavy plastic hardware mesh at the local farm supply place. The cut edges are quite sharp, so I put a strip of wood over the edges that were cut. I used fence staples to nail the hardware mesh to the uprights of the cage. Hope this helps, here's sort of a photo, shows a little bit of the back, top, sides and one shelf. I've added quite alot of stuff since then, like branches, a towel etc. This is when he first first moved in :)
::When I was putting Tempest's cage together, I was in a massive hurry (he wasn't planned for), but I did look at alot of cage designs, and like you could see the pros and cons to each. What I ended up doing, was building an enclosure with heavy plastic hardware mesh up the entire back so he can climb up and down it, making sure any rough edges were underneath other wood so he can't cut himself. I then strip panelled the back, so it alternates solid and mesh, for ventilation. For every 18" of solid board, there's 4"-6" of just mesh for air flow. The sides are solid, the front is two hinged doors. The top one is plexiglass, the bottom one is solid for now but eventually will be plexiglass. Its solid a> because I didn't have enough money for another sheet of plexiglass at the time, and b> so he has a greater sense of security, as the dogs are always on the other side of something solid. The shelves are 1x2"s and plywood, and I've got several branches in there as well.
::I find the combination a good one. There's lots of air flow, but it retains heat quite well. I have a very nice heat gradient, the top is solid but I used metal baking rack thingies over the holes I cut for his lamps. Cake ones for the heat lamps because they are the perfect size, and round, and long roast racks for the UVB light. The metal is the perfect gauge and flex for his nose to not be bothered if he pokes against them, which he rarely does. The front doors are loose enough that there's still quite a bit of air flow around them, but not enough gaps to let in a draught. The back is against a wall, so its not bad for draughts either. It would be very easy to remove the back panels in the summer, right now they are screwed on but I plan to just hook them on when I get around to doing the other door. The mesh is really what provides the back. Hope this helps!
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:::On building the cage, I have seen some fully enclosed and some that look like oversized bird cages, open. Which is the way to go? I see good points to both.
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:I was hoping for the best of both worlds. Since I live in MI I wanted an enclosure that would be nice and cozy warm in the winter but can be transformed into a summer home with little trouble. Not really sure what you are saying about the lighting on top but I suspect the lighting needs to be on the outside of the cage because the iguana will go high up to it.
:Thank you for you help, it is much appreciated.
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