Building custom cage for Uromastyx - advice?

filecore · #1 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008, 06:32 AM

Right, I'm planning on getting an uromastyx (probably maliensis or ocellatus), and I've done plenty of research (including reading many threads on this site) and, while many of your brands are unfamiliar to me (as I live in Europe), I have some experience with carpentry and am fairly confident that I have a realistic plan in mind. I just have a couple of questions about the specific design of the cage but mostly I'm just after confirmation that my plan is sound.

I'm planning to build 142cm x 52cm x 50cm (LxWxH) - that's about 60" x 20.5" x 19.5". The bottom, back, and sides will be wooden, while the top will be part wood, part mesh. I believe that a good hardwood like oak or maple is recommended. I'm not sure about what artificial boards are suitable (plywood, MDF, etc) and although I know that some are susceptible to warping with damp, the uromastyx likes a nice hot, dry environment so this shouldn't be a problem. I'd like to keep the cost relatively low, if possible.

I understand that ventilation is important, and I'm planning to have two wooden panels at either end of the top - about 52cm x 40cm (about 20.5" x 16"), with the gap of 65cm (25.5") between them being covered with mesh. The panels will be hinged at the ends for access to the cage, and the right-most panel will have a hole for the basking light. The UVB strip will hang from hooks at the inner edge of either panel, and can be easily removed for access.

On the front of the cage, I would of course have a viewing window - either glass or something like acrylic. I am aware that glass is better (against scratching and heat, and for general longevity); any other thoughts on this? It would be the entire 142x50 size of the front. I would seal the edges of all joins in the tank with silicon. Is this an appropriate material?

Finally, both the UVB and the basking lamp would be connected to a 3-socket timer, which would switch them on and off on a predetermined day/night schedule. Any recommendations for length of day/night cycle would be welcome. I am also planning to fit a dimmer switch inline for the basking lamp, as I'm sure it will take some experimentation to find the correct temperatures/heat gradient for this cage.

Well, that seems to be about everything (I'm not going to go into the details of the furnishings, I'm only concerned with the physical structure of the cage itself at this point). Is there anything I'm missing, or any other hints/advice/criticisms/questions? Thanks in advance!

Knobtailman · #2 (**permalink**) 09-22-2008, 01:27 PM

Well it seems like you got everything covered. I personally would use MDF for the wooden sides. For Uromastyx I would use glass just because it doesn't scratch as easily. If you are going to use silicone make sure it is of aquarium grade. I would use nails for the parts with out glass but silicone might be better. Hope your Uromastyx do good.

**Riverside Reptiles** · #3 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 10:32 PM

Honestly, I'd just use a "stock tank" (animal feeding trough). They work great for lizards like Uromastix. They come in lots of different sizes. They last forever. And they're cheap. Also, assuming that you're keeping it in your house, they're easy to paint any color to match your decor.
Here's an example:

filecore · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 05:09 PM

Right, cage is built - the only problem is, I tried a 100w bulb and it's too far from the 'ground'. Air temps are great (nice gradient from 35'C to 25'C, hot end to cold end) but it isn't making a basking spot. I'm going to upgrade to an Exo-Terra 150w basking spot lamp, says it focuses 35% of the heat to a basking area which should mean that with the 50w increase, ambient temps should stay the same. Any other advice on lighting/heating a terrarium this size and shape? I'll be posting pics soon... (as soon as I transfer them to the computer and resize them a bit).

springtech · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 10:55 PM

pics?

filecore · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008, 05:13 AM

I did say they were coming, so here they are...

Kayak the planet! | Terrarium

The album is not yet finished (still don't have the uromastyx, either) but they're all commented and you'll get the idea).

Comments (here or on my album) are most welcome. Only the name and captcha fields are compulsory on my own comments section. My inspiration for this project came mostly from the following projects (rock sections from the first, construction ideas from the last):

Bearded Dragon Custom Cage Design
Untitled Document

Crossfire Enclosure
Crossfire Enclosure | Nice Bearded Dragon Enclosure

filecore · #7 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 03:01 PM

Incidentally, a lightbulb question: I have established that 100w is too little (gets perfect ambient temps but no basking spot), and I have two choices of 150w bulb: halogen, and 'basking lamp' bulb, which focuses 35% more heat to the spot area. Which of these two should I go for, and is there a massive difference between them?

Thanks!

sanderfrog · #8 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 04:28 PM

Hello
To give apiece of advice, I would use a UV spot like a powersun or a UV heat bulb.
Uromastyx need warmth but also very intense lighting with UV (together with additional d3 supplementation) especially if you want to breed them and you want the eggs to hatch.

regards Sander

filecore · #9 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 04:33 PM

Thanks for the info, but I'm not planning to breed them, and I have a UVB bulb fitted elsewhere in the terrarium (as per my original post). I'm only concerned now about getting the right temperatures for the basking spot/warm side. I also have D3 powder for dusting their food.