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Read the full article here: DIY: Build an Arboreal Cage for Only $25 | Gecko Time
Read the full article here: DIY: Build an Arboreal Cage for Only $25 | Gecko Time
Build an Arboreal Cage for Only $25
- Thread starter SelectGex
- Start date
Thanks for the article. If I could add my two cents....
The hot glue will not last very long. Most of these plastic containers are made of polyethylene, and nothing much bonds to polyethylene except special polyethylene adhesives. I have made a whole bunch of similar screen lids, and I used a staple gun. There seem to be two types of plastics that are used, and one type is too brittle for a staple gun and will crack. In that case, I use a dremel to drill two small holes and put in the staple by hand.
I have a general rule to always use mechanical fasteners, rather than adhesives.
Hope this helps.
With most of the animals you'd be keeping in here, uroplatus, rhacodactylus, minimal heat is the rule. So you won't need a heat lamp.For high humidity species you can simply replace the screen, wholly or in part, with clear plastic. Putting the drain in the bottom allows you to maintain live plants in there very easily. Just toss a UV/full spectrum light on the top and you should have no problems. Even without live plants, regular spraying or an automatic mister will take care of any humidity issues.
Airedale
New member
I used this for building my Lygodactylus williamsii enclosure. Seems to be working well. My only thing is that is is a good idea to run a line of glue along the rim of the container to make sure the gecko can't slip between the lid and the rim to the container. Great article! :biggrin:
Riverside Reptiles
Administrator (HMFIC)
I don't like hot glue either. I actually install the screen into screen door frame and then rivet it to the tub. The rivets are aluminum, so they won't rust. And using the screen door frame adds a lot of strength to the overall structure. This one's about 4 years old now and still holding up pretty well. I also orient mine in a vertical position in order to provide max arboreal space.
critternerd
New member
Man, I feel stupid...over all, i have spent at least 400 dollars on my terrarium set-ups, and I probably could have done it for a tenth of that price.
DOH!!
DOH!!
dude its all good ive spent sp much ln one set up. sry bout spwlljn im spppp dryubk right noe
geckofreak
New member
its great cept it looks horrible.
T-ReXx
New member
I've been experimenting with tubs for a low cost arboreal cage setup similar to this, I've been trying two bins stacked open ends together on top of each other, for sort of a hinged at the half way mark cage, so far it's been pretty useful for raising cresteds, I'm trying duct tape as a hinge right now, seems to work ok, I'd like to find a way to work a mechanical hinge but I think you'd have to remove the lip from the back edge of the two tubs to make that work. I cut out the bottom of the top tub and siliconed screen over it, gives good height while maintaining width and length. a velcro tab holds the front edge ok. Only built one so far, going to let it run with a male crestie for a few months to see how it holds up.
MauricesExoticPets
New member
A soldering iron is what I use to secure screen to my bins. The process is secure and looks nice. No extra supplies are required.
Maurice Pudlo
Maurice Pudlo