aluminum and mesh

[sharkey]

i have an aluminum cage that i love since the light and water drip sys can sit on top. also the door opens wide and stays open (versus the zipper on the mesh cages). BUT it is rusting ALREADY. i have the babies in it - mist it about every time i walk by and at this point i'll have to trash it once the babies mature.

any one have any thoughts - do you have alum cages that don't rust? if so what brand - where to buy, etc

thanks

 

[Jordan]

If you shop around alot of times you can find aluminum that is coated or covered with an assortment of things. If the frame itself is not rusting you might be able to just replace the screen. Sorry I do not really have an internet source to show you what I am talking about.

 

[sharkey]

just realized that i should do a search on the forum to see if this has been discussed before.

but if you have a favorite brand of alum cages let me know - i need to buy 10....

 

[lonomac]

Got mine from lllreptile.com and works great, no rust so far. Plus i think they give discounts for buying that many cages

 

[Dave Weldon]

...rusting ALREADY...

Howdy,

Is that reddish rust or white corrosion? If it is red then it is iron rust from an enclosure not made of aluminum but steel materials. It will qucily rust when not coated. If it is white powdery stuff then it is aluminum oxide. That will eventually happen with unprotected aluminum when it gets wet.

 

[sharkey]

it is rust - have some white too but the rust is what bothers me - the cage will eventually fall apart b/c of it. an annoyed since it was expensive and is specifically called an 'aluminum cage for reptiles including chams"

 

[Dave Weldon]

it is rust - have some white too but the rust is what bothers me - the cage will eventually fall apart b/c of it. an annoyed since it was expensive and is specifically called an 'aluminum cage for reptiles including chams"

Howdy,

Yep. There are some enclosures that are partly made from steel (usually the screen is steel) and not all aluminum. Maybe someone can confirm whether or not the ESU Fresh Air Habitat has steel (rust) screen. Generically, look for the ones that look like the LLLReptile style http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ges/-/24-x-24-x-48-inch-aluminum-screen-cage/. There are many sellers who either retail that style or make and sell them directly. I like the http://cages.net/ for 24x24x48 using their optional (at no charge) larger screen mesh (not good for flies and other small feeders). No else offers that same screen. It's really nice for adult chameleons who might venture onto the screen, risking toenail loss. I also recommend the optional (extra charge) extra door at the bottom. It's very handy for cleaning. Their enclosures are not the lowest cost but their larger screen mesh option makes up for the difference.

As far as buying 10 enclosures, be sure to negotiate a quantity discount (10%) where ever you buy . LLL might be the best trade-off between price and performance.