got a good start on my custom cham cage! with pics

It looks great so far mate. Love the idea for the floor, that's awesome. Only thing I would say is the crix/feeders will escape through it as the gaps are quite large so you might want to cover it with the screen mesh if you've got any left over!

Can't wait till tomorrow when MistKing's are available in Poland! Sweet!
 
thanks matey!

well im goin to have a layer of pebbles/stones on the floor and he wont eat crix (only locust) but i myt put some mesh there just incase have plenty of it left :)

yehh ull have to show me when you get your mist king set up because ive got to fork out cash for my boas cage i wont be able to get mist king for a while ill prob spray by hand or just have a hand pump mist system for now
 
That's ok then! I bloody hate crix! Roaches will bury into the pebbles if you ever get any, but that's not really an issue!

Don't worry about that! :D I hand misted for quite a while, its not bad, but does become a right pain! Hence why i built my current contraption! Cant wait for tomorrow though!
 
I know the waterfall you mean. I'm still never that keen on them, but make sure you change the water daily if you do! You could just run it off a mist system so it spray the wall and the droplets work there way down? Might be a bit easier to do than anything else?

The one thing I would say is what kind of stain/protection are you going to use? Also, have you glued the joints and stuff already as you want to be careful that they are properly sealed otherwise the humidity will wreak havoc on them and rot the wood pretty quick! I had a bit of a problem with one of my joints. Thankfully it wasn't a crucial one (just one that holds the two bottom bits together - which is a long story) so I could replace it!

Other than that, the craftsmanship looks amazing! What do you do by trade then?

Just for some inspiration, the monster I built:
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your cham must be very happy
 
big update, stand and light cover is done now

hi all, my build is now finished! goin to get a live plant and rocks for substrate tomoro just waiting for new lighting to arrive (mayb a week cos of easter)

heres the pics

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base being joint, fronts removable so i can get the drainage tray out easy
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top is simply grooved on nice tight fit so it looks fixed, but actualy just slides off so easy to change light bulbs etc
Photo0377.jpg

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thanks for looking ill post some of him inside next week once all is setup and working well

atb john
 
That looks great mate! Really robust! Can't wait to see it filled out!

I'm gonna start my next build tomorrow. Just gonna build a 2' x 2' x 5' cage for Dante to use this summer outdoors which I'll then bring in doors to use for my new panther around August! Should be sweet! I'm definitely gonna have to steal some ideas off you!

One this I will ask, what's the door like with just those two small hinges? The one's i've just bought are like it, and I didn't know how well they'd work with the weight of the door! I think i might use 4!
 
Also, what stain did you say you used? (or whatever you used to protect the wood) as I might have to get some as the colour looks great!
 
Well with the hinges, im not really happy with them as the weight is an issue. Its not major but it does sink abit. Could do with 4 hinges or just bigger ones so i might change them.
The stain is teak oil rubbed on with a cloth and the varnish is gloss finish varnish in a spray can.
Im really pleased with the outcome and my o/h is really happy with it. We just cant wait to get him in there now. Thats if we ever find a way to get him out of his flex!! Haha
Make sure you put pics up of ur new build. Im starting my boas viv tomorrow and i'll put pics on RFUK over the bank holiday.
 
I thought the hinges might be an issue! Guess 4 - 5 is what I'll use!

Sweet, I'll see if I've got some in the garage (I should do) but if not i'll pick some up! It does look like a great finish!

Oh yeah, I will, don't worry!

Sweet, I'll keep an eye on it! Always like a good build thread!
 
yeh definately needs more than 2 or much bigger ones, the door doesnt rub but it dropped the head out of level (annoys me cos i like everything perfect) lol

but cant wait to see your next viv

thanks to everyone who commented hope this thread helped and gave ideas

atb john:)
 
Hey!

Hi Thats a great enclosure you built! :) I have a few questions though

First of all where did you get your mesh from?? I live in the uk and have checked places like B&Q and random garden centres but have not found the right type :(

Last question- what type of paint did you use for the background?

Your cage is just what I've been looking for I have only been finding fulll mesh but I want to be able to see my cham not have her hidden behind mesh...Hope your chameleon appreciates the work you put into his new home :D and Thanks for the idea!
 
If you get the right mesh, visibility is definitely not a concern! I used www.themeshcompany.com The guy was helpful and would cut you as mch as you needed! Just ask him for charcoal epoxy coated aluminium mesh and you'll get the same stuff I got which is perfect!

Right, John, I've ot plenty of teak oil, so that's not an issue, but I have various types of spray varnish and I have no idea which one is the best option! Which did you use?

Cheers
 
thanks alot yoshi, i hope he does too the grumpy git lol

i got my mesh from ebay was a shop seller sold as flyscreen mesh i think, but sliks mesh is probly better (wish i knew the place before i made mine lol)

the background is not painted at all i gave it 4 coats of grey tile grout then about 6 coats of varnish and it gave a nice effect :)

@slik i got mine from wickes it was £5 a can and i used just under 2 cans (but done more coats than needed i think)

its in like a purple aerosol can with all the varnish and paints found it gives a brilliant finish like real furniture no streaks or brush marks, it needs to go on very little at a time though so it doesnt run

but i recommend it its great stuff


:D
 
I think thats the nicest cage ive seen on this forum. Really great craftmanship. And the way you designed the drainage is top notch. I hope i can do half as well when i build my next cage.
 
wow thanks alot mate, you guys will make my head way too big :D when i make my next one prob around summer time ill do a few things slightly diffrent and hopefuly improve on it as that was my 1st cage ive built

but really thanks for all the nice comments everyone :D
 
Any updates?

I've been building over the Easter break and will have my newest build finished by the end of this coming weekend! Hopefully anyway! Although, it wont include a base of any kind for a few weeks yet! That'll come later when I use it as an indoor enclosure.

On another note, I've just finished my mistking order! :D Can't wait for it all to arrive! I need to start thinking of how I'm going to add it all to my old enclosure as it'll be impossible to move it now without seriously ****ing off Dante! :(
 
hi mate, well i got my self a large umberlla plant but it needs to be trimmed abit my aunts coming friday to do it lol

i still am trying to find some nice stones for my substrate aswel but also the varnish is still airing out so i dont wana put victor in until im sure its fine (maybe a week more max) ill defo post up a final lot of pics when hes inside though

great news about your mist king! but i know what you meen about upseting ur cham maybe you can get him out while you do it? or is that a big no no?

my boa tanks almost done thats y ive not been on here much just so busy atm, but soon as my gouse is half back to normal ill post up some pics

thanks again

john:)
 
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