Solving drainage problems

[Miss Lily]

I have covered the back of Monty's outside cage with plastic that I have stuck to the frame with insulating tape. So far so good, but I have a couple of things that I would like advice on from people already using screen cages. A couple of problems that I forsee are 1) mist escaping the sides onto the walls, etc - it seems that covering both sides as well as the back defeats the object of having screen in the first place, unless the plastic is only attached at the top , allowing it to be folded up out of the way after mistin. Not sure how that couldbe achieved though. 2) I know about making a hole in the bottom and having a catch pan underneath. That part is easy, but how do you overcome the problem of water running down the back and sides and dripping from around the base? Or does that not happen? My problem is that Monty is housed in the lounge and I don't want to ruin the cupboard that his cage sits on with excessive water logging.

He is currently still in his Exo, which is still ok for now. He has a screen cage for outside but eventually he will need a taller screen cage. Many thanks to anyone for ideas of how to overcome these things!

 

[Rottsko]

I have all my cages with shower curtains blocking the sides and the back. I have them pinned only at the top so there is plenty of air flow and the cages dry in between mistings and at night.

i noticed one of cages had a puddle on the floor and what caused it were leaves that were touching the back screen and the misting spray hit that part or drops of water hit those leaves and it dripped outside the cage from the leaves touching the cage. When I moved the leaves off the side of the cageso they werent physically touching the screen, the puddles on the floor stopped.

That's what it was for me anyway. It helps to watch the mistings and see where the water fAlls from. I turned on my mister and sat there till the puddle was on the ground.

 

[reptilover]

I recently went through this!
Water running down the screen is huge problem! So I set the whole cage on a tray that also has holes in the middle. Over side tray catches all excess water.
Found here- http://www.woodyswabbits.com/dura-trays-c-16.html
I dont cover the sides. It dries inbetween mistings no prob. Also I primarily spray from the.top down. good luck

 

[Wykd]

Well I just modified my screen cage to handle water and drainage issues inside.

I learned somethings in my build that I will correct in my next build *soon*

I should of covered 2 walls: the back and one side

Doing this I would still have the airflow from the front and one side and the top and providing plenty of air flow.

Why just 2 walls?

Well if you put the basking branch in one corner and basically make that side the hotter/drier and sparse foliage side you can then make the other side the dense planted side with higher humidity cooler temp. Deploy the mister up front on the dry side and angle it toward the covered/backwall corner.

You will still get slight misting on the basking side but most will hit the side where the wall is covered.

That should provide enuff of a water barrier, at least it has been doing so during my misting.

 

[laurie]

Well I just modified my screen cage to handle water and drainage issues inside.

I learned somethings in my build that I will correct in my next build *soon*

I should of covered 2 walls: the back and one side

Doing this I would still have the airflow from the front and one side and the top and providing plenty of air flow.

Why just 2 walls?

Well if you put the basking branch in one corner and basically make that side the hotter/drier and sparse foliage side you can then make the other side the dense planted side with higher humidity cooler temp. Deploy the mister up front on the dry side and angle it toward the covered/backwall corner.

You will still get slight misting on the basking side but most will hit the side where the wall is covered.

That should provide enuff of a water barrier, at least it has been doing so during my misting.

Why have I never did mine that way?? Sounds great.

 

[Willnevins]

I purchased a 30x30 dura tray (linked above by reptilover) for my reptibreeze at my local Tractor Supply Store and it's perfect for water dripping down the sides. I drilled a hole into it and sealed it on a 2'x2' drain table I built that has a pvc pipe attached leading to a 5 gallon bucket.