In Closing

The bottom line for moulded plastic reptile cages is that you need one. That's all there is to it. Go out and buy one right now! I'm just joking, but these are really nice cages. 

If my thoughts on this type of cage seem a little biased, it's because these cages are a great option to house bearded dragons. 

This is not the cage that I use, however. The price alone was a big hurdle for me. I found that I was able to build the type of cage I wanted for less money. That is why I chose to build by own cages.

Would I use moulded plastic reptile cages? I would in a heartbeat. They are made way better than my home made cage. If you're not a great carpenter and have the funds, there are not too many better choices on the market for housing reptiles.

If you don't have the money right away and want to upgrade later, this is definitely something worth saving your money for.

Build Your Own Cage

Building custom cages is cost effective and fun way to provide an enclosure for your bearded dragon. It is almost a hobby in itself. 

Even if you aren't the greatest carpenter, you can still build a fairly nice cage. With just a little knowledge, you'll be able to build your dragon a home that you can be proud of.

Providing a proper home for your dragon is not only a necessity it can also be very rewarding. I know that for me, building my own custom cage helped me gain confidence in owning a dragon.

Even though, a store-bought cage would have been suitable. I wanted to build something to my own specifications. I also found that cages, that were the size I needed for an adult bearded dragon, were fairly expensive.

When it comes to building your own custom cage, your only limit is your imagination. You can build a beautiful cage out of expensive wood, or you can build a functional cage out of cheaper materials. The choice is up to you.

I like to build cages that look like a nice piece of furniture where I can show my dragons off, but your cage can be whatever you want it to be.

Where to Start with Custom Cages

The first thing you'll want to do, is to make sure that you have some tools that will be required to build your custom cage. It doesn't take a whole lot of tools, but it does require a few.

If you don't have the tools already, you'll have to add this to the cost of building your custom cage. I found this out for myself, but on the plus side I now have tools.

You will need a couple of power tools. They don't have to be the most expensive ones out there. I bought some cheap ones at the DIY store.

I bought my tools from the store where they where cheapest.

Here's a list of the tools that you are definitely going to need:

• Drill - A cordless one is fine, but you'll have to let it charge overnight when you first buy it. This is what I have, but I wish I had a regular one as well. Nothing beats the drilling power of one that plugs in. You also might have to get some extra drill bits, depending on what size holes you'll need to make.

• Jigsaw or Reciprocating saw - You don't have to have one of these, but believe me it's nicer than having to hand saw everything.  Also, you might want to get some extra saw blades

• Hammer - It seems like almost everything you build requires a hammer. Any regular hammer will do.

• Screwdrivers - You'll want to make sure you have a Flathead and Phillips screwdriver, depending on what screws you are going to use. I recommend using Phillips head screw’s. They are a lot easier to drive in. You might want to use a screwdriver drill bit also. This will save you a lot of time and effort.

Basically these are all the tools that you will need. There are other tools that can be used, but for someone just starting out these are all you'll need to build a basic custom cage.

What to Build a Bearded Dragon Cage With

There are different materials that you can build your custom cage out of. The most popular is wood. You can also use melamine, a plastic like material.

You can also use mesh screen or wire fencing. If you use wire, make sure that the holes are small enough so your dragon won't get its head stuck in it.

I like to use ½" or ¾" hardwood plywood. The thicker it is the better it will retain heat, and the more expensive it will be. You can also use ½" or ¾" melamine, or press board, it's up to you.

You can find plywood, press board and melamine at your local hardware or diy store . If you don't live by one of these, most smaller hardware stores will have what you need, just at a little higher price.

If you decide to use plywood or any kind of wood, make sure that it is non coniferous. Coniferous wood is from evergreen trees such as pine, balsam, spruce, fir, and cedar. These may pose a threat to your dragon's health. Preferred woods are maple, oak, ash, birch, cherry, or other hardwoods. You can also use softwoods like aspen and poplar.

Most plywood, press board or melamine comes in 8' x 4' sheets. You can usually have these cut into the sizes you need at the store. This is what I had done when I built my first custom cage. I got all the wood I needed from one sheet of plywood. See picture:

Depending on the design of your custom cage, you might have to get some Plexiglas as well. This is fairly cheap, and most stores will cut it to size for you. I used two 2' x 2' 6" sheets of Plexiglas for sliding showcase doors.

You can also use glass if you want to. Glass is a little heavier, but it doesn't scratch as easy and I think that it is a little cheaper as well. 

This picture is the design for the first custom cage I ever built. I look back at it now and can see things that I would do different and have. Even with the cages I have now, I can see things that I would do differently.

I used ¾" oak plywood for this custom cage. I used 2" screws to hold it all together. I believe I use 1/8" thick Plexiglas, though I'm not sure. I also used 1" x 2" boards for the Plexiglas railing. I used vent covers for the air vents.

The cage doesn't have to be 2' high. You can get by with 18". I needed the height, because I had the basking lights inside the cage and didn't want them to hang too low.

How to Build a Bearded Dragon Cage

Building a bearded dragon cage really isn't all that hard. If I can build a cage, just about anyone can.

I am not an expert builder, so I didn't really know what the proper way of putting a cage together was. I just did what I thought would work, and it did.

If you see things, that I did improperly, hold your laughter back as best you can. This is really the first thing that I ever built by myself.

Basically all I did was line up the plywood I cut, made sure that it was square, and screwed the pieces together with wood screws. 

I started with the back and sides and then added the bottom. At this point I cut holes for the vents and put the vent covers on. 

Next I put the boards for the Plexiglas rail in place. Then added the Plexiglas and put the top on, securing the glass in place.

It is a good idea to pre-drill holes for the wood screw’s. I know that you don't have to for wood screws, but it helps them go in easier and straighter. To pre-drill a hole, use a drill bit that has a smaller width than the screw’s your using.

Finishing Touches

After the cage was together, I drilled two holes on top of it for basking lights. I also drilled a hole in the top of the back wall to run the chord for my UVB fixture. 

I installed the UVB light fixture on the ceiling of the cage with a couple of screw’s. Actually, I used an under cabinet florescent light fixture from Walmart, making it easy to install.

I also sanded, stained and put an acrylic finish on the wood. If you do this make sure that you provide enough time to pass to let it dry entirely. The fumes from these can be harmful to your dragon. 

I also sealed the inside with clear caulking. You'll want to let some time to pass for this to dry entirely, as well. If you don't provide time to let it cure, it can also be harmful to your dragon.

The last thing I did was put moulding around the edges. This was not important. It was just for looks. Actually, I could have done a better job with the moulding than I did. I didn't have the proper tools at the time.

In Closing

This isn't how every custom cage design will be built. This is just an example of how I built my first one. I included this to, hopefully, inspire your cage building. 

There are different designs and also different ways to build a custom cage. You just have to use your imagination. It is a good idea though to draw out your design on paper before starting to build. This will save you a lot of headaches.

I hope to put up different cage designs as I go along. I like to think up different designs and how to build them. 

If building a custom cage isn't your idea of a good time, don't worry. There are plenty of nice cages on the market that are great choices. However, if you like to build things, this is an excellent opportunity to use your creativity.

Why Build Your Own Reptile Cage?

When I first started my interest in reptiles I was only young. At that stage of my life I had little or no skills and did not understand the requirements of the wonderful creatures so I did not keep them effectively. We just kept the local lizards, so the cage temperature was not an issue. 

I rekindled my desire later in life but I also had mortgages, the cost of raising a family and the daily costs of living to contend with. A reptile was expensive enough, without adding the costs of retail cages and accessories. So I built my own. It saved me a lot of money.

You do need some basic tools but the money you save by making it yourself will allow you to purchase some of those tools that help make the cage. The remainder can go into accessories so that for the cost of a basic cage with nothing else you can make a cage, get some tools and the cage accessories and still have money left over. That’s a big difference.

Many people have materials about the house. If you are going to make your own cages you can save even more money by using bits and pieces or timber you may already have, screws, old glass, hinges, light battens etc. that you already have in the basement or garage.

When upgrading one of my cages recently, I was able to reuse some of the materials and the fittings for use on the new cage. This saved me having to purchase new accessories and materials.

Another benefit is the ability to maintain your own cages. Many of the plastic or moulded cages cannot be fixed once they are broken. With a cage you made yourself you can usually fix broken locks or replace doors (I haven’t had to do any of these yet as they are very sturdy).

When you build your own cages you decide how strong it will be and what quality of fitting, glues and materials you will be using. The higher the quality of materials and accessories you use, the better the final cage product. You are not at the mercy of manufacturers saving money by using inferior materials and poor quality fittings.

Another benefit is the ability to customise you cages to suit your purpose. One of my earliest cages was built as a normal cage but by placing a removable divider in the middle it allowed me to re-use the cage when I shipped one of the snakes out. 

This divider was fitted over the middle of a heat mat, allowing for two reptiles to be housed in the cage. It also had two doors. The cage is now used for another purpose but will soon be empty. 

The divider can still be placed back in the cage for another small snake and then simply removed as the snake gets larger. 

This snake will finally be moved into an arboreal cage. To purchase a plastic cage with divider that will only be a transient cage before the snake goes into a final cage is an expensive exercise.

If you do need to upgrade again, you have the time to build the final cage as the snake grows.

Making your own cages allows you to build and maintain your reptile cages in a cost effective manner while keeping them comfortable and healthy. 

You can also expand your collection in an affordable way, making more money available for the reptiles while still getting quality cages.

The Importance of a Plan When Building a Reptile Cage

Would you put together a model plane without looking at the finished plane picture or looking at the plans? Does a builder build a house without a plan? 

The answer to these is pretty clearly no. A home-made snake or other reptile cage is so much simpler though, you say. I can just put it together as I go. 

Not so, my young apprentice. There are many pitfalls awaiting the inexperienced. Simple things you can miss. Silly mistakes you can make, and believe me, it is very easy to make them.

There are a host of things that can make a simple cage take much longer than it should plus some possible costly mistakes.
If you have never kept a reptile, then before you even plan a reptile cage, you need to do some research on what sort of cage your reptile will need. 

A snake will need cages of certain dimensions; lizards will need other dimensions and arboreal species yet another type of cage with different dimensions. It’s also helpful if you know how large your pet will get so you can plan ahead.

Another benefit of a plan is it helps you to think about your pet reptiles other needs such as heat mats, basking lights, UV lights, misting systems, substrates, decorations such as artificial walls, artificial trees and branches, and how these can be made and placed in the cage.

Once you have a clear idea of what you want the finished product to look like and how large it will be you are ready to plan how you are going to construct it. 

At this stage, having a plan, however rudimentary, is important. Once you have a plan in place you can think through the issues. In many cases it will allow you to remove the problem before you even start, as the plan often reveals an error or issue. 

Naturally, the more detailed the reptile cage plan, the more you can make allowance for possible issues. It can also eliminate waste and save money as you only purchase the correct amount of material.

Having a plan is useful as it allows you to see and understand how the cage will be constructed. You can work out how you may want to alter the plan if you feel the need to change.

And finally a plan is essential for the construction phase. What goes where, what is the order of construction, what size should this piece be and so on.

When building a reptile enclosure, if the plans are detailed enough you will constantly refer to them. This also helps minimise those costly errors.

Using a plan, whether is be yours, someone else’s or a purchased plan, will save you time, money and effort. It will produce a much better result for you and your pet.

Reptarium

Using a Reptarium for bearded dragons can be a very viable caging option. I have not had experience with these but they seem like they would do a good job housing your pet.

You can get a good sized Reptarium for less money than an aquarium big enough to house a bearded dragon. They seem like they wouldn't be too bad to clean either, and you can even change out the tray that lines the bottom.

It might be a little harder to keep a good temperature in it, though, I'm just speculating and really don't know this for sure. They seem like they would be little harder to look into than an aquarium, also.

A Reptarium is one of the options that I was really considering when I first wanted to own a bearded dragon. I was on limited funds and it seemed like it would be decent home.

I would say don't be afraid to try this if you don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on an enclosure. You could always upgrade later.

Reptariums for bearded dragons are a very viable option. You might have to use more than one type of heat source to keep the air temperature up, but it shouldn't be a problem keeping a good temperature.

They also provide good ventilation, because of their mesh walls. If you provide good hot basking spots and the rest of reptarium stays at a temperature between 75º and 80º F you should have no problem at all using a Reptarium.

A big plus for these reptile enclosures is they are very economical. The cost for one of these big enough to house a bearded dragon is not going to break the bank. I think that I have seen them for well under £60.

One thing to know is, you will have to buy the cage and liner separate. Even though there are two separate expenses, having a removable liner is very convenient. You can replace them very easily and keep your cage clean.

There are different liners for the same sized cages, also. One liner will be for the cage standing upright, and the other will be for the cage laying on its side. Depending on what size repatarium you get, you'll have to make the best decision on what liner you should purchase with it. Keep in mind that dragons need floor space.

In Closing

This is just my opinion, but using Reptariums for bearded dragons seems like it would work rather well. There may be differing opinions on this, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say they are alright to use.

Heck, I would use one myself if I had to. That might not be too much consolation for you, but it makes me feel all warm and toasty inside.

I really have nothing bad to say about this product. I believe that Reptariums can be a very viable option when housing bearded dragons.

They are also a money saver. If you don't have tons of cash or the carpentry skills to build a home, you might want to check out a Reptarium. Remember, if you want to you can always upgrade later.

These are only some of the options you have to choose from. I will add more in the future such as custom made cages, and plastic totes. Yes, you can use a plastic tote, if you so desire.

Things To Consider Before Choosing

How easy will the cage be to clean?

The easier the cage is to keep clean, the more likely it will be cleaned. I tell you this out of experience. I lack the enthusiasm sometimes to clean my own cages. It's the job I least like to do, but it needs to be done. The easier a cage is to clean, the easier it will be on you.

Some enclosures are easier to get into and clean than others. I'm a fan of enclosures with opening front doors. These are very accessible, and like the moulded plastic cage, easy to keep sanitised.

How easy will it be to get at your dragon?

A cage that provides easy access to your dragon will make handling a lot easier. When picking up your dragon, it is better to come in from the side then from above. This is especially true with younger dragons that tend to be skittish.

Cages with opening front doors are really good for this purpose. If you get a cage with a top opening, try to come at your dragon  more from the side when attempting to pick them up. A dragon can feel threatened with your hand coming from the top.

Having a cage that is hard to get into, will make it hard to get at your dragon. If your cage is easy to get into, life will be a lot easier when cleaning the cage, picking your dragon up and feeding crickets to them.

Where will you keep the cage?

Keeping your dragons enclosure where there isn't much foot traffic, will provide less stress for your pet. Keeping the cage out of direct sunlight will help prevent cooking your dragon. Also, making sure your dragons home isn't to close to air-conditioning or heat vents will help with controlling cage temperatures.

Bearded dragons like to see activity, so even though you don't want them in direct high foot traffic areas, don't isolate them either. I have heard of some people leaving their television on when they weren't home to keep their dragons from getting bored. 

That last paragraph is directed toward older dragons. I have observed that as my dragons have got older they like to see activity. Young dragons (hatchling to 6 months) will like a little more peace and quiet.

Is the bearded dragon housing attractive to you?

Functionality is the first thing to look for in a cage, but make sure that you choose something that suits you as well. There is no right or wrong answer to this. You can go with a simple and functional cage or a beautiful naturalistic enclosure. It is entirely up to you.

Having a nice looking cage may be more of a factor if you live with your parents, are married or share your home with other people. Most people don't like to see a make-shift cage containing reptiles in their home. Remember to be sensitive to other people living with you.

If you live by yourself, you won't have to worry about this. The only person you have to impress is yourself.