Screen Enclosure?

[KidBluey]

Dad flipped out when he saw how large Tegus get so I'm still going to get my little Bluey hopefully by September since I couldn't go to the reptile show today. I've been looking on craigslist for enclosures but haven't had much luck and my reptile show carries large enclosures but they're usually around a foot tall and can't fit in my mom's car. Well, after doing a little looking around, I found this enclosure - http://www.joshsfrogs.com/caging/reptar ... allon.html

I was thrilled when I found it! This enclosure can also be layed flat so that it measures 48"Lx30"Dx17"H. Can screen cages be used for Blueys since they don't need very high humidity like most herps? I've heard it's harder to keep the temps up which is why I'll be using both a basking bulb and ceramic heat emitter.

[reaperreptiles]

I wouldnt use a heat emitter with a reptarium, the material will melt. the reptarium can withstand heat lights but i had an emitter melt a reptarium once. Not to mention the reptariums are a pain to deal with since they have the zipper and somtimes it can get jammed. If you want to use screen i would go with the aluminum cages. heres a good site. he has the cheapest metal cages and they are great quality.

www.diycages.com

he has screen cages that are horizontal for beardies and stuff. Hope this helps:)

not sure if you can keep blueys in screen but if you can this would be the way to go

[Bird_Brain]

Im not a fan of those Repariums. I was given one when I someone gave me an iguana. I ended up throwing the cage away. Not impressed and very hard to get into.

I noticed you are in OH. How far away are you from Fort Wayne, IN (more specifically Warren, IN)? I have many 30gal and 40 gal breeders that I can sell. They are R-Zilla Critter Cages (If I remember correctly) that come with the screen tops. Both cages are the same foot print, but the 30 breeder is 12" tall and the 40 breeder is 18" tall. Id be willing to sell them for around $40 each (half price of what I paid).

[critterguy]

If cost and compactness is a big issue appropriate size sweater boxes/rubbermaids etc. would be a good bet. Look at a few previous threads for ideas on how to convert one. You could use bottom heat(heat pad), and overhead lighting. Of course major disadvantage of these enclosures is poor viewing unless you remove the lids to observe your animals.

[Fatal_S]

BTS can climb screens. I'd say no to anything other than a screen top, IMO.

[Jenn]

I used one of those when I first got into blueys. It was too hard to keep the temeraptures to what they needed to be.

[Ectothermicfauna]

If cost and compactness is a big issue appropriate size sweater boxes/rubbermaids etc. would be a good bet./__/ Of course major disadvantage of these enclosures is poor viewing unless you remove the lids to observe your animals.

Actually ive rigged a way that you can convert tubs to have superior clarity to glass without a whole lot of added cost or losing heat while keeping the lids on and intact. Its quite simple actually all you do is get ahold of some acrylic from home depot that is 2 inches less long and tall than the face of the tub you want to see through, then cut out that section of the tub with a dremel tool or knife and replace that section with the acrylic using clear aquarium grade silicone to attach it. Works great and actually looks really good if you dont go crazy on the silicone. I make modified 90qt tubs for aboreal snakes this way and they cost me i think $30 after all included. I figured this out because I can screw branches into plastic tubs but not glass ones. Hence the creativity. Me thinks Ill post up a thread on it when I make the next one. If youd like some pictures of the ones Ive already made please feel free to pm me.

[critterguy]

That is a neat idea. Is this with rubbermaid tubs or sterilite containers?

Also-are you doing the same thing to the lids(adding in wire screening?)