How to Make Your Own Plexiglas Reptile Cage

How to Make Your Own Plexiglas Reptile Cage. You can make your own Plexiglas reptile cage that will allow you to view your reptile yet prevent your reptile from escaping. Using Plexiglas will prevent your reptile from climbing the sides of the cage and eliminate the chance of escape from ripping snags in screen enclosures. It may be possible to add on to your cage if necessary, saving you the expense of purchasing a larger cage.

Things Needed

• Two 2 by 2-foot sheets of Plexiglas 1/4-inch plywood: four pieces, 12 inch by 2 foot 100 1/2-inch screws Six 1-inch hinges 16 boards, 1 inch by 1 inch by 2 foot Four boards, 1 inch by 1 inch by 12 inch Four latches such as eye-and-hook Caulk gun and caulk

Step 1

Frame four of the 1-inch-by-1-inch-by-2-foot boards into a square. Screw them together at the corners. Angle the ends of each board to fit together and create 90-degree angles. After finishing the first square frame, make three more square frames using the same procedure.

Step 2

Squeeze a line of caulk all the way around one of the frames, keeping your line of caulk in the center of each board. Lay one 2-by-2-foot sheet of Plexiglas over the frame you just caulked. Squeeze another line of caulk around a second frame, staying in the center of each board, and lay it over the Plexiglas that you just affixed a frame under. The Plexiglas should be secure between the two frames. Repeat this process with the second sheet of Plexiglas.

Step 3

Attach the 1-inch-by-1-inch-by-12-inch boards using screws at each of the four corners so that the two 2-by-2-foot sections that you just built are attached, forming a cube.

Step 4

Screw one 1/4-inch 12-inch-by-2-foot plywood sheet onto the bottom of the cube. Be sure to cover the space where the Plexiglas is exposed so it cannot fall out. Screw a second sheet onto one of the sides of the cube placing screws every 4 to 6 inches as needed.

Step 5

Attach one 12-inch-by-2-foot sheet of plywood to the top of the cage using three hinges on the back long side. Use two latches on the front long side to secure it closed. Attach the remaining sheet of plywood on the side using three hinges on the back long side and two latches on the front long side. Two access panels will make it easier to clean your cage and to lift your reptile out of the cage.

Warnings

• Handle reptiles regularly to keep them friendly. Build an indoor/outdoor reptile cage with a door to limit outdoor exposure. If your reptile will grow to over 18 inches, increase the size of your cage by doubling or tripling the sizes given.

Warnings

• Use hand sanitizer after touching reptiles or cage fixtures to avoid getting salmonella.