48" x 24" melamine cage. 18" tall or 24"tall?

[mudskipper]

I'm shopping for a melamine cage. It will be white. I'm going to use a 24" Repti Sun 10 and a clear incandescent bulb for basking. Should I get the 18" or 24" tall? I guess the 18" would be better for UVB. Are there any benefits for the 24"?

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

18 is better with multiple stacks.
24 works too.

 

[mudskipper]

I have a 36" x 18" x 18" Exo Terra leopard gecko tank that will sit on the melamine bearded dragon cage. I do not plan to have more than one bearded dragon.

 

[Kajolic]

I built a 4'x2'x18" on a stand and it works great. Even with all the lights mounted inside, I don't have any issues with bulbs being too close, and the UVB could be a bit closer, which I intend to drop and 1-3 inches next week on my away from work vacation. If curious, I can post an image or two tomorrow when I have some natural light. Camera on the phone take horrendous pictures in a CFL lit room.

 

[mudskipper]

I built a 4'x2'x18" on a stand and it works great. Even with all the lights mounted inside, I don't have any issues with bulbs being too close, and the UVB could be a bit closer, which I intend to drop and 1-3 inches next week on my away from work vacation. If curious, I can post an image or two tomorrow when I have some natural light. Camera on the phone take horrendous pictures in a CFL lit room.

Yes, I would love to see pictures . I'm curious where you install the bulbs so that both are on top of the basking spot, what bulb you have, and what you use for a basking spot. How much has it cost you to build the cage yourself?

 

[Goodtruant]

I have a 5' x 2' x 18, and it works out great.

If you're using linear tube UVB's, 18" works great. If you plan to use a MVB you might think about going to 24".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSMhOwhyLPI&feature=g-upl

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=174254&p=1408918#p1403010

 

[kaylorin]

It depends on your decor and lights. I have a raised basking platform for my babies, and I have a 24" tall.

 

[mudskipper]

I have a 5' x 2' x 18, and it works out great.

If you're using linear tube UVB's, 18" works great. If you plan to use a MVB you might think about going to 24".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSMhOwhyLPI&feature=g-upl

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=174254&p=1408918#p1403010

Draper is so cute digging in the flax seeds!

I think I will get 18" so I don't have to worry about UVB not reaching my beardie. I'm not planning to use MVB.

 

[mudskipper]

It depends on your decor and lights. I have a raised basking platform for my babies, and I have a 24" tall.

What do you use to cover the tank? It looks very clean! Does your beardie sleep underneath the platform?

 

[Kajolic]

Yes, I would love to see pictures . I'm curious where you install the bulbs so that both are on top of the basking spot, what bulb you have, and what you use for a basking spot. How much has it cost you to build the cage yourself?

I'll get you one before work tomorrow, was busy prior to work so I didn't even get on to check these threads in depth.

 

[Kajolic]

Finally got a chance to take a few pictures. Hope it's not too late for them to do any good, but here is little Dovah's Viv.

As you can see the bulbs, which I believe at 50-watts on separate dimmers. The CHE bulb in the back is off, but that is where I had it for the winter month. Unsure if that log will stay there by it, if it does I'll need to more the CHE bulb, or put a wire cage around it.
UVB bulbs are 36" mounted above and to the left above the heated side, will probably lower them a few inches here soon, I feel they are a bit high (given they were mounted lower on the back wall where you see the holes on the back wall)
Also, all wires are held up with those nail-in wire clips, could use the stick on type, but at the time I figure with the heat it wouldn't have stuck on for long. But as you can see they exit in top center, never notice them unless you try.

Took one panel off the stand, this was just a simple 2x2" supports with 1x4" (or 1x3" I forget) timber just screwed together to make a box frame with scrap OSB board as a shelf inside.

Here is another angled picture:

Notice the top isn't open for a light fixture or anything so it can be used for anything. At the moment is has the pretty much empty cricket bin and a few towels that the little guy loves to poop on for me...

This is the website I used for the cage plans. Did minor changes in a Google SketchUp program to get it the way I wanted. In the end the Viv itself is out of one sheet of Melamine.

 

[Goodtruant]

Looks nice!! Great viv

 

[kaylorin]

What do you use to cover the tank? It looks very clean! Does your beardie sleep underneath the platform?

I was using contact kitchen cupboard liner. But, the only kind I could find had an anti-microbial something in it. I have taken that out and am putting in tile. Both of my babies sleep both on the platform and under it, sometimes under the ramp. Neither has a specific place - just kind of where they are at that moment =)

 

[mudskipper]

Beautiful vivs! Thank you, everyone