His tank...

[Eraston]

Hello all, i have a quick Q and if this is the wrong section to post this...then i do apologize, deeply!

My beardie ANGEL is now about 1 year old exactly and im wondering, do they need to be in glass tanks?

At petco and other shops i see other grown lizzards his size in cages and im wondering if i can keep him in a cage.

Reason being is that he is growing faster then i am!!!

His tanks are being replaced all the time and i don't know if i can afford his next one.

However i could build him a pretty nice and large cage, and make it 100x better then any tank.

Please also, if you awsome people could let me know if there is anything i should be cautious about when having a cage, incase it's missed...i dont wanna harm or endanger him what so ever!


---Hehe, the little angel just fell asleep on my shirt on my desk and im debating on wether waking him up or not to bring him to his cage...hes never fallen asleep out of it before!

Since this is a very important topic for me i decided to make a small image example of the cage i would like to build...if its ok and safe.

 

[peera]

Well, you probably should've just bought a large enough tank in the first place, rather than continually upgrading... However, assuming that you now can't afford to buy a tank that will suit his needs for the rest of its life:

Just because you see it in pet stores, doesn't mean it's right! I'm not saying a "cage" is an absolutely terrible idea, but it does present it's challenges:

1) It's more difficult to retain/regulate temperatures. Why are you considering building such a tall enclosure? Does he *really* like to climb that much? You're going to have a heck of a time keeping that sucker heated, and probably some issues providing appropriate UVB. A Repti-Sun needs to be within 12 inches, and an MVB within 24".

2) Crickets (or other live feeders that could escape) are out. They can climb just about ANY non-glass surface... so unless you're planning on a completely barren cage, or your 'caging' is woven smaller than a cricket ...

3) Smells will become more noticeable. Not a huge deal if you stay on top of cleaning, unless you have more than one beardie near each other (or there's a possibility of getting another beardie in the future). Our male (usually VERY calm) went insane for a week when we brought Dora home, and they aren't even kept in the same room (but since his bath time came after hers, he could catch her scent then).

4) You'd be surprised at just how small of a space a beardie can squeak through if it *really* wants to. It also can climb the walls awkwardly, risking getting stuck, falling, etc.

5) More that I'm not thinking about, but I'm sure others will chime in!

But if you're considering building a cage... why not build an actual enclosure instead? It's basically the same cost, and would avoid most of the aforementioned challenges. Tempered glass is readily (and cheaply) available from numerous sources... start eyeballing those old entertainment center doors and Ikea glass shelving units in an entirely new way!

 

[Eraston]

Thanks for the awsome and quick reply!

I noticed after i had finished that image and thought about it...that 4-5 ft is WAY 2 high. and am gonna size it down.

Also the glass would be covering the floor, and about half way up the walls so it would be LIKE a tank, for the most part,but basicly just having a huge vent on the top and some of the upper walls.

I have watched my crickets closely and have noticed the way they climb and what they can/cannot "grip" to so i know what im gonna use and how high im gonna make it for them.

as for the cage it self, i do plan to use material with very small holes so he cannot sneak out.

I only have 1 beardie so any odor is the least of my worries, and his current tank lets out any smell that has ever been in that tank, and thank god hes not stinky cuz hes well taken care of.

Heating i will take care of, and i have several lights stored incase i ever need them (i wouldn't want him going a day in this cold weather without a light if it blew out!)

My real only concern is, is it safe for him?

Another thing i would like to do (incase the lights end up not heating enough) is putting heating pads in his sand to help keep him heated.)

 

[Catalyst]

Honestly I'm not a big fan of mesh or wire enclosures for dragons because they are harder to heat properly, to maintain the temperatures (a mesh enclosure would be more easily affected by a door in the room opening for instance) and could also (depending on the mesh used) let bugs in from the outside which could then make your dragon sick if he eats them. As long as it is sturdy and keeps him in one place, then technically yes, it should be fine. If you're going to spend the money to make an enclosure yourself though, I'd suggest doing a solid one of melamine (laminated wood) and either glass or plexiglass. It doesn't cost a whole lot compared to buy a premade enclosure but it provides you with a safe, easier to heat and regulate home for your beardie.

 

[peera]

Well, I am glad you're thinking it through. It does seem to me that it would be safer and easier in the long run to just make a glass/melamine enclosure, since you'll have to make the glass sides so high. (Gibby can get a grip on things that are about foot taller than him easily, and he's a lazy old man. If Miss Priss was full sized for her age, I'd honestly bet she could jump most of the way to the top of a bed with a little bit of a running start.)
I am curious about how you plan on getting into this cage? Will you have access to every area of the tank, both for cleaning and safety reasons? (God forbid he chokes on something, and has drug himself to the one place you can't reach.)
Under-tank heating pads are a no-no. Dragons cannot feel heat from beneath and can burn themselves if the pad accidently gets to hot. And just putting anything beneath the sand can be unsafe because they'll dig it up.

 

[protiemama]

Check out the "Vivs only picts" and get yourself some ideas. The crossfire design is easy to build and only costs a bit over $100. Or go on Craigslist or some other such site. You can often get cheap tanks there. Once you look around you will probably find something you like sooo much better than a mesh cage.. I'd hate to have to regulate heat on an open enviroment. Good luch, and have fun.

Sandy H

 

[dreshany]

I suggest you read the posts in this forum. There are a lot of people who have built their own enclosures and they are awesome! A lot of them have also included instructions on making your own. just browse back a few pages.

 

[Eraston]

Alright TY all for the replies and i think its time i beat around the bush...

Basicly my issue is...im 18, i got this beardie a year ago when i had a steady job...till recenetly i lost it due to *****s and now this guy is hard enough to take care of, without worrying about a new tank...wich is why i wanted to build a cage...its cheap and (to me) looked like a good idea.

I now know that it is NOT and will not do it. (Ty all who replied).

I will have to look around for cheap methods to make one thats safe and i can afford, because really at this point it's tough enough as it is. but i do not wanna let my beardie go, i wouldn't trade him for any pet in the world...hes the biggest ball of fun ever, especially when he warms up to me handling him out of his tank!

Not to mention hes ORANGE wich is like my FAVORITE color in the world!

I might have to sell things to be able to make him a decent tank, but hey...wut ever keeps him healthy and happy!!!

 

[peera]

It's a long shot, but people sometimes surprise you (or they do me anyhow), but you can try Freecycle.org to see if perhaps anyone in your area has a large leaky fish tank they have no use for. I think we've all been where you are, and I'm sorry if any of my advice came off as harsh. Pets can be expensive, but we have responsibilities to them to keep them as healthy and happy as possible, and that's occasionally complicated by bad advice when we first get them. The breeder that sold Miss Priss to her original owner told her that a 10 gallon tank would be fine the first 6 months! I'm very glad you're so determined to do the best for your boy.

 

[Eraston]

WOW funny thing is...the petstore i bought it from told me that a 20gallon would last me for a LONG time...turns out it wasnt even a month before it was gone and replaced.

Also the people at petco(i didnt buy my beardie there) told us that we should NEVER feed worms to him...forgot the reasons but they said never basicly...but i didnt follow that at all!

i was very fortunate that my x-GF had several beardies when i got mine so she helped me, and this forum helped me even more! i was here the day i got him and have been ever since!