Re: frinal Dississeion and 1 qustion about materia

[Merlin]

The plexiglass will allow you better control over heat and humidity. With screen you pretty much have to heat the entire room. A good sized iguana's claws will shred regualr window screen.

[mar]

Window screen is a BAD idea. My iguana lost a toe nail to it a few years ago and it is only now growing back.

Every material has pluses and minuses.

* Ply/luan are ridged, stay where you want them but are expensive when all is said and done and heavy.

* Mesh leaves the ig at the mercy of the room temps and humidity.

* Plexy looks great when done with care but is difficult to clean without clouding it(use a weak vinegar solution) and becomes very expensive.

For your first cage (and there will be many) use materials you are used to so you don't have to learn something along the way.

Be creative and use others ideas also. Search the net for "iguana cage" or "lizard cage". Using someone else's plans saves a lot of time. I used www.lizardcages.com Big Jungle Gym for somewhat over a year and loved it but an expanding (I literally just finished my cage). Mine have been PVC frames with fabric walls for a year now.

Design the cage four or five times before you start on it. Draw it out from many different views (top, side, front, back) and bounce ideas off others as it shows you what you missed. I spent longer designing my new cage than I did building it and because of this it went together quickly and without too many problems.

[mar]

I don't really know what you mean by finished wood.

I know the owner of www.lizardcages.com and what he uses in his cages is melamine. It is the white coated masonite (usually called wood but it is shredded newspapers epoxied together) used as walls in showers. Works great, easy to clean and water resistant. About $11 for a 4x8 sheet of 1/8 inch.

Peg board is another good option.

For both I would build a PVC frame (3/4 inch, $1.04 for a 10 foot pipe, $0.27 for a 90 degree fitting) then use nylon zip ties to fasten the sheets to the frame.

If you are at all unsure of your building abilities I recommend following someone else's plans for the first cage. You benefit from other's experience and are not left wondering (as much) whether it is adequate for the lizard and it will save a lot of time. Then for the next generation of the cage (I am on about 8) you know what should be changed or added and can alter accordingly.

[Merlin]

And by using other peoples ideas you allow THEM to have already made the mistakes that can cost YOU a bunch of money! ;D