do they get plenty of it in their cage? if you don't believe that the UVB is filtered out through the screen does this also mean that it is getting filtered out through the lid on their cage? We aren't trying to gang up on you, we have just seen what happens to the poor animals that don't get the proper UVB, and are trying to help you prevent that. If you do have a good quality UVB light that is less than 6 months old, is less than 12" from their basking spot, and isn't getting filtered out by too small of screen then ok!

The only other thing that I will say is be VERY careful with that melamine. Even if it is just the floor, if it gets weakened you won't see it until it is too late and it could hurt your animals.

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Never said you were. Even though its a play cage they could benefit from a stronger amount of UVB.

Really, you are being VERY defensive.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

im sorry for being defensive I just get that way when someone tells me im neglecting my reptiles. maybe they could benefit from UVB but if I make it more open then bugs are in my apartment like crazy. So from now on lets just say its a fresh air cage okay?

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http://www.freewebs.com/stokesenclosure/index.htm

well, is there any way you can put a screen over just your window? I see that you have it place inside the frame maybe. Could you build a screen frame that goes over that, to keep the bugs out? Heck even some mosquito netting draped over it.

This is what we are here for. To help you brainstorm ideas, find the faults and the positives. Just because we suggest something, doesn't mean your idea is bad, it may just need some fine tuning

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

I am only posting in case someone comes along and just reads some of the post and not the entire thing.

Melamine is nothing more than a laminated particle board. As previously stated, it is shavings and glue that has been layered and compressed. The laminate is applied with glue and heat. The outer edges, even with the beading that can be bought for it, is not water tight. Once moisture has penetrated the wood, it is garbage. The longer the water stays in the wood, the worse it gets. Eventually, that board that was capable of holding 150 lbs wont be able to hold 10 lbs without crumbling.

Another thing to note is that water is not just the liquid form you drink. Humidity also accounts for swelling. Melamine is an interior material and isn't rated for external use.

I want to add that I am a carpenter.

Just because an animal is basking in sunlight doesn't mean the animal is getting UVB and thats why its basking. It is basking in the "heat" the sun produces. Look at a closed window as an example. If you put your reptile in front of a closed window, it will lay there for hours in the suns heat until it needs to move and cool down. If the window is closed, and the screen is in, the reptile was getting ZERO UVB, but it was basking.

A conventional screen lid bought at the petstore has 1/4 inch openings, which is what is suggested. Those that use smaller screen are in the same boat as you and simply didn't realize how much UVB was actually being filtered. Please don't state things as if they are fact. They are not getting nearly enough UVB through mesh smaller than 1/4 inch.

You don't have to believe me, do some reading on UVB:

UV Guide UK
Reptile UV Info


If you don't want opinions, don't post. This is a forum and the entire purpose for it is to post opinions and advice. If someone is doing something wrong, we try to give advice to help correct it. That's how the site works.

If you had all angles of this design "figured out" as you put it, none of us would have wasted our time trying to lend some advice. We would have simply said "nice enclosure" and moved on.

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.:: Rich ::.

+ Spread The Info

i have a 4ft x 2ft melamine enclosure and it works great however it is indoors and I have a uromastyx lizard in there. which require no water or humidity. you spill water in it or have humidity from the outside (even if you coat it) it will crumble up into sawdust. You will not even notice the mold or it even look like there is anything wrong till one day it will just fall out. why not use a treated plywood or oak bottom that you can sand smooth and waterproof it.

Sorry I actually measured it wrong. its hardware cloth with 1/4 inch openings. As for the rain, I have a rain cover that goes over it when it downpours

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http://www.freewebs.com/stokesenclosure/index.htm

yea, originally I had 1/4 inch hardware cloth in addition to screen mesh. before summer rolls around im takin the screen mesh off. i also put a rain cover over the entire enclosure to prevent water damage.

so looks like your advice paid off after all

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