Hey guys, I notice that a lot of you are using metal grates and meshes etc. for your platforms. I want to build a higher platform for my iguana, and the best shelves I can get with adjustable height of the platform (to allow for the ig to grow and thus I can lower the platform away from the light as he gets thicker) are metal shelves that I get from a store called pricerite (similar to home depot in the states). However, isn't the heating lights going to make the steel burning hot after a while? I would think so but so many people here seem to use that and I'm curious. Also would wood be ok or will it catch on fire?

I'm only asking about the top most basking shelf that is closest to the heat lamp and UV lights.

wood would actually be better. It wont catch on fire as the flash point of wood is about 500 degrees F give or take.

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-Adam

"Help Protect our Planet from Overcollection, Purchase Aquacultured Livestock and Captive Bred Herps"

Metal shelves that are of the grated type material allow the heat to disappate. I would not use a shelf that was a solid peice of steel. As you surmise it would get very hot. Wooden shelves are fine and is what I have in my enclosure. If your heating device is hot enough to set the wooden shelf on fire you will have already cooked your iguana.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Ok, so what if the metal shelf is a grate/mesh, but the "Legs" of the shelves are moderately thick metal rods? The light will be aimed towards the center of the shelf though. I'll try to post a pic later on.

That will do fine.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!