Please help,

I have one Male Chinese Water Dragon, I am looking to maybe get a female later on or two so I want to make the enclosure big enough for three animals.

i am looking for information about the best outdoor/indoor enclosure for these types of lizards. This enclosure will only have to be indoors from mid october to mid march. I was considering putting it on wheels. I have a large porch with a pool, half of the porch is shielded from rain and sun. I am planning to start getting materials and building over the summer, and completion before college starts up again in late august.

Here is my working idea: I was thinking to use mainly wood and screen. i was wondering what the best size for screen holes is. What is the best type of wood to use? Since its outdoor for 7 months or more of the year, depending on cold snaps, i wanted to stay away from lots of plastic or glass, bc i thought that using that material would nix the ability to give lizards temporary sun by rolling the cage into the sunny part of the porch. Plus when it rains, i could possibly roll the cage into the rain, as long as there is a draining system at the bottom of course. But then I have to consider wood rot and mold?

Are there any more or better materials used to build custom cages for water lizards that would allow me to keep it outside in florida weather?

IF ANYONE CAN REDIRECT ME TO A THREAD ABOUT THIS STUFF or can give me some advice,( I've already seen trisha's site and have done plenty of research about my animals particular needs), but i would be interested in some more cage-building sources.

what I want to know is mainly about CONSTRUCTION of a large enclosure and MATERIALS used.

thank you in advance,


amirra

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Alexa.

0.2 Tokays, names TBA
1.0 Ball Python, Draco
1.0 Bubblegum Snow Corn, Apollo
R.I.P Leopard Geckos, Archaia-khellendros-Amenophis

Herping 5 years exp.

Outdoor Enclosures...

I know there are some other outdoor enclosures that would give you ideas, I just didn't find them in my quick search... Hope this helps at least.

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I would worry and prepare for this. You have a great possibility to have domination issues and stress. They don't really like being housed together, some just tolerate more than others.

You MUST be prepared to separate them if problems come up.

A single water dragon needs a minimum of 2 x 4 x 6 feet of space. Triple that for 3 dragosn. Thats a LOT.

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

The main issue you will have is making it convertible for outdoors and indoors. I suspect the humidity is quite high there in the summer so keeping it humid in the enclosure won't be a problem in the summer months. However bringing it inside in the winter you'll need a sealed habitat to be able to maintain a proper moisture level. Then there's the heat issue with the same circumstances. A sealed unit that is suitable for winter would be too hot if placed outdoors. I would suggest buying a flexarium screened enclosure for outdoor summer months(a quite large one though) and create a permanent indoor enclosure.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you."

Or if you want just one big all weather enclosure,...
Build it with mesh sides but have it set up so that you can screw on sheets of acrylic panels to the sides for use in winter.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Triple the space?!!! Well, lets nix getting two more animals then. Haha. I'd rather give the one I already have all my attention. He's a sweet lil guy too

So I think the mesh sides with acrylic screw on sheets would work, but would the holes that I place into the acrylic crack in the corners?

And that link was really helpful, thanks.

Thank you all for your replies,

Amirra

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Alexa.

0.2 Tokays, names TBA
1.0 Ball Python, Draco
1.0 Bubblegum Snow Corn, Apollo
R.I.P Leopard Geckos, Archaia-khellendros-Amenophis

Herping 5 years exp.

You will have to drill the acrylic. Just go slow and let the drill do the work and you will be fine.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

To increase the corner strength you can cut small 2 x 2 inch pieces. Then glue them over the corners before drilling them.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you."

I would love to see pictures of your lil guy. I love dragons!

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"Dare to Dream! Without dreams, there is no Hope."
***Tami***