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Screen cages vs. glass & acrylic???

martin-bernstein

martin-bernstein

Anything Lava!
So I'm thinking of building ten large cages for my snakes, 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, 2 feet high. In order to cut down cost of materials I am thinking about building a wooden frame and door frame, then stapling metal screens to the frame. The only glass I'll use will be for the floor in order to make cleaning easier and to place an UTH under. Here are the advantages that I can think of that a screen cage has over a glass or acrylic DYI:
  • Lighter weight
  • Cheaper
  • Easier to build
  • Quicker to clean
  • Less humid (which actually may be a disadvantage in the winter)

Here are disadvantages:
  • Not as secure (I may be wrong about this, please correct me if so)
  • Retains less heat
  • Not nearly as impressive as a glass cage
  • Minimized visibility into the cage
My questions to you guys are:
Have you built or used something like this before? I know Wade has half a dozen beautiful arboreal cages that are at least partly mesh if I'm not mistaken. http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/sho...light=Wade's
What other pros or cons can you think of for this type of set up?
Thanks!
 
Screen walls aren't recommended for Corns as they lower the humidity overall. I think you ned to be planning for something with four solid sides and maybe an area of screen on the top. Also as you observe, it doesn't retain heat.

I don't understand how it'd be easier to clean screen sides. Scrubbing poop or glued-on shed scraps out of mesh, doesn't strike me as being easier than wiping down/disinfecting a smooth surface like glass, sealed plywood or melamine.
 
Right, what I was thinking was that I would build melamine walls on all four sides on the bottom third of the cage, with screens on the top two thirds, that way I wouldn't have to worry about aspen falling out of the screen and I could wipe droppings more easily off. But I hear what you're saying about the humidity. It is a problem. Thanks for your input.
 
I'd worry about nose-rubbing with screen, too. And you would probably be good with 12" tall. I have a couple 24 x 24 x 12 cages, stacked. (Good size for a kitchen counter!) But at even only 24", 12" in height seems roomy. I'd definitely worry about the lack of humidity. Difficult to increase it for blue periods.
 
I'm with Nanci on the nose rubbing... Could be very, very bad. You don't necessarily need to use glass though. Something like plexi glass or clear plastic or something should be cheaper and better overall for your cage.
 
One of mine is in a tall viv that has glass on one wall and screen on the other three. He hasn't had any difficulties with shedding, nor has he done any nose-rubbing though I did worry about that.

I also have used nylon screen in the tops of several vivs. I did have one problem with a single adult female. Somehow she forced a rip in the screen and was headed for hills. She was caught in the act and the screen was repaired. I assumed that she had found a small hole and enlarged it so I checked very thoroughly for any other weak spots. All seemed fine. She did it again! I'd never have believed a nose could be so strong. This particular lid was on a male's viv that she'd been placed in for breeding so I was actually watching her. Moral of story: use metal mesh.
 
Thanks for all the comments guys. I won't be building these cages until August, so I still have time to decide the exact design. Your imput is appreciated! Rep points given.
 
Martin, my cages were originally built for Chameleons who require the air flow and don't do well in glass cages. I now have Green Tree Pythons and Amazon Tree Boas in the cages. They require higher humidity. I have covered the screen with plastic on the top back and both sides.

I think with a corn snake the nose rubbing would really be a problem with screen.

Another thing to consider is that glass is really not that expensive. I'd look into that and checks some prices. Glass would be the best option. I don't like plexiglass. It is not cheap and it scratches so that after a while it starts to look shabby.
 
Thanks Wade. I think you're right, screening is just not worth the few dollars I'll save if loss of heat and humidity, and nose rubbing is going to be an issue. I'm probably going to do glass and melamine setup.
 
I agree with the above comments. I made snake cages with screen walls as a child and had problems with snakes rubbing their noses on the screen and creating bad wounds.
 
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