DIY Reptile Enclosure Guide

DIY Reptile Enclosure

Reptile parents as all pets parents try to provide their reptiles with a safe, and comfortable home that allows them to enjoy their natural behaviour. To make a diy reptile enclosure, you need to research for its needs before you start building one, as these needs vary according to the different species of reptiles.

Consider the behaviour of your reptile

As much as possible, try to create an enclosure that mimics the natural habitat of your reptile; some of them need a water tank such as turtles and frogs, and some eat insects or other animals such as a veil chameleon. That is why your cage needs to accommodate those animals.

After recognizing the needs of reptiles, your budget will determine your choice of materials used in the enclosure. Enclosures are usually made of plastic, wooden nets, acrylic or glass boxes.

In this article, you will learn one way (of many) to set up a reptile enclosure for your reptile friend.

Step 1: Prepare The Materials

In fact, the materials aren’t exhaustive, so feel free to add or eliminate some as appropriate.

Tank
Heat mat
Basking light (Optional)
Locking screen top
Substrate
UV light
Hiding areas
A Water dish
Thermometer(s)
Hygrometer(s)

Step 2: Set Up Tank

To set up the tank, first, you need to clean the glass if you want to use an aquarium. Now decide which side of the tank to use as a hot side and which cold side. The important thing is the temperature gradient so that the animal can regulate its body temperature by itself.

Add the heat mat under the “hot” side of the tank, so the animal doesn’t burn itself on the mat. It’s also good to add the thermometers, one for the “hot” side, one for the “cold” side, and one in the center. Try to place the thermometers low in the tank where the animal will be.

Step 3: Add the Substrate

The next step will be to add your substrate. It’s best to choose a textured mat because you can use one mat and switch out for a second mat when you need to clean the first.

It also allows you to view the animal easily, and find him when he needs to be removed for cleaning. Also, you can add moss throughout the habitat for the animal to burrow through.

Step 4: Decorate your reptile’s enclosure

In this step, you need to add a touch of creativity. The most important thing is to put a hiding space for your animal on both the “hot” and “cold” sides, directly above the heating mat, put the stump hide on the “hot” side so that a bubble of warm air is trapped there where the animal can stay warm.

You can also add fake plants that stick them to the glass. At this point, you can add the water dish on the “cold” side to prevent the growth of bacteria. It would be great to change your animals’ water every day.

Also, the water dish should be large enough so that the animal can submerge itself. The water dish will help to keep a suitable humidity rate in the enclosure. A hygrometer may be used for some animals that require high humidity.

Step 5: Add Lighting and Top

At this point, you can add lighting and screen top. Heat lighting should be added on the “hot” side above the heating mat, but it’s not always necessary as it depends on the temperature that is appropriate for your animal and the heat coming out of the heating mat.

You can use one 50 watt daytime bulb. This set up allows for a basking area of around 90 degrees F and a cool area about 73 degrees F.

Step 6: Be happy with your new reptile enclosure!

Remember that you’re free to make any changes you think can make the enclosure look or feel better for your reptile. But you know, to keep a low-stress environment is what makes your reptile happy!