How to Build Cheap, Easy Iguana Cages

Iguanas can live for 20 years.

Iguana's can grow up to six feet long and weight 15 pounds at maturity. They require a lot of care and a great deal of commitment from their owners. As an iguana grows it will need larger housing to accommodate it's size. Housing should be three times the size of your iguana and some people convert entire rooms to their scaly friends. This constant building can get expensive. So how can you build an easy cage for your iguana without busting the bank?

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• 6 pieces of Plexiglas
• Drill and bits
• Silicon aquarium sealant
• 2 hinges
• 1 safety latch
• Toys
• Bowls
• Climbing tree limb

Instructions

1. Measure your iguana from the tip of it's nose to the end of it's tail. Make sure that it stays still during this activity so that you get accurate measurements. Have a friend help you hold the iguana while it's being measured if it gets squirmy. Take note of the measurements and multiply them by three. These will be your cage dimensions in a cube format.

2. Buy six pre-cut sheets of Plexiglas three times longer than your iguana and a drill and bit designed for drilling holes in Plexiglas, two sets of hinges and a safety latch, from a hardware. Aa pet store will have silicon aquarium sealant, iguana toys, food and water dishes and a climbing tree.

3. Take four Plexiglas sheets and drill breathing holes two inches apart, across the middle of each sheet. Wipe away any dust, shavings or splinters left behind by the drill bit.

4. Take one un-drilled piece of Plexiglas and lay it on the floor. On one edge apply a straight line of silicon aquarium sealant. Hold one of the ventilation-drilled pieces of Plexiglas on that glued edge and press firmly down for several minutes until it dries. Apply silicon aquarium sealant to one side of the ventilated piece you just glued, and the edge of the bottom piece.

   Hold another ventilated piece of Plexiglas so that one edge meets the previously glued edge and the bottom piece. Hold in place until the glue dries. Repeat this process for the other two walls of the cage until you have something that appears to be a box.

5. Take the last piece of Plexiglas and set it on top of the box you have just made. This will be your lid. Drill two holes on the edge of the top left side of this sheet. Screw in the top half of the hinge that will hold the lid on. Drill two wholes on the side of the box, so that they match the bottom side of the hinge. Secure the hinge with the screws and bolts that come with the hinge set.

   In the same manner, secure the second hinge to the right side of the box and lid. On the opposite side of the lid, drill one hole to secure the top half of the safety latch. This piece should look like a hook with an eyelet. Below this hook, drill a hole on the front side of the box and secure the bottom half of the safety latch. This piece should look like a simple eyelet.

6. Fill the bottom of the new cage with reptibark. Add your iguana's toys, food dish, water dish, climbing tree and any other items your iguana owns. You can now add your iguana.

References

• Iguana housing