<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Does anyone else have reptariums?! I'm absolutely venting! I bought a reptarium, and I have to say, I'm not very pleased. There is no where to hang anything. I've been using little paper-coated wire "twisties"...you know, the type of thing that twists around the open part of a bread bag? (Anyone know what the heck I'm talking about?) And...it is SO hard to undo all those annoying little twisties, take everything out, clean it and put it all back it. It's so tedious....
Anyway, I was wondering if (for anyone who has a reptarium) knows any other SIMPLER way to hang ladders, nestboxes, etc?
OR, where can I find a great bird cage/glider cage type thing for CHEAP? I have to say, my parents are not going to be pleased that I spent 150 some on a reptarium that I don't even like, and want to buy another cage...so...cheap is gooooood...but good quality.
I use cable ties, which I learned about at the SGGA, and you can buy them at Wal-Mart. I only use my reps for temp use, though; however, I know there are many people who use them instead of cages. Hope this helps!
Re: GRRR...Reptariums!
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#56827 09/05/0512:22 AM09/05/0512:22 AM
"My doctrine is this: that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and we do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt." ~ Anna Sewell, English Novelist
Re: GRRR...Reptariums!
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#56828 09/05/0512:40 AM09/05/0512:40 AM
I can make reptarium "sleeves" that have hooks and such. I have also been working on some cross peices that will go in my repts to hang things from both across the top and along the sides. If you are interested, pm me and we'll discuss some of my ideas.
I bought two repts for the SGGA and since then have been working on making them more user friendly.
620-704-9109 Judge not until you have walked in their shoes and lived their lives. What you see online is only part of the story.
I could have missed the pain But I'd of had to miss the dance
The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.
Re: GRRR...Reptariums!
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#56830 09/05/0504:24 AM09/05/0504:24 AM
There is a very simple and satisfying way to fix your problem. It sounds like you have the exact same reptarium style I have. Probably even the same brand. Anyway, I had the same problem and fixed it very easily:
I went to Wal-Mart (where else!) and bought some coated wire shelving. Then, I took a hacksaw and a tape measure and measured the distance across the cage. The package I bought came with two shelves that were designed to be mounted to a wall. I cut two pieces - one to set across the top cross-bars and one for the middle ones.
Then, I sanded all the cut edges smooth and rounded. If you do this right they won't be accessible to your babies anyway because the mesh will stretch tight against the ends, but it's better to be safe than sorry. A sharp edge can hurt your baby a lot of different ways.
Then, I set the shelves in and zip-tied them in place. They are wire shelves so there is a TON of ways to hang things! I use the top shelf for their sleeping pouch, Tiki Hut, and toys and it works perfectly!
The middle shelf is even better though! I took the cage that came with them (a standard 18x18x24 white wire pet cage)and placed it right on the middle shelf. It has the tray in the bottom for droppings and the little water bottle and feeder dishes sit right in there. I use it as my glider kitchen and they love it! I have an exercise wheel in there and it makes feeding them and cleaning up a snap. Plus, I have a ferret house and a couple of small toys clipped to the underside of the shelf itself!
I leave the bottom half of the cage wide open so they can jump around down there and go nuts. I just keep an old sheet at the bottom to catch their normal messes. I have the 6ft reptarium and they really like it set up this way.
My digital camera is no longer in this world or I'd send you some pics. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions and I'll gladly try to help you out.
One word of advice though: If you got the black-mesh reptarium that comes with the flimsy black PVC pipes? DO NOT try to screw directly into them!! They are super-weak and they will crack and splinter!! I'm drawing up plans right now to re-engineer the support structure with much sturdier PVC. The ones that came with it are a total waste.
I hope some of this helps!
GreatBallsOhFur (Ron)
Re: GRRR...Reptariums!
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#56831 09/05/0510:17 AM09/05/0510:17 AM
I bought the metal shower curtain rings. They firt over the PVC tube great. From them I attached the plastic chain CalleJean sells. I run the chain from one side to the other and hang the toys off of that. For the food bowls I got the some bird dishs that have hooks on the back and hook them right into the reptarium.
Karen President of The Glider Initiative The Glider Crue
Going out right now to buy a bunch of keyrings. Thank you so much everyone! You saved me from tedious hour long cleaning, and from buying them another cage. I'd feel bad, cuz I can't afford another 6ft tall cage...Reptariums are real cheap but I have a feeling a 6ft tall bird cage is NOT cheap.
[:"blue"] Could you please post what size rept you purchased? I have used them as permanent housing for several years and will never return to wire. These have been awesome for me but they are not for everyone.
Decorating can be a little more challenging than wire but with a little imagination and help from other users, most problems can be solved.
Zipties are great as are the other suggestions. You can also use plastic shower curtain rings or baby links. You can tie glider friendly rope from side to side and all around. If you have a shelf cut (be sure to use the rubber end caps for where the cuts were made) you can sit feeding stations on it and hang pouches/toys from it also.
I'm sure there will be other rept users to post soon. [/]
What a great thread! You guys are just so clever with all the tips! I've used the round baby teething rings, but I like the idea of metal key rings (and that's great, as long as they are the right kinda metal). I've noticed my teething links are a bit "fat" and kind of stress the mesh a little...
OH! I'm soooo glad i found this post! just bought a 175 gal rep for trout and his soon-to-arrive sister, and was worrying about the very same thing. (thought i haven't tried anything, cause no one's living in it yet - i'm keeping it neutral for introductions) I love the shelving idea! If i'm picturing it right, that'd be a great place to hang stuff and play (well ... errm ... for the gliders to play, anyway...) I was thinking about getting harness rings, but keyrings or shower curtain rings would be much cheaper.
Does anyone ziptie/twist tie stuff directly to the mesh? i would think it'd stress it too much, but from what i've read, it seems some do.
and another question - how is the mesh on their nails? if they're a bit long, does it catch a lot?
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> Then, I sanded all the cut edges smooth and rounded.
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I just finished building a bigger cage (from PVC coated wire) and I found the greatest tool for cutting things like that is a Dremel tool. When you use wire snips for cutting wire, it leaves that little sharp ridge on the end of the wire. The Dremel leaves a smooth edge.
If you aren't familiar with a Dremel, it's like a drill, but you can attach cutting wheels to it for cutting through wire mesh, thin sheets of metal, plastic (I used it to cut the door for my glider kitchen) etc. Be sure to buy the fiberglass reinforced cutting wheels, though. The so-called cutting wheels that come with the Dremel break like glass!
I found some water bottle hangers which had tongues on the back side. I bent the tongue over the pvc pipe and fitted the water bottle into the hanger. This also worked great for me.
So glad you like my keyring idea. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumb.gif" alt="" /> I had so many keyrings at hand as I am crafty, lol. It spawned on me to use the keyrings.
Wow! This turned out to be such a big post! Glad I posted it! Seems like a lot of people had the same problem! Anyway, I went out and bought A BUNCH of small keyrings, and hooked them straight onto the mesh. Doesn't stress the mesh at all, and now, I don't have that problem anymore!
Also, KarenE, you asked what size rept I have. I have 260 gallon, it's almost 6ft..little bit less.
The mesh is fine on their nails, even if they're long. My girl had real long nails (because I was too scared to cut them) but I never had a problem. (And I also finally got around to cutting the nails).
Anyway, out of all the posts, I think the keyrings was definately the best, as well as the shelving units (I already have one shelving unit in there, it's just a simple storage unit wire box, with one side open (I put the wheel inside the box, and they just go in through the open door) and I sit their food bowls on top of the storage unit. They love it. They hated eating on the bottom of the cage.
Here is a picture of my reptarium - another pic to come of the keyrings I'm talking about, and then a pic of the "twisties" I was talking about earlier.
In the picture above - you can see the ladder hanging on the simple small keyrings. Here's a pic of the twisties which I reccomend DON'T USE. VERY TEDIOUS. USE THE KEYRINGS
How did you attach the keyrings right on the mesh? Wouldn't the keyrings that are attached to the mesh itself tear the mesh? I am kinda worried about that.
As for mine, I slid the keyrings on the pipe itself before attaching the elbows of the frame.
Nope, it doesn't hurt the mesh. What I did Is used a pen tip to seperate the keyring "leg" from the keyring "body", so I could just, hook the "leg" right through the mesh hole. As you can see from my pictures, it didn't hurt the mesh.
Thank you so much and your website looks great will go back and look more extesively when I have some time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelclap.gif" alt="" /> I am off to physical therapy in a little while! Hopefully I can get back to work soon! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif" alt="" /> Bye and thanks again! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumb.gif" alt="" />
I got my 175 gal from LLLReptiles online. A warning for fellow canadians --- it was all american prices (exchange!! ahhh!), and shipping wasn't $10, as they said, but $25, AND customs opened it and charged me another $20!! [censored] government. so a $97 rep cost me more like $150 in the end (maybe a little more... i decided not to do the math). OH!! and I bought a softray and it was $30!! so all in all, i really didn't save any money. [censored]. i wish i hadn't posted this <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I bought my 260 gallon Reptarium from www.thesquirrelstore.com for just $93 total. That's including tax and shipping & handling too. It was WAY cheaper than PetSmart.
Just talk to Chris and she'll hook you up with the cheapest reptariums that I could find anywhere on the web. I love mine and wouldn't want anything else.