The Importance of a Plan When Building a Reptile Cage

Would you put together a model plane without looking at the finished plane picture or looking at the plans? Does a builder build a house without a plan?

The answer to these is pretty clearly no. A homemade snake or other reptile cage is so much simpler though, you say. I can just put it together as I go. Not so, my young apprentice. There are many pitfalls awaiting the inexperienced. Simple things you can miss. Silly mistakes you can make, and believe me, it is very easy to make them. There are a host of things that can make a simple cage take much longer than it should plus some possible costly mistakes.

If you have never kept a reptile, then before you even plan a reptile cage, you need to do some research on what sort of cage your retile will need. A snake will need cages of certain dimensions; lizards will need other dimensions and arboreal species yet another type of cage with different dimensions. It's also helpful if you know how large your pet will get so you can plan ahead.

Another benefit of a plan is it helps you to think about your pet reptiles other needs such as heat mats, basking lights, UV lights, misting systems, substrates, decorations such as artificial walls, artificial trees and branches, and how these can be made and placed in the cage.

Once you have a clear idea of what you want the finished product to look like and how large it will be you are ready to plan how you are going to construct it. At this stage, having a plan, however rudimentary, is important. Once you have a plan in place you can think through the issues. In many cases it will allow you to remove the problem before you even start, as the plan often reveals an error or issue. Naturally, the more detailed the reptile cage plan, the more you can make allowance for possible issues. It can also eliminate waste and save money as you only purchase the correct amount of material.

Having a plan is useful as it allows you to see and understand how the cage will be constructed. You can work out how you may want to alter the plan if you feel the need to change.

And finally a plan is essential for the construction phase. What goes where, what is the order of construction, what size should this piece be and so on.

When building a reptile enclosure, if the plans are detailed enough you will constantly refer to them. This also helps minimise those costly errors.

Using a plan, whether is be yours, someone else's or a purchased plan, will save you time, money and effort. It will produce a much better result for you and your pet.

Mark Chapple is the Author of "How to build enclosures for reptiles." Find out how anyone can build reptile cages. Full color pictures, detailed diagrams and easy to follow, step-by-step instructions and what you need to know when constructing reptile enclosures. http://www.reptile-cage-plans.com

---

Training Your Dog To Sit

A poorly trained dog is a nuisance and can even... Read More

Why Does My Pet Eat Grass?

Are you concerned when your dog or cat eats grass,... Read More

Do You Make These Mistakes Loading Your Horse Into A Trailer?

Mistake #1:"Here, Kitty Kitty..."Unless they have been educated, new horse... Read More

Brushing Up On Dog Grooming

Is your dog due for a makeover? Has she been... Read More

Dog Training - How To Win Your Dogs Confidence

Settling a puppy into a new home successful is often... Read More

Does Your Dog Have An Irritating Jumping Habit?

Do you have a puppy that jumps on you, company... Read More

Why Dont I Understand My Dog?

I have encountered folks who have complained to me about... Read More

Dogs Get More Human Every Day

First pet stores began selling clothes for pets. Then kennels... Read More

Here?s How To Find The Right Pet Meds For Your Favorite Pet

Our pets depend on us for their every need, including... Read More

Tips For Keeping Your Pug Happy And Healthy

Bringing home a Pug can change our life, but it... Read More

Distemper in Dogs - Home Detection Tips

Distemper: Spotting This Dog Killer Before it's Too LateCanine distemper... Read More

Picking Up A Horses Hoof

The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate... Read More

The Need for Pet First Aid Kits

Even if you have the perfect first aid kit for... Read More

Pampering Your Favorite Puppy

I was doing some research on dog health when I... Read More

West Highland White Terrier - Westies - Training Success Tips

The West Highland Terrier is a friendly dog, and is... Read More

Thats No Paris Hilton! An Overview of Dog Obedience Training Videos

Mention the word "video" and different people would come up... Read More

Dog Doors: Giving Your Pet Freedom to Come and Go as They Please Helps Solve Behavior Problems

Dog DoorsWhen we think of dog doors, we think of... Read More

New Pet Tag Services Provide A Sense Of Security

The greatest benefits of ownership is knowing that your property... Read More

Vet Check - Well-Bird Check Up

I know there are differing opinions on the subject of... Read More

The Benefits of Large Birdcages

We've all heard the phrase, "Free as a bird." In... Read More

Nervous Cats, Wining the Trust of a Timid Cat

Nervous cats hide from people, they do not readily present... Read More

Your Dogs Health Is At Risk!

Dogs should be living to age 20 or more. That's... Read More

Nutrition and Your Dogs Behavior

Nutrition and Your Dog's Behavior Proper nutrition is the fundamental... Read More

Personal Pet Check-Ups

For all pet owners, regular monitoring and "examinations" of your... Read More

Life with the Rat Terriers

I am a happy owner of two rat terriers. They... Read More

Declawing Your Cat

This is a very controversial topic which has a lot... Read More

Im Allergic To My Cat!

Having a cat allergy came as something of a surprise... Read More

Boston Terrier - Special Concerns For This Adorable Breed

Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits... Read More

Herbs For Your Dog

Herbology, basically, is the use of herbs in the treatment... Read More

Why Cats Flip For Catnip

If you've ever watched as a cat "flipped" over fresh... Read More

How to Build a Dog House for Your Puppy

So you'd like to know how to build a dog... Read More

Ten Most Popular Goldfish

You can't imagine the kind of varieties of Goldfish there... Read More

Why Does My Cat Drink Dirty Water?

You know that cats should always have a supply of... Read More