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If you are a first time Reptile owner or contemplating owning a snake, lizard, or bearded dragon, then planning on where you will be keeping them is an obvious first step. As there are many different types of reptiles with various needs, there are also different types of reptile cages/enclosures. Each serve different purposes and figuring out which is best suited for your reptile's needs is paramount. Once you figure that out then it's a good idea to ask whether buying a cage or building one is best for you. That's what I'll help you answer here.

First, consider your reptile's needs and size so you have an idea of what the cage or tank might need to have. For example, if you have a snake that needs lots of heat and will grow to be very large then you may want to consider what materials the enclosure needs to built from. In the same example if the cage was to be kept outdoors and you live in a humid area then you also want to make sure the cage can stand up to the elements and not begin to fall apart on you. This is an important first step and should not be done without knowing your reptile's needs.

Once you are familiar with reptile's needs, and the location you will be keeping them start to consider whether to buy or build the enclosure. Sometimes a reptile tank might be a more sensible option for very little smakes or lizards and should be considered. With that said there are all kinds of various designs and styles of cages you could buy or build and that makes building some of the more complicated then others, but let's look a little closer.

One of the first things I would ask you to consider is the "cost of the cage to buy vs. cost and time to build" the enclosure yourself. It surely doesn't make a lot of sense to go out and buy a cage for $250 if you have the time and talent to build it yourself on a weekend for $65 worth of materials does it? Well that is just one consideration, and if you don't think you're handy enough to pull off building a cage there are e-books and designs you can buy to give you the knowledge and expertise to do so, and they are really cheap! You can see my website mentioned in the resource box of this article to get started if you like.

In reference to building the reptile cage or tank, remember, if your pet is going to grow larger in the future you may need another cage. Even if you aren't sure how to build one at this point, learning from someone who does or buying an e-book written by an expert, can save you money on ALL the cages you ever need to build. It's like learning a trade, but a lot easier. Building your cage can be a great money saver and YOU control the look and feel, not the manufacturer.

Even though you may realize that building the enclosure is cheaper you might still opt to buy one anyway online or in a pet store. Even though we may have the time and talent to build one we may NOT really feeling like doing it. Maybe we'd rather be playing with our kids or watching the game. That's ok too, after all, it's our time and money so we can choose what is best. Now if planning on buying remember a few things.

Consider shopping around a little and compare prices. Most people will do this anyway since it's very common, but doesn't hurt to mention. Think also about purchasing from an internet based (online) store vs. the pet store in your neighborhood. You will usually find that pet stores have to charge more since they have electric bills and employees to pay and most internet stores don't, which can mean some of this savings will be passed to you the consumer. Look into it and try to get the best value for the money and not just the lowest price. Try not to purchase a shoddy cage because it is less expensive. If you have to buy another one because it broke easily or something, you spend a lot more in the long run.

Keep in mind your reptile's lighting needs, how large the access holes/doors need to be to clean the cage, and whether it will be very wet inside the cage. You want to have these things in mind when you shop to get the cage with the right features and specifics you need. Deciding to buy a cage is probably less work, but as a result you can't always decide on the design or features without hiring a custom cage which can be much more expensive to do.

Good luck!

Author's Resource:

Ben Farland is here to help you make the important decision on your next Reptile cage and also answers other Reptile questions on his Reptile Supply blog

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