How to Build a Reptile Terrarium/Habitat

The first requirement of building a reptile terrarium is understanding the requirements of your reptile. Different species of reptiles have different requirements, and not meeting the specific requires could result in illness or death.

Here are some things to consider before building a terrarium:
1.The species of reptiles
2.The number of reptiles kept in the cage
3.Their potential growth size
4.Their heating/watering requirements
5.Their lighting requirements
6.Their humidity requirements
7.Safety needed against external factors [other pets, children, etc.]
8.Placement of terrarium in house [corner cage, etc]

After you have determined the requirements your terrarium you are ready to plan to start planning a simple blueprint. To start off with, write in the upper corner of your paper the dimensions your cage will need to be: length, height, and depth.

Next, determine the materials you will make the terrarium out of. This is best determined by the requirements of your reptile and the environment your cage will be placed. If your reptile requires high temperatures and the terrarium will be placed in a cool environment, wood is the best material to retain heat, followed by plastic; glass is the worst material to be used, as it allows heat to escape effortlessly. If the reptiles are arboreal and an placed in a warm environment, your habitat can be as simple as a wire mesh cage.

After you have determined the material you will make your cage out of, you can start planning on the design. First, consider heat and lighting. Will your reptile receive both its light and heat from a lamp, or will it also have a heating pad/flexwatt tape?