tank without bars

ryanf · Post by **ryanf** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:38 am

is it ok to have a tank without bars but instead glass. i ask because i saw at petco a really nice cage, had cork melamine sides and back and a glass front

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:16 am

Are you talking about one of those habitats for reptiles?

Kinda like this,

ryanf · Post by **ryanf** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 1:05 pm

no, it looks like an aquarium really. if you go to boaphile.com he makes cages similar to what i saw just no tthe same dimentions.

also, i used to watch a vet-tv show on discovery. the vets name was dr burney and he had finches in sorta the same thing in his waiting room

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:11 pm

I went to boaphile.com but didn't see anything that I would use to house birds.

Matter of fact, I find it hard to believe a snake would be happy with that type of living arrangement.

Post by **Sally** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:03 pm

The problems I see with this type of housing being used for birds are:

1. Ventilation - Finches need good ventilation, and it would be hard to provide in this setup.
2. Cleaning - Difficult to clean out the bottom without the finches getting loose. And, depending on the size, the walls would soon be splattered with poop.
3. The top - you would have to build a mesh top, with doors in it to access food and water dishes, etc.
4. Putting your hands and arms down into this 'cage' frequently could really keep your finches upset--most of them like minimal contact with us.

Your local pet stores may not carry good finch cages (longer than tall), with 1/2" bar spacing, but you can order some decent, inexpensive cages online. I have seen flight cages made of acrylic, but they usually have a solid back and front, with mesh on the sides to provide cross-ventilation.

ryanf · Post by **ryanf** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:34 pm

im thinking of just make a frame and staple screen to it. almost like the screen door cage on finchinfo just a lil smaller

Post by **Sally** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:22 pm

Just be sure and use some kind of mesh or woven wire, instead of screen. Finches can catch their nails in screen and be injured.

ryanf · Post by **ryanf** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:14 pm

what about the screen door cage? would i have to rip off the existing screen to add mesh?

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:19 pm

Yes, it's best if you remove the mesh screen as it is very tightly woven and the birds can get their claws hung up in it.

In there struggle to get free, they often break a leg, or end up dying before you discover the situation.

Hardware cloth works well. I used the green vinyl coated version for my screen door flight cage.

societyspice · Post by **societyspice** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:17 pm

I also used the green vinyl coated wire for my cage and it too was a "frame" style cage. (I made the frames myself though.)