How to Make Homemade Reptile Cages

Predrill three holes into one of the 25-inch pieces of melamine. The holes should be along the shorter edge of the melamine. Place one hole in the center of the piece. The other two holes should be located 1/4 inch from the two corners of the piece, with the first hole in between. Repeat this with the second piece of 25-inch melamine.

Use three 1 5/8-inch drywall screws to attach the first 35-inch melamine piece to one of the 25-inch pieces. Place the 35-inch piece perpendicular to the 25-inch piece. Make sure the edges are flush and use your drill to place a drywall screw through each of the holes you predrilled in the prior step and into the 35-inch piece. Place the second 25-inch piece perpendicular to the other side of the 35-inch piece and use your drill to place three more screws through the predrilled holes. This will attach your first shelf to the two side pieces.

Adjust your shelf on your work surface so that the two 25-inch pieces, which are now your side pieces, are vertical, and the 35-inch piece, which is now your shelf, is flat against your work surface, horizontally. Place four of your plastic storage bins, without the lids, onto your shelf. Place a second piece of 35-inch melamine on top of the four bins. This will determine the placement for the second shelf. You want it flush against the bins. Use a pencil to mark where the top edge of the melamine shelf hits the side pieces. Be sure to mark both side pieces with this location. Remove the second shelf piece.

Use a tape measure or ruler to make a line that is 3/8 of an inch below the pencil lines you drew in the previous step. Predrill six more holes, three in each side piece, along this line. The holes should be spaced the same way as the first set of holes in Step 1, 1/4 inch from the corners and one in the center.

Return the second shelf piece so that it's resting on top of the bins again. Repeat Step 2 to attach the second shelf.

Repeats Step 3, 4 and 5 to attach the remaining four shelves.

Reposition your completed shelving unit on your work surface so that the sides are now horizontal and the shelves are vertical. Insert the storage bins back into the shelves if you have taken them out. They will work as guides for you on this step. Place the four 25-by-4-inch strips onto the shelving unit. Place one over each column of bins. The goal is to place these behind the bins so that when the unit is placed upright you'll have one wood strip running vertically behind each column of bins to keep the bins from falling out the back. Use penny nails to attach the strips. Place the nails through the strips into the shelves.

Place your unit upright where you wish to set it up before placing your reptiles into the bins.