How to Build a Dragon Cage

Male dragons should be kept in separate cages to prevent fighting. They are territorial creatures, and enclosed spaces can enhance that feature in a dragon. Females, however, can live in groups just fine. Co-ed housing is fine for young dragons too, but once the males grow to adulthood, you'll need to separate them. This design for a dragon cage has five closed blanks, and leaves the front open with plastic glass. Hinges allow the door to swing open for easy access to your dragons.

Things You'll Need

  • Plywood, 3 pieces, 4 by 4 foot
  • Mesh
  • Nails
  • Hammer
  • Saw
  • Ruler
  • Plastic glass
  • Stain
  • Paint brush
  • 2 hinges
  • 1 slide lock
  • Screws
  • Drill
  • 2 heat lamps
  • UV lamps
  • Rocks
  • Sand
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut two pieces of plywood that are 24 by 48 inches. These will be the top and bottom pieces. Sand the edges.

    • 2

      Cut two pieces of plywood that are 24 by 24 inches. These will be the sides of the cage. Sand the edges.

    • 3

      Cut one piece of plywood that's 24 by 41 inches. Sand the edges. This piece is the back of the cage.

    • 4

      Cut two 3-by-48-inch panels. These thin panels will be placed in the front of the cage.

    • 5

      Nail the pieces together. The top should rest on top of the sides, and the back piece should fit snugly between the two side pieces and underneath the top piece.

    • 6

      Cut a hole in the top that's about 5 inches wide. From the inside of the cage, staple mesh to cover this hole. The hole acts as a vent. The mesh prevents crickets from escaping or anything else from entering the cage.

    • 7

      Place the cage on its back. Align the first thin panel along the bottom, but on top of the side panels. Nail the panel into the side panels. Align the second thin panel along the top, but on top of the side panels. Also nail the panel into the side panels. Use two nails on each side.

    • 8

      Stain the outside of the cage and let it dry.

    • 9

      Place a heat lamp on the top right edge of the cage and trace around it. The light should be about 2 to 3 inches from the edge. Measure half an inch around what you traced and cut a hold along that circle. You'll need to repeat this for the left end of the cage. Between the two lamps, trace your UV light. Then cut out a space for it along the traced line. When you're done cutting spaces for the lamps, cut pieces of mesh to cover the holes. Staple the mesh.

    • 10

      Cut two pieces of plastic glass that are about 9 inches wide. Drill the top and bottom into the thin panels in the front. One piece will line up with the left edge, and the other will line up with the right edge. These pieces will act as windows.

    • 11

      Cut two 1-inch-wide pieces of plywood that fit between the two thin panels going along the top and bottom of the cage. Drill the first one into the outside right edge of the left window. The other piece of wood gets drilled into the outside left edge of the right window.

    • 12

      Cut another piece of plastic glass to fit in the open space between the two thin panels and the windows. This piece will become the door, so it's important it fits snugly but doesn't get caught on the edges.

    • 13

      Cut a 2-by-2-inch square of plywood, and hold it on the inside of the left edge in the center. Pick up your lock and place it on the outside of the plastic glass. Drill the four corners through the glass and into the square of plywood.

    • 14

      Line up the loop that the lock slides into on the piece of plywood that's on the window.

    • 15

      Attach the hinges for the door along the right window. Make sure you attach the hinges on the outside so the door swings out.

    • 16

      Place your heat lamps on top of the designated holes.

    • 17

      Decorate the inside by laying sand along the bottom. Add branches and rocks for the animals to climb on. If you have multiple dragons in one cage, be careful how you place rocks and branches. Relatively equal heights prevent the dragons from squabbling for the best vantage points. Also provide rocks or caves where they can hide.