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- 1). Select a cage made from an easy-to-clean material such as plastic or glass. The cage also needs to be escape proof, which means no small holes. This is one reason why it is better to opt for buying a suitably made reptile tank over making an enclosure from scratch. The cage must also be big enough for the reptile it is holding. Geckos can be housed in a twenty-gallon terrarium, which is a much smaller environment than for an adult iguana or boa. The green iguana must have a cage measuring twice the length of its body from nose to tail.
- 2). Heat the cage using a heat lamp. Some cages are available with built-in wells to accommodate the lamps. The cage must be able to effectively hold in heat, which is another reason why plastic is a preferred cage material. Screen doors are ineffective for this purpose as they let out heat.
- 3). Research the needs of the specific reptile in order to determine whether it needs a lighted area in the cage. Most lizards, such as geckos and iguanas, spend time basking in the sun in their wild habitats, and so they require an area in the cage that is lit using UVA or UVB lighting.
- 4). Ensure that the cage is a suitable shape for the reptile. Ground dwellers such as the bearded dragon need an enclosure that is wider than it is high, whereas tree dwellers such as the chameleon require a cage that is taller than it is wide to allow room for climbing apparatus such as branches.
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