Before you choose this build

This project uses the Zoo Med ReptiBreeze XL NT-13, nominally 24 × 24 × 48 inches. It combines the manufacturer's panel assembly with an original service layout for furnishings and water collection. The measured internal space is smaller than the nominal size. Screen construction is a deliberate housing choice: confirm that the intended animal's conditions can be maintained in the actual room before choosing this enclosure.

Before you start

  • The tall mesh panels are lightweight during assembly. Use a helper and a clean, rigid work surface with room to turn the partly assembled enclosure without resting tools on the screen.
  • Plan where water from the intended drinking or misting arrangement will go. Establish the collection volume from the water that could be delivered, and provide a way to empty it without lifting the furnished enclosure.
  • The mesh is not a support for heavy branches or plant pots. Use a floor-supported system or a manufacturer-specified frame attachment system with appropriate capacity.
  • Measure the actual clear interior, main door and lower service opening after assembly. Record the complete installed height including support, drainage tray and lamp mounting clearance.

This is an original construction guide assembled from the references below. This exact project has not been physically built or independently load-tested by The Creature Corner. Follow the current instructions for the products you buy.

Tools

  • Phillips hand screwdriver
  • Tape measure
  • Level and square
  • Flashlight
  • Small-parts tray
  • Hand tools required by the selected furnishing system

Materials and supplies

ReptiBreeze XL NT-13
1 kit
The matching manual lists six screened panels, bottom panel, floor insert, four short hinge screws and 26 longer assembly screws for NT-13. Check the delivered revision.
Support and collection arrangement
1 set
Stable, capacity-verified support and compatible catch tray or container; maintain the enclosure manufacturer's required support and door access.
Climbing system
1
Removable floor-supported assembly or approved frame-mounted system, sized and rated for the intended animal and fittings.
Plant or cover modules
2
Identified, suitable plants in stable removable pots, or cleanable commercial cover; pots supported independently of the mesh.
Drinking arrangement
1
Chosen for the intended animal; any delivered water must reach the collection system without wetting electrical equipment.
Environmental equipment
1 selected set
Listed lighting and heating where needed, secure compatible supports, controls and independent temperature/humidity instruments.
Service supplies
1 set
Soft cloths, suitable cleaning materials, labels and a dedicated container for draining or replacing collection water.

Measured parts

Dimensions use inches unless stated otherwise. Confirm the actual material thickness, joint layout and delivered hardware before cutting. Allow for the saw kerf, the material removed by each cut.

No sheet-material cut list is needed for this assembly. Match supplied parts to the current manufacturer’s manual before starting.

Step 1 of 15

Confirm the room and support

Mark the nominal footprint and the installed height, including the lighting support. Check that the opened main door will have usable clearance. Inspect the room at the times when heating, cooling or sunlight changes. The empty trial must later demonstrate that this open screen design can maintain the intended care conditions there.

Step 2 of 15

Inventory the panels

Match the delivered components to the NT-13 manual. Identify the back, sides, top, bottom, main door, lower door and floor insert before fastening anything. Lay them in their assembly positions, keeping screen faces clear of screwdrivers. Examine the mesh perimeter and frame corners for damage that could affect containment.

Step 3 of 15

Separate the screw lengths

The matching instructions specify four short hinge screws and 26 longer panel screws for the XL. Sort them into separate containers. Keep any revision-specific parts list with the kit. Using the wrong screw because it fits the driver is avoidable when each container is labeled before assembly begins.

Step 4 of 15

Join top and bottom to the back

Follow the manufacturer's letter matching, with panel letters facing inward. Attach the top to the back at C and the bottom at K with the specified long screws. Work with the back supported as illustrated. Start screws gently and avoid stripping the frame threads by overtightening.

Step 5 of 15

Add the right side

Match the right-side labels to the top, back and bottom and fit its long screws. Support the open assembly while it is still easy to twist. Check that mating frame faces touch evenly. If a hole does not align, review the labels and panel orientation instead of drilling a new hole.

Step 6 of 15

Fit the left side and lower door

Turn the assembly as the manual shows, attach the left side, then place the lower door's hinge pins into their designated holes. Check the corresponding label alignment before seating the second pin. Stand the enclosure upright and operate both lower latches to confirm that the service door closes correctly.

Step 7 of 15

Attach the main door and insert the floor

Install the main door hinges using the short screws, matching the indicated labels. Return the enclosure upright and place the floor insert through the main opening. Close the door and engage the rotating latches. Retain the manual's illustrations for hinge orientation; do not assume the lower and upper doors use identical hardware.

Step 8 of 15

Inspect the finished frame

Place the empty enclosure on its final support and check that it stands square without rocking. Examine every mesh edge from inside and outside with a flashlight. Operate each door repeatedly. A distorted frame, loose hinge or visible opening at a screen edge must be corrected before furnishings conceal the area.

Step 9 of 15

Arrange water collection

Position the selected catch system so it can receive the planned water without obstructing the lower door or compromising support. Do a measured pour using only the intended delivery amount. Follow the water to its collection point and inspect the surrounding furniture. Do not drill the floor or change drainage unless the manufacturer confirms the method.

Step 10 of 15

Install the climbing system

Assemble the selected system and secure it using its specified method. Heavy elements need an appropriate load path to a supported base or an approved frame accessory. Check that the mesh is neither stretched by a branch nor acting as its retaining strap. Keep the structure removable through the main door.

Step 11 of 15

Place the cover and drinking fittings

Add stable pots or cover modules without blocking latches, doors or the water-collection route. Leave an inspection view behind them. Arrange the drinking fitting so it can be cleaned independently. Check that water will not gather inside a concealed pot sleeve or leave an uncontrolled pool on the floor insert.

Step 12 of 15

Secure lighting and cables

Choose a mounting system tall enough for this enclosure and permitted by the actual fixture instructions. Do not assume a short terrarium stand can reach above a 48-inch cage. Secure all fixtures, retain their required clearances and keep water away from plugs and lamps. Route complete, unmodified electrical cords outside the animal's climbing space.

Step 13 of 15

Position the instruments

Place probes at intended resting and retreat locations rather than measuring only the surrounding room. Keep their supports independent of delicate mesh where possible. Photograph positions and mark the instrument labels. Observe how readings change during the planned water-delivery cycle, then confirm that cables do not create a loop or hold a door ajar.

Step 14 of 15

Run the empty installation

Operate repeated daytime and nighttime cycles with the final plants, furnishings and water arrangement. Record occupied-location conditions and collected water volume. Check whether the catch system can be serviced before it reaches its working limit. If the room cannot support the required conditions, revise the housing choice before an animal arrives.

Step 15 of 15

Rehearse servicing

Open the lower door, remove the intended service item and empty the collection system without shifting the cage. Then remove a plant and inspect the climbing attachments. Confirm that the frame stays square and all latches still engage. Keep this sequence with the baseline measurements so another caretaker can reproduce the setup.

Final construction checks

  • The main and lower doors close consistently; screen edges, frame joins and all openings have been assessed for containing the actual inhabitant.
  • The support remains stable with the intended contents. Climbing fittings have appropriate capacity and do not rely on stretched screen.
  • A measured water-delivery trial reaches the collection system without wetting equipment or furniture.

Before introducing an animal

  • Repeated environmental cycles meet the selected care plan.
  • Use the exact animal’s care guide to select the heating, lighting and furnishings. Run the complete setup, record measurements at the places the animal will use and resolve any unmet requirements before move-in.

Review your preparation checklist

Maintain and inspect the enclosure

  • Inspect mesh near doors, climbing routes and cable passages when cleaning. Replace damaged panels with appropriate parts rather than leaving a patch with exposed edges.
  • Empty and clean the collection arrangement at the frequency demonstrated by actual use. Never let an unseen reservoir become the overflow alarm.
  • Check frame screws and latches after moving furnishings. Recommission if room conditions, watering or lighting change.

Limitations and decisions to resolve

  • No adhesive or finish is added, so no curing interval is required. Added sealants or screen modifications would need their own manufacturer-approved procedure.
  • The assembled enclosure is not assigned a shelf, roof or hanging-load capacity by this guide.
  • The NT-13 dimensions do not establish suitability for all arboreal species. Open screening may make the required conditions impractical in some rooms.

Sources and product instructions

These references support the specific methods and limitations listed. They do not certify this combined project or its suitability for a particular animal.

Writing is original; follow the linked source for its complete instructions.

Report a construction correction

Before you call it finished

Review the project’s final checks and compare the finished setup with the needs identified during your care research. Return to your preparation checklist and resolve anything that remains before introducing an animal.

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