Posted by:
-ryan-
at Fri Jan 16 14:12:46 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by -ryan- ]
I would like to build basic plywood enclosures with sliding glass of hinged plexi glass fronts for my mali uro and bearded dragon. Right now the uro is in a used tank I picked up a week or so ago, which measures 48"x13"x13", and the bearded dragon is in an overpriced tank that measures 36"x18"x25". I would like to build two stacking enclosures that would measure 48" long, 20" deep, and 20" tall. I would go with 24" deep, but with my room, the extra 4" does make a difference, and I chose 20" tall because I have trouble getting the temperatures right in my bearded dragon's tank, and he never gets close enough to the UV tube. Plus it would allow me to use a 100 watt active UV bulb if need be. The light fixtures would be on the interior of the tank and probably inside a custom built screen cage to seperate them from the reptiles.
I think the basic design of the cages would be 3/4" plywood sides, top, bottom, and back, with 2x2's running the height of each cage in each of the corners (to provide support for stacking and a good place to screw the sides together). The front would be a 3/4" litter dam, probably about 3" tall, which is where the bottom track for the sliding glass doors would be installed, or the hinges for the plexi doors. There would be something similar at the top of the tank for either the top track or latch for a plexi door. So that should give you a good idea of what I'm looking at doing. Still not sure about what to do for vents though.
One thing I'm not sure of is what to use for a sealer for the inside of the tank, and whether or not I should paint it first (on the inside and outside). I think I would probably want to put a bead of silicone on the edge of the bottom (where the bottom and sides meet) so that sand can't get through. That's all I've thought of so far though.
On a final note, I'm not quite sure if my parents are going to like this, because I just got done paying off my loans for the last two tanks (the bearded dragon's one was over $300!). I think I've found a way through this though. I was thinking I could just start with sort of a prototype. Like, buy the wood and see how well it goes together, and if that goes good, paint it, and finally install the doors and lighting. Then I'd use that for the bearded and move the uro into his old tank. Then if that works out well, build another for the uro and sell the tank? What are your thoughts on it? I figure that I should be providing them with as much space as possible, and plus, if I sold the bearded dragon tank, that would probably bring in enough cash to pay for both the new tanks. Just not sure if the parents will go for it.
I've got spring to think about it though. If I can find ways to setup the tanks I have now that would allow for good space to roam, I'll probably keep them. I just like the idea of the large cages (who wouldn't?).
-ryan
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 I want bigger enclosures for my reptiles.... advice is appreciated.... - -ryan-, Fri Jan 16 14:12:46 2004
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